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Most Irish to play in AFL round

  • Tuesday, July 31 2012 @ 08:45 am ACST
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After coming close a few times this season, the past weekend saw a record five Irish former GAA footballers playing in the same round in the AFL.   

The previous record for Irish recruits playing in any one round was four.  Previously Colm Begley, Setanta OhAilpin, Marty Clarke and Tadhg Kennelly played in the same round in 2008; Hanley, O’hAilpin, Michael Quinn and Colm Begley in 2009 and Hanley, McKeever, Jamie O’Reilly and Kennelly in 2011 (info thanks to the AFL's Patrick Keane).

This past weekend Collingwood selected Martin Clarke and Caolan Mooney.   Mooney started the game and was substituted off for Clarke in the third quarter.  Carlton's Zach Tuohy and Brisbane's Pearce Hanley were also selected to start at the weekend, and the record fifth starter was a late inclusion when emergency Niall McKeever received a last minute call up for Brisbane.  The stats for the five can be seen below.

  Club Kicks Handball Disposals Marks Hitouts Tackles Frees For Frees Against Goals Behinds
Caolan Mooney Collingwood 2 2 4 1 0 1 0 1 1 1
Martin Clarke Collingwood 10 6 16 4 0 2 0 0 0 0
Niall McKeever Brisbane 6 4 10 3 0 1 0 1 0 0
Pearce Hanley Brisbane 5 10 15 4 1 1 0 2 0 0
Zach Tuohy Carlton 7 4 11 1 0 1 0 1 0 0

The man who might have been number six, Tommy Walsh has struggled to return to the Swans team, being named as an emergency in rounds sixteen and seventeen.  But barring injury might not appear for the Swans again this year.

And here is Caolan Mooney's first goal in the AFL