John Fogarty: The AFL highway is jammed with broken heroes

Of the 63 players who had signed for an AFL team up to this past season, 36 never made or are yet to make a Premiership appearance.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 22: Luke Towey during a Gold Coast Suns AFL training session at Austoworld Centre on July 22, 2021 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

If the pandemic propelled the split season, it impacted other projects former GAA president John Horan had like acting upon a review of Irish players returning from Australian Rules.

Towards the end of his first year in office, Horan had put in place an opportunity for players who had come back early or were released by their clubs to provide feedback to the GAA so that those following them might be better prepared or informed about the decisions they were making.