World Footy News

The following article from the www.afl.com.au website, written by Nathan Schmook, looks at the signing by the Saints of two more promising Irish recruits ready for 2017. Westmeath product Ray Connellan and Joyce from Kilkenny have ticked enough boxes to impress the St Kilda recruiting department.

ST KILDA has signed two new Irish rookies as it continues a strategy of building its list with international talent.

The Saints have signed hurling star Darragh Joyce (right) and International Rules player Ray Connellan, both on two-year deal. 

The pair trained with St Kilda for three weeks mid-season and hope to relocate to Melbourne before the end of the season. 

 

"Our strategy from mid-2013 has been to increase our talent base through different means," Saints recruiting boss Tony Elshaug told The Age.

"We hope these boys could play a significant part in that."

Connellan suffered a broken leg several weeks ago and has undergone surgery for two breaks to the fibula above his ankle.

The 22-year-old was hoping the injury did not cut into his first pre-season with the Saints.

He attended the AFL Academy Camp in Florida at the start of this year and caught the Saints' attention and is likely to be a Category A rookie on the Saints' list.

Joyce, who came to the club's attention two years ago when he attended the AFL Irish Combine, is expected to be the club's one allowed Category B Irish rookie.

 

The story was also featured on the www.independant.ie website back in Ireland (see below):

 

AFL team St Kilda have officially announced their acquisition of Westmeath footballer Ray Connellan and Kilkenny hurler Darragh Joyce.

Connellan, 22, who suffered two breaks in the fibula above his ankle and ligament damage in the Leinster final defeat to Dublin earlier in the month, had already all but confirmed his move to Melbourne.

Following surgery two days after the provincial showcase, which involved the placement of pins in his leg, Connellan was informed that his recovery period will be roughly 14 weeks.

Darragh Joyce, the younger brother of Kieran, who previously captained the Kilkenny minors to an All Ireland title in 2014, has long since been linked with a move to the AFL after impressing at a trial in DCU last year, and then on a three-week audition at Seaford in June, also attended by Connellan.

St Kilda have confirmed that both players have been awarded two-year contracts, and are expected to make the trip Down Under at some stage in September.

St Kilda recruiter Tony Elshaug said: "We asked them to go home and spend a week just having a real think about what they were committing to," he told Fairfax Media.

"We wanted them to talk to their families about what they would be giving up and leaving behind in terms of home and their studies and the challenges ahead. They both came back and accepted. To be honest I think they would have been happy to stay in Australia from the time they came out here."

 

Among other Irish exports to St Kilda is Kerry All Ireland winner Tommy Walsh, who then moved on to the Sydney Swans.