I couldn't find this on the web so I scanned it in.....
Clubs try luck for the Irish
By Jon Ralph
Fri 05 Mar 2010, Page 103
ST KILDA chief executive Michael Nettlefold is part of a delegation of four Victorian clubs attempting to find the next Irish AFL star.
Player manager Ricky Nixon invited St Kilda, Geelong, Richmond and the Western Bulldogs to a training camp held yesterday north of Dublin.
At least 15 elite junior Gaelic footballers were invited to the Gormanston College trials, with Nixon also scouting several players from hurling backgrounds.
He said Tommy Walsh's recruitment by St Kilda might help promote the transition to AFL, with several players eager after previously knocking back overtures to trial.
``I have not had a kid who has turned me down since Tommy came out,'' Nixon told Irish media this week.
``Whether you see that as significant or not, I don't know. I do. It has probably opened the floodgates for players.''
Walsh is likely to play in a VFL practice match for Sandringham this weekend, although he seems some way from a senior AFL debut.
St Kilda football manager Greg Hutchison said yesterday the club was thrilled with his progress and happy to explore recruiting more Irish talent.
``We are really keen to continue to support the program,'' he said.
``Tom has a long way to go but we are a supporter of the program with Ricky and have been since he started going over. Michael Nettlefold had other business to attend to over there, so he has gone over.''
In recent years AFL clubs have attempted to recruit players with exceptional ball skills, but have found that they take too long to build the elite fitness levels required for football.
Nixon is determined to consider only players in the mould of the athletic Walsh.
``It is very difficult for them to come out, especially if they are not at the required fitness level, so it can be very tough for them,'' Hutchison said.
``It is also a substantial financial impost on clubs, so we have to get it right.''
The new Greater Western Sydney side is another determined to recruit several Irish players given the massive Irish population of that area.
Brisbane football manager Graeme Allan signed Ulster speedster Niall McKeever last year, before leaving to join GWS as head of football.
Zach Tuohy (Carlton), Chris McKaigue (Sydney), and Jamie O'Reilly (Richmond) were also signed as international rookies late last year.
