Wee County starlet Ciaran Byrne braces for AFL debut
The 20-year-old will line out at half-back with fellow Irishman Zach Tuohy behind him in defence.
Last week, the Louth man was upgraded from the rookie list in place of the injured Cameron Giles, allowing him feature in senior games. With Cork’s Ciaran Sheehan close to a return from injury, it appears only a matter of time before Carlton make history and take to the field with three Irish players in a competitive AFL game.
The Irish trio have already lined out together in pre-season during the NAB Challenge game with the West Coast Eagles. Byrne built on his 14 VFL appearances from last season to earn game-time and put in some impressive performances during pre-season with the senior side.
Carlton assistant coach Brad Green spoke on Carlton TV about the latest Irish player set to feature for the Blues in the AFL.
“What a fantastic story that we can blood another Irishman. It’s a pity we don’t have the three of them playing this week. It’s great for Casey (Byrne’s nickname), it’s great for him to be playing his debut game and his mum and dad are flying over for it, so that’s terrific,” said Green.
The improving prospects of Irish players Down Under is helped by the AFL’s recruitment regulations.
All Irish players are recruited as Category B International rookies, which means they do not use up a draft pick, like an Australian (Category A) would. The Irish players are basically extra players on an AFL club’s list and their salary sits outside the club’s salary cap.
Rookies play reserve games (VFL) and can only play senior games (AFL) if a senior listed player has been placed on the long-term injury list or after Round 11, when clubs can upgrade two players to their senior list.
In recent years, the AFL Player’s Association have made guidelines on base salaries to improve the welfare for its members, which build in a gradual increase each year up until 2016. The current base rookie salary is $55,440 (€40,000), plus match payments for each senior game they play.
Former Kerry and Sydney Swans footballer Tadhg Kennelly is now working for the AFL as an International Talent Scout. He explained how he helped bring more lucrative guidelines for international rookies.
“I have standardised the contracts so that there is a minimum that you must be able to offer an Irish player. You have to be able to offer him $80,000. He has to have three return flights home a year for him and his parents, and he has to have free rent and a free car for the two years. There’s also match payments if he plays senior games, which vary from $3,000 to $5,000.
“They are just the minimum requirements that if you are going to take an Irish player, this is what it is going to cost you,” said Kennelly.
If players can progress through the rookie ranks and onto the clubs’ senior lists they will begin to reap quite substantial financial rewards if they can become an established player. The average player wage in the AFL in 2014 of $283,029 (€204,000).
Carlton defender Tuohy is now into his sixth year in the AFL system and is beginning to reap the rewards of his hard work and endeavour.
“The potential to earn if you are willing to work hard and stick at it is enormous,” added the Portlaoise man. “It’s not on the scale of the English Premiership but when I come back to Ireland and all my mates are working hard and they are getting their good wage but still I just realise how lucky I am.”The AFL are also making a concerted effort to encourage players to study while playing and they offer players grants on some degrees. There is an allocated four-hour time slot when players are not allowed to train, but must up-skill with education, a trade or a business venture.
When Irish players are finished their AFL careers, they also begin to benefit from the AFL retirement fund.
“There is money put away each year that you are in the system and given to you each year for a number of years after you retire.
“I think if you leave the system in the first three or four years you get it in a lump sum and if you are five plus years you get it paid out over a period of time so you have always got a bit of money coming in so it is a good system they have got in place,” explained Tuohy.
Carlton play Essendon on Saturday morning at 4.45am Irish time at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
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