National Forum

Testimonials vs going playing AFL for a few years?

(Oldest Posts First)

I'm not in favour of Cooper having his testimonial because it goes against the ethos of the GAA. He is basically making money off of the fact that he was a successful GAA player. But is it any different to the swathe of football players who have now gone over to Australia to play AFL? They are essentially making a bit of money for themselves and 90% of them don't seem to be in it for the long run. Most of them fail, but I'm beginning to think that it's becoming more and more like a nixer for these players. I don't know why the Australian clubs are signing contracts with them at all.

HurlingSnob (Dublin) - Posts: 220 - 20/10/2017 15:30:56    2056602

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Replying To HurlingSnob:  "I'm not in favour of Cooper having his testimonial because it goes against the ethos of the GAA. He is basically making money off of the fact that he was a successful GAA player. But is it any different to the swathe of football players who have now gone over to Australia to play AFL? They are essentially making a bit of money for themselves and 90% of them don't seem to be in it for the long run. Most of them fail, but I'm beginning to think that it's becoming more and more like a nixer for these players. I don't know why the Australian clubs are signing contracts with them at all."
That's like having a pop at lads that were good GAA players that tried to make it in soccer or rugby as well. The likes of Shane Long, Shane Horgan and Seamus Coleman are a joke for cashing in on the GAA....haha

The Colm Cooper thing doesn't really bother me too much either to be honest. Fair play to him I say.

Mobot (Donegal) - Posts: 459 - 20/10/2017 15:41:16    2056609

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Replying To Mobot:  "That's like having a pop at lads that were good GAA players that tried to make it in soccer or rugby as well. The likes of Shane Long, Shane Horgan and Seamus Coleman are a joke for cashing in on the GAA....haha

The Colm Cooper thing doesn't really bother me too much either to be honest. Fair play to him I say."
Shane Long, Shane Horgan or Coleman didn't play senior inter county level so their soccer or rugby careers weren't made because they played underage GAA. The GAA is a shop window for AFL recruiters on the other hand.

HurlingSnob (Dublin) - Posts: 220 - 20/10/2017 16:00:06    2056612

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If testimonials dinners helps keep more of our best players in our own games the better

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4212 - 20/10/2017 16:35:13    2056626

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Replying To HurlingSnob:  "Shane Long, Shane Horgan or Coleman didn't play senior inter county level so their soccer or rugby careers weren't made because they played underage GAA. The GAA is a shop window for AFL recruiters on the other hand."
Kennelly played AFL before ever kicking a ball for Kerry seniors. Kevin Moran played inter county, won a couple of all irelands too. Shane Long, Tommy Bowe etc etc all became professional athletes like Kennelly, like Moran like many others because they wanted to and they were good enough.

If footballers want to go to AFL and make some money thats a different case. They are becoming a professional athlete and getting paid rather than exploiting their career in the amateur game to line their own pockets.

Gooch can do as he likes but lets not try to draw ludicrous comparisons. Your post is a nonsense.

seanfinn (Monaghan) - Posts: 360 - 20/10/2017 16:42:39    2056631

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They are essentially making a bit of money for themselves and 90% of them don't seem to be in it for the long run. Most of them fail, but I'm beginning to think that it's becoming more and more like a nixer for these players. I don't know why the Australian clubs are signing contracts with them at all.

HurlingSnob (Dublin) - Posts:200 - 20/10/2017

You could probably apply those last few lines to the vast majority of young Irish people who head abroad for work, why should GAA players who head over be treated any differently?

if_in_doubt (Kildare) - Posts: 3685 - 20/10/2017 16:53:59    2056636

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