The Irish

[Whispering_Jack 31,368]

Once upon a time, the Melbourne Football Club led the push to recruit players from Ireland but we haven't recruited from there for a decade and a half.

Have we given it up?

There was an Irishman, a Sherrin, and an AFL dream

 

[deebug 1,754]

I was thinking the same thing WJ after reading about the young Irishma last week.

We were one of the very first clubs to recruit Irishman, but sadly it's been too long since doing so, i would like to know the reason why we are not at least looking at these young men any more?

[rjay 25,424]

Looks like we've taken the basketball path.

Smith & Maynard look good prospects and there are only so many spots available on the list.

[Demon trucker 1,800]

I don't know why we stopped pickings them we should of had a life time  mortgage on them

[poita 3,944]

We did waste a few years looking in New Zealand. Are the odds of plucking a player from Ireland any better than looking at other sports (eg basketball or athletics)?

[praha 11,267]

On 26/09/2017 at 11:59 AM, poita said:

We did waste a few years looking in New Zealand. Are the odds of plucking a player from Ireland any better than looking at other sports (eg basketball or athletics)?

Basketball is a good bet now, arguably better than Gaelic football for a number of reasons. Generally, anyone playing at least representative state basketball needs a relatively good basketball IQ, which is often not taught. The complexities of the sport and its plays often demand a bright player. So if you're digging into the basketball talent pool you're almost guaranteed a smart kid that is adaptable and knows how to apply complex tactics on game day. On top of that, the modern basketball game shares a demand for core strength, so the physical transition isn't as tough. Basketball is all about using your core strength to get front position and protect the ball, which is half the battle in AFL. Completely different sports yet strangely share a lot in common. Gaelic football on the other hard is an AFL-soccer hybrid that discourages physical contact and isn't anywhere near as tactical.

[Whispering_Jack 31,368]

One of those Irish prospects Cillian McDaid has been impressive this week with his foot skills and athleticism and  has attracted the interest of Essendon and Carlton.

At this stage, no reports of any interest from the MFC in renewing what was once called "the Irish experiment".

[Whispering_Jack 31,368]

On 06/10/2017 at 7:04 AM, Whispering_Jack said:

One of those Irish prospects Cillian McDaid has been impressive this week with his foot skills and athleticism and  has attracted the interest of Essendon and Carlton.

At this stage, no reports of any interest from the MFC in renewing what was once called "the Irish experiment".

... and it still irks me remembering the times when the MFC took risks and spent time, effort and money on the Irish experiment and was rewarded by a Brownlow Medallist who went on to become Club President in Jimmy Stynes and a great footballer in Sean Wight who also served on the club committee after he retired.

These days, we don't seem to be interested.

AFL draft 2017: Carlton set to sign highly rated Irish youngster Cillian McDaid

 

[Diamond_Jim 12,772]

38 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

... and it still irks me remembering the times when the MFC took risks and spent time, effort and money on the Irish experiment and was rewarded by a Brownlow Medallist who went on to become Club President in Jimmy Stynes and a great footballer in Sean Wight who also served on the club committee after he retired.

These days, we don't seem to be interested.

AFL draft 2017: Carlton set to sign highly rated Irish youngster Cillian McDaid

 

To be honest lists were a lot bigger in those days and you could have more spec players on your list.

Perhaps the AFL needs an academy in Ireland. Pity that Ireland is not a big draw country. Imagine if say Canada or France had a Gaelic tradition and were then available for growing the game.

In the future I am worried that the power clubs will be able to spend money on overseas development. In return they will demand a form of exclusivity. After all there is a limit on how many local netball teams you can fund.

[rjay 25,424]

1 hour ago, Whispering_Jack said:

... and it still irks me remembering the times when the MFC took risks and spent time, effort and money on the Irish experiment and was rewarded by a Brownlow Medallist who went on to become Club President in Jimmy Stynes and a great footballer in Sean Wight who also served on the club committee after he retired.

These days, we don't seem to be interested.

AFL draft 2017: Carlton set to sign highly rated Irish youngster Cillian McDaid

 

We've taken the basketball experiment and it looks to be paying off.

Smith and Maynard look pretty good to me.

We can't spread too thin...

[Mach5 4,768]

How many irishmen have made the grade, and how many have been consummate failures..?

I'd have to say we've been a bit more responsible and economical with our limited resources by not chasing the irish dragon, so to speak.
Stynes was the exception, not the rule.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

That second game was brilliant, I just love seeing Jetta play so well alongside the other stars of the game.

[Dee Zephyr 19,311]

3 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

That second game was brilliant, I just love seeing Jetta play so we’ll alongside the other stars of the game.

