Emerald Isle lure for Aussies
16 August 2007 Herald Sun
Daryl Timms
RICHMOND will investigate an ambitious proposal to launch a footballer exchange program with Ireland.
The Tigers could provide players, who don't reach the top AFL level, to Ireland's Gaelic Athletic Association.
Irish football officials are concerned about the increasing interest from AFL clubs, who want to poach some of the country's best young Gaelic players.
Tigers football director Greg Miller said yesterday the provision of Australian players to Ireland could ease some of the tension.
"At the moment it's one-way traffic, but it could change if Australian players were going to Ireland," Miller said.
While the Irish footballers are amateurs, Miller said a life-style change could lure Australians to Ireland to play Gaelic football.
Miller and player agent Peter Jess, who has been identifying Irish talent for nearly two decades, will investigate the proposal when they travel to Ireland in October.
"It's Peter's idea and I certainly think it has got merit," Miller said.
"We will talk to people over there in October and say that while the traffic is one-way, maybe there could be players over here who aren't totally suited to our game but could be better suited to their game.
"Although they don't pay money in Ireland, the provide career opportunities and players here could be looking for a change."
Miller said tension remained in Ireland over last year's International Rules Series, which was marred by violence.
The Irish called off this year's series in Australia and will only re-ignite further series if the AFL agrees to various rule changes.
And now the presence of several AFL club recruiting scouts in Ireland has the Irish worried about losing more young talent to Australia.
Miller said it would not just be players who didn't make it at Richmond who could be interested in playing in Ireland.
"It's not just Richmond per se, but it could be across the board," he said.
"We might see someone who is on the list of another club who is not totally suited to our game who could be interested in a life change thing or a career change.
"Because we know the talent around Australia, by the virtue of the work you do as a recruiting department, it gives the chance to see who is available.
"We will go over to Ireland and see a few games and talk to the people there and see what their ideas are on the proposal and we will certainly explore the idea."
The Irish were in raptures over the form of former Richmond defender Andrew Kellaway when he toured Ireland with the Australian team in 2002. Irish coach John O'Keeffe said Kellaway, who was Australia's goalkeeper, would get a game with most top Gaelic teams.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22252802%255E19742,00.html
