Ciaran Kilkenny has followed in the footsteps of fellow Irishman John Heslin (last year) in quitting the AFL just months after coming out from Ireland to join his club. Originally Kilkenny had been a little cat and mouse about whether he would join the Carlton Football Club until late last year when it was revealed he would be joining Hawthorn.
The Hawks took Kilkenny in the draft as an international rookie but it seems that after a very short time Kilkenny has made up his mind that he preferred to be at home in Ireland.
In his statement Kilkenny said "It may seem like a short time to spend in Australia but I have always given absolute commitment to any team in which I was involved and I feel it would be unfair on both Hawthorn and myself to continue in a situation where I am not 100% committed and happy in myself."
"I've come to realise also that although I enjoy the game of Australian Rules football, it could never replace the satisfaction I get from the round ball or a sliotar.
"Sport has always been something I did for enjoyment and I have found that it's not something I can do merely because it's my job.
"The passion I feel for hurling and football is not transferrable to any other sport and seeing my neighbours and team-mates happy when we do well is reward enough.
"Going to live in Australia was never something I felt I had to do. I always said however that if I didn't go I might have doubts or questions later on in life but having spent some time there now I'm happy that that those doubts and questions will not arise.
"Now I'm looking forward to getting back involved in what I feel truly passionate about, hurling and football with my club, and seeing where that takes me.
"I will be making no further comment at this juncture and would appreciate if people would understand and respect this position.
"Ní glaise iad na cnoic i bhfad uainn i gcónaí!"
The move home will please many in Ireland who are tired of seeing their best young talent disappear to other sports. Given that both Heslin and Kilkenny were lone Irish players at their clubs, it seems that the two at a time system used successfully at Carlton, Collingwood, Brisbane and Sydney in the past might be important in getting the young Irish recruits to stay at AFL clubs to avoid the homesickness factor.
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