World Footy News

It is clearly a hard road for the Irish rookies to make it in the AFL. In the past 12 months we have seen Jamie O'Reilly and Michael Quinn delisted after promising starts but failure to back up in year two, Setanta o'hAilpin delisted by Carlton, Tommy Walsh frustrated by lack of opportunity leave St Kilda and Richmond rookie John Heslin going home before preseason was even finished.

Of course there have been some positives too, particularly the form of Hanley and McKeever at Brisbane and Zac Tuohy at Carlton, and the return of Marty Clarke to Collingwood - but they will all admit it has been a hard road.

So it is a great disappointment and potentially a big setback over the weekend to Collingwood's Paul Cribbin who was hospitalised after an unprovoked attack at 2am. The club says he was under the influence of alcohol and will have a case to answer for that later on, let's hope this does not set his journey as an AFL hopeful back to any great degree.

The statement released by Collingwood on Sunday can be read below.

Collingwood Football Club rookie-list player Paul Cribbin suffered facial injuries and damage to his teeth after being the victim of an assault in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Cribbin, who was with fellow Collingwood rookie-list player Caolan Mooney, advised the club of the unprovoked attack, which occurred in Melbourne's CBD at around 2am on March 11. After being located by police, he was transported by paramedics to St Vincent's Hospital where he remained overnight for assessment. The 19-year-old Irishman has since been discharged from hospital.

Police are investigating the incident so the club will not comment further on that matter. Given Cribbin was under the influence of alcohol, the club will separately be discussing the player's conduct with him in due course, and will provide an update if and when appropriate.