We see it time and time again, but how good is the Jetta sidestep?

Great to hear the Perth crowd cheer when he left a couple of Irish players standing still.

[Diamond_Jim 12,772]

Forgot it was on but I did enjoy the NRL last night

[Demonland 74,430]

On 18/11/2017 at 9:48 PM, Clint Bizkit said:

That second game was brilliant, I just love seeing Jetta play so well alongside the other stars of the game.

Last week I thought Jetta's style of play wasn't suited to the International Rules game but he was excellent last night. 

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

18 hours ago, Demonland said:

Last week I thought Jetta's style of play wasn't suited to the International Rules game but he was excellent last night. 

Just like how at the start of the year he wasn't suited to Goodwin's game style according to some here.

By the way, I can't edit my typo which is frustrating.

[machine11 142]

On 25/09/2017 at 7:19 AM, Whispering_Jack said:

Once upon a time, the Melbourne Football Club led the push to recruit players from Ireland but we haven't recruited from there for a decade and a half.

Have we given it up?

There was an Irishman, a Sherrin, and an AFL dream

 

457 visa have been scrapped

[Whispering_Jack 31,368]

The Irish experiment is still alive. A few clubs have added Irishmen to their Category B lists over the past year and the search for Irish talent continues ...

Swans, Roos and Dons head to Ireland on scouting mission

However, the Demons who started it all, still appear uninterested.

[Moonshadow 17,678]

On 11/18/2017 at 12:36 PM, Whispering_Jack said:

... and it still irks me remembering the times when the MFC took risks and spent time, effort and money on the Irish experiment and was rewarded by a Brownlow Medallist who went on to become Club President in Jimmy Stynes and a great footballer in Sean Wight who also served on the club committee after he retired.

These days, we don't seem to be interested.

AFL draft 2017: Carlton set to sign highly rated Irish youngster Cillian McDaid

 

Lets not forget we also had a number of Irish recruits that failed miserably, notably one carrying the surname Stynes.

But I agree we shouldn't be dismissing the Irish now.

[Redleg 42,156]

I think we have just decided the cost is too high, for success in finding Irish players for the list.

We are probably using our dollars elsewhere.

[Deemania since 56 6,808]

On 11/18/2017 at 2:38 PM, Mach5 said:

How many irishmen have made the grade, and how many have been consummate failures..?

I'd have to say we've been a bit more responsible and economical with our limited resources by not chasing the irish dragon, so to speak.
Stynes was the exception, not the rule.

Sean Wight was no footballing mug, either. 'Champion' is the only word to describe him.

[Biffen 12,949]

Has been luck for us but no so lucky for them.

[Engorged Onion 10,226]

5 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Sean Wight was no footballing mug, either. 'Champion' is the only word to describe him.

I'll be the first of many to say, he was Scottish. But how did he self identify?

[Deemania since 56 6,808]

29 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

I'll be the first of many to say, he was Scottish. But how did he self identify?

I'd heard that he was born in Scotland, but clung to an Irish identity for some reason, or lived in a mix of the two. Uncertain; however, in terms of his arrival at the MFC, he seemed to be content with being attached to '...the Irish experiment...' and unlike us down under, it really was only a matter of a ferry ride of a few miles to live Irish/Scottish/Irish/Scottish. He did explain to the press once that he was Scottish, for what it is worth. Hey, we got a novice Aussie Rules Scotsman with a penchant for Gaelic football from Ireland and we cannot discount the historical genome of Gaelic being a major part of both Ireland and Scotland, for centuries.He turned out to be a champion player in our game, getting better and better every year. He played like an Aussie, had the brain for the sport of 'football' like a Scotsman, and revelled on the field like a possessed Irishman on a holy mission. Great mix!

[Bonkers 994]

43 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

I'd heard that he was born in Scotland, but clung to an Irish identity for some reason, or lived in a mix of the two. Uncertain; however, in terms of his arrival at the MFC, he seemed to be content with being attached to '...the Irish experiment...' and unlike us down under, it really was only a matter of a ferry ride of a few miles to live Irish/Scottish/Irish/Scottish. He did explain to the press once that he was Scottish, for what it is worth. Hey, we got a novice Aussie Rules Scotsman with a penchant for Gaelic football from Ireland and we cannot discount the historical genome of Gaelic being a major part of both Ireland and Scotland, for centuries.He turned out to be a champion player in our game, getting better and better every year. He played like an Aussie, had the brain for the sport of 'football' like a Scotsman, and revelled on the field like a possessed Irishman on a holy mission. Great mix!

I have no idea if he was catholic or Protestant but I have Catholic friends who are from Glasgow with Irish heritage. They identify with being both Scottish and Irish.