AFL clubs’ Irish camp targets starlets

AUSSIE RULES attempts to unearth the next Tadhg Kennelly or Martin Clarke are to mushroom in August with plans for a “draft” camp to be set up here that will run the rule over a shortlist of up to 30 young Gaelic footballers.

Ricky Nixon, Australia’s most high-profile sports agent, met with representatives of five AFL clubs yesterday — Geelong, St Kilda, Richmond, North Melbourne and Brisbane Lions — all of whom have paid $30,000 (€18,300) to sign up for the Irish recruiting scheme.

The recruitment camp is likely to be held in either Dublin or Belfast and Nixon arrives in Ireland in the next fortnight to move the project onwards.