Conor Nash was once just hoping to survive, then he became in demand

The 26-year-old Meath native will line out in a blockbuster elimination final against the Western Bulldogs on Friday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Sam Mitchell, Senior Coach of the Hawks, and Conor Nash of the Hawks look on during a 2023 AFL game against Western Bulldogs. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

Start with the ground rules. In Melbourne Conor Nash needs security. Negotiations wouldn’t start early in the season. Each week the phone wasn’t to ring after Wednesday. His values and valuables were close to his heart, everything else would take care of itself.

Finally last month the Meath man signed a new five-year contract with AFL side Hawthorn. It is one of the longest contract extensions by an Irish player in the history of the AFL and a perfect representation of how fleeting and precarious a career Down Under is.