Young guns starring Down Under

FEARS that AFL clubs are to step up their recruitment drive in Ireland have been calmed by Brisbane Lions coach Matthews who claimed yesterday that the club has no immediate plans to snap up more promising young Gaelic footballers.

The Gold Coast club already have former Laois senior Colm Begley on their books. His county man Brendan Quigley was also on a two-year rookie contract with the outfit but returned home earlier this year due to homesickness.

The Lions were also linked with James Colgan, Down’s All-Ireland winning captain last year as well as his colleague on that side Martin Clarke, but lost out to Collingwood in the race for his signature.

The Queensland side have been one of the most active AFL clubs on these shores in the search for raw Irish talent and chief executive Michael Bowers said earlier this year that Ireland would in future be an integral part of the club’s annual recruitment drive.

Brisbane have been rewarded for their search by the astonishing rate of progress made by Begley who was yesterday promoted to the senior squad after only seven months in the country.

However, judging by Matthews’ words, that hasn’t persuaded them to redouble their efforts over here and, in any case, the GAA and AFL are in talks aimed at placing a minimum age limit on young Irish players hoping to make the switch to Australia.

“I don’t think anyone is about to come out (this year) as a potential,” said Matthews. “I don’t think you are intending to go to Ireland to get a couple next summer for instance. This was more a matter of see what happens.”

Only a small percentage of Irish players make a successful career in Australia. Tadhg Kennelly was again outstanding for the Sydney Swans at the weekend while Setanta Ó hAilpín made his third start for the Carlton Blues.

The retirement of veteran All-Australian Justin Leppitsch has now seen Begley elevated to the Lions’ senior roster and is now close to making a debut at least two years ahead of the recognised schedule that Kennelly and Ó hAilpín have followed.

“I didn’t think I would be playing a game for another two years. This is a big step and I am very proud,” said Begley who has already played one senior game in the NAB pre-season tournament.

“I didn’t come out here for a holiday, I came to make a career for myself and, even though I am not playing senior football at the moment, (this) is a step in the right direction. Even if I wasn’t elevated I definitely would have stayed here.”

Up until now, Begley has spent the season making approximately a dozen games for the feeder side Suncoast Lions, but his accurate kicking from defence and exceptional athletic ability have fast tracked his learning curve.

“The more games you play the more experience you get and lucky for me it has all worked out pretty well. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” said the Stradbally man. “This doesn’t mean I’m playing senior football at the moment but it’s a step in the right direction and hopefully I can make a few more steps from now on.”

Aside from Begley, the Lions have seen fit to promote four other rookies to their senior set-up after a devastating run of injuries.

Matthews admitted yesterday that he didn’t even envisage Begley turning out for the reserves this year but paid tribute to the player and assistant captain, Darryn Cresswell, who has given him a crash course on the ins and outs of Aussie Rules.

“He has shown the ability to learn quickly and he has become a very good player at the level he is playing at the moment,” said Matthews.

“I don’t think any of us in our wildest dreams would have thought that in the first year he could possibly advance so quickly that he would be on the fringe of senior selection.

“I am just amazed how quickly Colm picked up the kicking skill and has become a very good kick of the football. In fact, I haven’t seen him fumble.

“What he has also developed very quickly which has amazed me is the ability to spot the right target 50 metres up the field and have the kicking skills to find him. He has developed a really powerful low flat kicking action very quickly.”