Veto on Aussies recruiting Irish stars ‘restriction of trade’, says Stynes

JIM STYNES has slammed the agreement reached between the GAA and AFL aimed at preventing Australian clubs recruiting Irish teenage footballers.

The Dubliner, who played International Rules for both countries, has called it a 'restriction of trade'.

"It's not going to work if they keep footballers in Ireland until they are 20 or 21," said Stynes. "When I arrived in Australia I was nearly 19 and up to that age it's OK, but if they make it 20 or 21 it's going to be very difficult.

"Sean Cavanagh is one of the best footballers in Ireland but he's 22 and even for him it would be a huge risk to try Australian Rules now. Derry's Dermot McNicholl tried at that age and couldn't make it."

Irish anger at the 'poaching' of young talent has been heightened considerably by a more concerted recruitment drive by AFL clubs in recent years as clubs strive to discover the next Stynes who won the Brownlow medal in 1991 Tadhg Kennelly or Setanta Ó h'Ailpín.

Laois pair Colm Begley and Brendan Quigley were snapped up by the Brisbane Lions late last year and, though Quigley returned home soon afterwards, Begley astonished everyone by making his senior debut against Melbourne in an NAB Cup game last Friday.

There has also been renewed speculation surrounding the future of Down's All-Ireland winning captain of 2005, James Colgan, while Stynes has admitted to keeping a close eye on the progress of one hugely promising 16-year old here with a view to drafting him into the Aussie Rules code.

While the numbers making the jump may still be small, the GAA has acted on the growing anger at grass roots level and the deal struck with the Australians is expected to be cemented later this month when the AFL commission is expected to ratify the recommendation on restricting the pursuit of Irish teenagers.

"If I was in Ireland I'd have huge reservations about this," said Stynes. "That's restraint of trade. I don't believe Tadhg Kennelly would have made it had he not come here as a 17 or 18-year-old and I think Setanta Ó hAilpín (who turns 23 this month) only has a chance because he is very tall.

"I can see what they are getting at. We wouldn't like it if we were losing our first five draft players to Ireland but we should at least allow one or two players every year to come as teenagers and then it's not such a big issue.

"Most of them don't make it but it doesn't matter because they come here to learn different values, professional values and gain life experience. There's no way a club like Melbourne is going to take a risk on a 21-year-old."