Aisake looks set for senior Carlton call-up

AISAKE Ó hAILPíN is on the verge of emulating his big brother Setanta by making his AFL debut for Carlton.

The Melbourne club is currently short of cover at the ruck with regulars Cameron Cloke and Dylan McLaren both out injured leaving the younger Ó hAilpín and 19-year-old Sam Jacobs in line for promotion to the senior roster.

Aisake has impressed in the ruck with feeder side, the Northern Bullants, this season having spent much of last year in the Victorian Football League reserves and Carlton coach Denis Pagan has admitted that he would “certainly consider” calling up the younger of the Na Piarsaigh clubmen.

“I think Aisake is a little bit advanced in front of Sam. He was very good last week. He’s only played two full games with the Bullants.

“It’s a meteoric rise but we’re certainly monitoring his progress very, very closely.”

Setanta, who has played mostly at half-back since his own elevation to the senior roster, has also been tried out as a ruckman in recent weeks but, with Cloke out for the season and McLaren sidelined for seven weeks, Pagan is thinking long-term.

“We might be forced to play (Aisake). We played his brother in the ruck last week and he acquitted himself well. (Aisake)’s athletic, he can run, he can jump.”

Setanta’s rapid education in the AFL stepped up another gear last week when he came off second best in the ruck against Collingwood’s Josh Fraser but he may yet have a future as a running ruckman.

Meanwhile, Tadhg Kennelly is set to miss out this weekend when the Sydney Swans take on Port Adelaide.

The Listowel man has already missed two games due to a knee injury but he is expected back for the side’s following appointment seven days later.