Setanta can be a wizard in Oz

OH geez I love it,” was the reply from Setanta Ó hAilpín yesterday when asked about his new life in AFL.

But those five words also offered the clearest indication that the GAA is to lose it’s brightest young star to another code and another continent.

The Young Hurler of the Year has until tomorrow to finalise a contract with Carlton but it is apparent that his decision has been already made.

“The biggest thing that drove me here is the way that AFL is professional and I’d like to see myself as a professional player in the years to come,” the Cork man said.

“They train hard, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to earn your crust of bread and people have got to work.

“Hopefully, if they get me going on a good weights program I could bulk up like some of these guys and learn how to hit hard,” the 20-year-old said yesterday.

Ó hAilpín, who has been christened ‘Carlos’ by his team-mates because of his resemblance to legendary guitarist Carlos Santana, impressed coach Denis Pagan after only an hour on the training field. Pagan approached the Cork star after some running and skills drills, saying, “Ok, that’s enough,” to which Setanta smiled: “When does the hitting start?”

Pagan has also been impressed with his natural athleticism.

“He surprised us by how well he handled the ball first-up and even though we realise he has to be more refined with his skills and decision-

making, we think he has got some sort of opportunity and the position we are in, we’d be mugs not to take a punt,” he told The Melbourne Age.

Carlton were in a difficult position heading into this season’s AFL. Like American sports, Aussie Rules works on a draft system and the Melbourne side, one of the standards of the sport, had neither first or second-choice draft choices. There is also a salary cap in the Australian game, making transfers problematic.

However, the Blues weighed up their options before deciding it was worth wagering on the Irish star. They appear to have few regrets.

“It was a punt to get one of the most athletic kids in Ireland, a 20-year-old. It doesn't penalise us in any way, having to go through drafts; we can just nominate an international rookie and I just think it was a punt we just had to take,” Pagan said,

The young Cork man accepts that mastery of the oval ball will be the key to his development.

“The hardest bit so far I suppose is getting used to the ball, as we’re used to the round ball back home, but hopefully when you’re getting used to being able to kick it, things will progress.”

If he signs as an international rookie, his basic pay packet will not be

spectacular.

However, if he plays regularly next season, he could stand to make up to $(Aus)100,000, about 60,000, before becoming a full professional, if the club are sufficiently impressed.

While welcoming this “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity for one of GAA’s most marketable stars, GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell has warned that unless more is done to encouraged our most talented players to stay, the GAA could be entering a period of trouble.

“It is a matter of deep concern. It is disappointing for Cork people and players, and it is disappointing for the game of hurling that one of the leading lights of the game has gone to a different sport. But it is an opportunity that no young athlete could over-look. It is a once-in-the-lifetime chance,” Farrell said.

“Over the past 15 years, the AFL has been looking at our players more closely, as the training methods and training techniques improved, and as the standard of fitness of our players has improved, it is easier to slip from one to the other,” Farrell said.

“Let’s hope the GAA don’t say one thing publicly and do another thing privately. Let’s hope they actively search for solutions to ensure the top talent in our games aren’t lured away and put in measures to encourage them to stay.”

“My fear is when it all settles down and the GAA have made some statement, they will refuse to look at ways of tackling what will be a growing problem. If that happens we are walking into trouble.”

GAA President Sean Kelly has wished the young Cork man all the best as he embarks on a new life.

“He’s an amateur player, a free agent and he’s entitled to do what he wants. We wish him the best of luck and hope for his own sake that he makes it.

“He’s a good role model and from that point of view he will be missed. And Kelly admitted: “If it starts a trend I would be worried but I would hope not. If one or two more follow suit we’ll have to talk very seriously with the AFL.”

Meanwhile, Sean Óg Ó hAilpín has yet to speak to his brother since he settled into Carlton. “I have not been in contact with Setanta since last week. Because of the time difference between here and Australia he is up when I am in bed and vice versa.

“All I do know is that Carlton are giving him every chance to prove himself. Beyond that I really do not know anything,” he said.