World Footy News

Hailing from County Longford, Michael Quinn is set to make a remarkable debut on Sunday on the other side of the world for the Essendon Football Club. It will be the fastest transition to senior AFL ranks of all the Irish recruits to have come so far. Few would have thought that Marty Clarke would be bettered, yet here we have it in Round 2 of the 2009 season. Quinn has done plenty to impress his adopted club working overtime to develop his skills, fitness and body to give him the first shot at the big time. Quinn showed his determination in a final quarter burst in the NAB cup game against the Bulldogs - but many of those Irishmen who have come before him have been given a taste of things in preseason almost as a reward for making the big transition. But make no mistake any match for premiership points is no token reward and Essendon fans and the folk of County Longford will be watching his debut closely.

Another who might take a glance at Quinn's debut might be agent Ricky Nixon, who reportedly rubbished Essendon's trialing and signing of Quinn who was not identified as part of Nixon's scouting network in Ireland last year (and Essendon did not join Nixon's program either). Quinn's success might provide a rethink on how Nixon and his scouts look at the attributes of potential Irish talent. Quinn has been named in the forward pocket for the match against the Fremantle Dockers kicking off at 1.10pm tomorrow at Docklands Stadium.