World Footy News

In a huge couple of weeks for the recruiting of Irish footballers, the West Coast Eagles have swooped on 20 year old Paddy Brophy on the final day of Draft Combine testing in Melbourne.

Paddy is from County Kildare in Ireland and has been in Australia to take part in the Combine. He is from a Gaelic Football background, being a Celbridge clubman.

According to the http://afl.com.au website, “Brophy is a dashing defender standing at 189cm and 84kg. His speed and agility stood out at the European AFL Combine held in Dublin this year and he dominated a match against the Australian Under 18s in London in April gathering 26 disposals and five clearances for the European Legion.”

“Brophy spent three days in Perth last week visiting with West Coast ahead of signing as the club's first-ever international rookie.”

“He impressed on day three of the draft combine, finishing equal first in the 'clean hands' test with a score of 26 out of 30. He also finished equal third in the goal kicking test, posting 4.1 from his five shots.”

As well as Brophy heading to the Eagles, along with Conor McKenna going to Essendon and Padraig Lucy being signed by Geelong a few weeks ago, the Irish Independent also reports that “his Lilywhites team mate Sean Hurley joined the Freemantle Dockers yesterday and Daniel Flynn, a club mate of Hurley's is with Port Adelaide.”

With a number of Irish players returning home either through delisting, homesickness of other reasons at the end of this season, it is refreshing that a new batch of Irish talent has arrived.

We will be watching Paddy Brophy’s development with great interest.



Left: Paddy Brophy playing Gaelic Football for Kildare