Dromintee’s Dyas to join Clarke at Magpies

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Dromintee’s Dyas to join Clarke at Magpies

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Wednesday, August 29 2007 @ 06:08 pm ACST

Most (not all) AFL clubs have the resources to assess a player and give them intense, personalised training from high quality staff. The last 5 years has seen the game change on the field and the technical ability of staff off the field increase dramatically, so development can be fast-tracked in a way not considered in the past, and I don't think any failed attempts from the 1980s or even 90s are relevant.

That level of development is not available to most VFL, WAFL or SANFL clubs (not for monetary/resource cost and the inherent risk that remains for any given recruit). So realistically they are not going to be in the market for Gaelic football players who need to be developed over 1 to 3 years (Marty Clarke is a "freak" in that sense, taking less than a year). So I don't expect Irish players to suddenly start appearing in any leagues other than the AFL.

But there really haven't been very many attempts, and with Begley looming as a very solid player in 2008 and Clarke showing glimpses of something very special already, plus Kennelly and possibly the O'hAilpins, it's starting to look like there may be a pool of players in Ireland the equivalent of a second to third round draft pick waiting to be taken (but needing 2 or 3 more years development). If an AFL club is prepared to ignore that then unless they are so seriously strapped for cash that they can't afford to maintain an extra recruitment officer and pay for a few flights (yes, there are other costs), then they may well find themselves getting accused of poor recruitment by their supporters in a few years time.

No, I'm not aware of whether the WA and SA teams are actively looking. I have spoken to a senior staff member of Adelaide in the past and they made it clear their focus was in finding talent within SA, which is quite understandable that they would make a commitment to their state first and foremost. But that was a couple of years ago and with the recent showing of Begley and Clarke I would hope (as a Crows supporter) that they would also find the resources to look at Ireland. Maybe not all clubs will respond until they lose a game with two or three Irishman starring against them.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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