Irish record near but maybe not this week
- Friday, May 18 2012 @ 07:30 pm ACST
- Contributed by: Troy Thompson
- Views: 2,129
With the selection of Tommy Walsh by the Sydney Swans this week a new Irishman comes into the AFL fold. And along with the selection of in form Pearce Hanley, Zach Tuohy and Marty Clarke on Thursday night, Niall McKeever was named on an extended bench for the Lions match against GWS this weekend.
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).
But tonight when the Brisbane side was announced with the required four man bench - McKeever was named as emergency. So unless there is a late change the "Irish 5" is not happening this week. If not for the unfortunate season ending knee injury to Setanta OhAilpin two weeks ago we could have been looking at six.
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