World Footy News

The rumours of Marty Clarke's return to Collingwood seem to have been flowing since he returned to Ireland after the 2009 season. Having made a meteoric rise to the senior ranks and performing admirably at senior level, he left the Australian game to return back to the GAA football that he grew up with. Had he stayed he may have been part of the 2010 AFL Premiership team.

Some thought 2011 would see his return but it was not to be. Now after persistent rumours this year it looks like Clarke will return to Australia after this weekend for a brief period in which he is likely to meet with Collingwood about returning to the professional ranks in season 2012.

With Paul Cribbin on the list already and Caolan Mooney signed to come onto the list in 2012, it would have to make those who this year have called "The Irish Experiment" in the AFL to be finished, have second thoughts.

County Down's Captain Benny Coulter told The Irish Examiner that "There's no impact on us. As a panel, we know where Marty stands and we back him fully....It's a nice place to live and if he does go back it will be our loss, but I guarantee you every lad will shake his hand and wish him well. Hopefully, he'll do the business if he does go back there. If he doesn't go then great, hopefully he'll win things with us, but there's no problem. We all know Marty's situation."

The move could mean Collingwood's list would contain four foreign players if American Shae McNamara is kept on at the club at the end of the year.

A quick look back to 2009 when Clarke's amazing start in the game was being reviewed by Kevin Sheehan and Gary Lyon.