World Footy News

An interesting development has happened recently which has bucked the recent trend of Irish players being signed up by AFL clubs. Four players have decided to turn their backs on lucrative contracts and return to Ireland to play for their GAA counties in the amateur game. In the past, if an Irish player left the Australian game this was mainly because their contracts were not renewed, but a player like Martin Clarke obviously still had a big future with the Pies and many were surprised that he chose to return to County Down.

Colm Begley has ended his frustrating spell with St. Kilda deciding to return to Ireland. This time last year Begley was cut by the Brisbane Lions but he received an AFL lifeline by being picked up by the Saints. However he became a victim of the tremendous success that the Saints enjoyed as they won their first 18 games in the regular home and away season and was thus unable to break into the side. He did make one senior appearance for the Saints when an injury weakened side played Hawthorn in round 19 and he impressed in a victory. Despite being named as an emergency several times he had to make do with playing in the VFL with Saints affiliate side Sandringham. The Saints came agonisingly close to their first Premiership since 1966 but will have to plan for next year without the Laois man.

Begley has no regrets about his Australian adventure and he sees any potential Irish recruit to the game as entering a ‘win-win’ situation and urges them to make the best of the opportunity and try to build ‘a 10 year career’. Begley declined a new one year deal but he is adamant trying Aussie Rules is of huge benefit even if it doesn’t become long term. “It’s a benefit , definitely’, he said. “ Even if you only go out for the initial two years and it doesn’t work out, you learn more about your body, how best to look after it and about life as a professional sportsman.”

Martin Clarke has also decided to return to Ireland despite an outstanding beginning to his AFL career. He burst onto the scene in 2007 with some excellent displays at half-back especially in the preliminary final defeat to Geelong. He played every game for the Pies in 2008 and the first 12 matches of 2009 but was them dropped and that round 12 clash with Sydney has proved to be his last game for Collingwood.

Clarke has cited homesickness as his main reason for returning home. ''I simply miss my home and the people close to me too much. I am also looking forward to playing Gaelic football again,'' Clarke told the Collingwood website. ''I strongly believe my best moments of my sporting life are ahead of me and at this stage I want to show them on the (Gaelic) stage.'' Clarke’s former team mate Kevin Dyas is also returning having completed a two year rookie deal. His stay at the Pies saw him play 34 times in the reserves but never for the senior side.

Also returning to Ireland is Brendan Murphy, following an ultimately unsuccessful spell at the Sydney Swans. Murphy had spent 2 years with the Swans on a rookie deal that had been disrupted by various injuries. He said earlier this year that he would return to Ireland at the end of the season if he failed to make his senior debut as the Swans were building towards next year but injury again put paid to this. Despite this set back he initially signed a new deal only to change his mind and return to play for his native Co. Carlow.