Irish contingent striving for AFL success in 2024
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT: Mark O'Connor of the Cats in action. Pic: Graham Denholm, Getty Images.
On the rise. Last year the number of Irish in the AFL was 11. That figure will be at 13 for the upcoming campaign. The 2024 AFL season kicks off on Thursday morning as Sydney Swans face Melbourne at 8.30am Irish time.
Several prospects recently moved Down Under and are expected to feature in the VFL (reserves) league predominately for their rookie year.
There are, however, others who will undoubtedly feature consistently and compete for the 2024 Premiership.
A phenomenal year 14 for the Portlaoise native. He has already broken Jim Stynes’s 25-year record as the Irish player with the most AFL appearances and won a flag. Tuohy also has an autobiography coming out this November.
The Mayo flyer impressed in his rookie year, making his debut in Round 11 against GWS. He went on to play six games and signed a contract extension until the end of the 2025 campaign.
O’Connor played 22 games last year. His current deal expires this winter although it is understood the club are already in talks about extending the Dingle star’s stay. Last June he became the sixth player to play 100 games after trading Gaelic football for Australian Rules.
In 2021, Nash became a scapegoat for a poor run of results. One AFL journalist said the club should have ended ‘the Nash experiment’ long ago. He was then moved to a more suitable position and has become a key Hawk since, playing over 20 games in consecutive seasons.
Nash is still talked about by AFL journalists, just in a different way. For example, the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph recently wondered if the former Leinster academy player might be at the centre of a bidding war: “Is Conor Nash worth $700K+ a year as a FA (free agent)?”
The Ardfert and Kilmoyley man has already impressed Carlton development coach Brad Ebert.
“He has been fantastic, he really has. He’s constantly asking questions and is always really engaged with everything he does. With a guy like that, he’ll pick up the sport a lot quicker,” Ebert said earlier this year.
“He has that potential. It’s now down to him and for us and for our environment, to bring that out in him.”
Carlton announced the signing of Duffy last year, but he subsequently ruptured his ACL while playing for Dromard in the Longford SFC championship. He was unable to fly due to surgery and will remain in Ireland initially. The club will work through his rehab process in 2024.
The Ballincollig and Cork U20 footballer joined the Melbourne club as a Category B Rookie. The 20-year-old lived in Western Australia for several years as a child.
The 23-year-old enjoyed a breakout year in 2023, notching 19 goals.
After 13 games across six seasons with St Kilda, Joyce joined the Queensland outfit and made five AFL appearances. He was rewarded with a new contract until the end of 2024.
McKenna has signed a two-year extension to remain at Brisbane after an impressive return to the AFL in 2023. He played all 26 games on their run to the Grand Final.
The speedster was one of the best players in the VFL in 2023 but only made two AFL appearances. This will be his sixth season in Australia.
Keane is now a doubt for the start of the AFL season having suffered a concussion during the pre-season. Port Adelaide’s Sam Powell-Pepper received a four-match ban for that concussive challenge.
Keane enjoyed a successful return Down Under last year, playing five games and earning a new deal.
The 21-year-old, who played in every championship fixture under Vinny Corey in 2023, has become the first Monaghan man to join the league. In the pre-season he lined out as a half back.
Speaking to last week, Gallagher explained how his fellow countrymen have assisted him.
“Mark Keane has been a massive help, that was the biggest thing coming over. He was here, I would have met up with him in Ireland before I came over to do a few sessions. I also met up with Marty Clarke who played for Collingwood, a Down footballer. He was brilliant.
“He takes Irish lads over there who are looking at this for a career, he takes them over and we do training sessions for the day. We might do half of it with a Gaelic football and the evening with an Australian Rules football. That was massive.”
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