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Cathal McShane Going To The AFL?

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Wouldn't agree with Mickey Harte often or perhaps even his tone regarding Cathal McShane but I am glad there is someone in the GAA who opposes the poaching of our top talent. He has been consistent here.

Can't argue McShane's life will be better in Ireland than abroad as we know the lifestyle there will be superior and he will earn serious cash. I'd rather we sent a lad away with good wishes.

OGarmaile (Tyrone) - Posts: 248 - 06/01/2020 14:36:12    2257758

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Replying To OGarmaile:  "Wouldn't agree with Mickey Harte often or perhaps even his tone regarding Cathal McShane but I am glad there is someone in the GAA who opposes the poaching of our top talent. He has been consistent here.

Can't argue McShane's life will be better in Ireland than abroad as we know the lifestyle there will be superior and he will earn serious cash. I'd rather we sent a lad away with good wishes."
People the GAA is amateur it's not a dictorship or an organisation that rules on the lives of people who take up their games. What do we suggest here!? People being interviewed before entering GAA games on their intentions, GAA police to stop large gatherings of GAA players that includes anyone with any link to the AFL. Will people actually listen to themselves here - comments this week regarding young people's life choices are disturbing. It actually sounds like we want to force players into a regime and dare they use sporting skills to make a comfortable life for themselves. Ok the GAA can look at the international rule series but I'm glad Croke Park are not going down the ridiculous route of questioning the AFL scouts for looking at players who's skills are transferable.
If people really want to go down that road, ask for compensation to be given to clubs/counties then that is a professional sporting road they want. As soon as these demands are made the amateur principle is 100% gone and the sensible heads know this as clubs/counties are making direct compensation from members which would transform the GAA at every level into a business which would have to include player payments.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 06/01/2020 17:07:58    2257812

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Adelaide Crows confirming hes going over to them for a month or so trial during their preseason at the end of January.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4515 - 06/01/2020 17:51:50    2257821

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Replying To TheUsername:  "Adelaide Crows confirming hes going over to them for a month or so trial during their preseason at the end of January."
I can only see a lot more top players following suit.

I know certain posters think I am winding them but I am honestly am not - but I really think Clifford it an absolute perfect fit for AFL, as is POCB of Dublin by the way.

And if either or both follow suit, it really does not auger well for the future.
GAA becoming a feeder organisation for the AFL...! :o(

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4219 - 06/01/2020 22:12:51    2257864

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Replying To Fionn:  "I can only see a lot more top players following suit.

I know certain posters think I am winding them but I am honestly am not - but I really think Clifford it an absolute perfect fit for AFL, as is POCB of Dublin by the way.

And if either or both follow suit, it really does not auger well for the future.
GAA becoming a feeder organisation for the AFL...! :o("
POCB attended the same combine as James Madden who eventually went to Brisbane.

Jimmy played for Ballyboden at the weekend in the off season of the Lions, he's signed up until 21.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4515 - 06/01/2020 22:31:22    2257866

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Best thing for counties who want to avoid AFL recruiting is switch to hurling

Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1236 - 06/01/2020 22:43:34    2257870

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Can see both sides on this. Can go two ways sometimes I guess.

Surely Tyrone benefited in some tiny way from the AFL namely McShanes Crows city rivals - Port Adelaide and their
high performance management department in 2015. A very highly rated and smart young coach imo.
Interesting video, see 3.31

[url=]https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-19/port-adelaide-reveals-hi-tech,-cutting-edge-fitness-regime/6560204

[url=]http://w3.unisa.edu.au/unisanews/2015/August/story15.asp

CJ2017 (Australia) - Posts: 10 - 07/01/2020 08:31:51    2257897

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Replying To Breezy:  "Best thing for counties who want to avoid AFL recruiting is switch to hurling"
Didnt stop them taking the O'hailpin brothers who were better known as Hurlers or Darragh Joyce from Kilkenny

sourmilk93 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1205 - 07/01/2020 09:19:33    2257901

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Replying To sam1884:  "People the GAA is amateur it's not a dictorship or an organisation that rules on the lives of people who take up their games. What do we suggest here!? People being interviewed before entering GAA games on their intentions, GAA police to stop large gatherings of GAA players that includes anyone with any link to the AFL. Will people actually listen to themselves here - comments this week regarding young people's life choices are disturbing. It actually sounds like we want to force players into a regime and dare they use sporting skills to make a comfortable life for themselves. Ok the GAA can look at the international rule series but I'm glad Croke Park are not going down the ridiculous route of questioning the AFL scouts for looking at players who's skills are transferable.
If people really want to go down that road, ask for compensation to be given to clubs/counties then that is a professional sporting road they want. As soon as these demands are made the amateur principle is 100% gone and the sensible heads know this as clubs/counties are making direct compensation from members which would transform the GAA at every level into a business which would have to include player payments."
The International Rules series will start to appear dafter if more GAA players leave.

OGarmaile (Tyrone) - Posts: 248 - 07/01/2020 10:30:29    2257912

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The rumours on McShane going to the AFL had been doing the rounds before Christmas but I honestly thought it would be just a trial and then he would return home. However this sounds more permanent. Eoghan Ban Gallagher and Jason McGee from Donegal had trials at the start of last year but they returned home and nothing came of it.

You really can't blame McShane for wanting to go to the AFL. It must be the dream of any young sportsperson to play professionally. There are plenty of soccer and rugby players who have played GAA before - are we saying they shouldn't be allowed to follow their dream? We can't offer our players a professional career and I don't see what right we have to stop them. Although disappointing that a player moves to another sport, we don't own them and they should be allowed to choose their own path.

The compromise rules game is just a red herring, as Marty Clarke said yesterday, anybody with a subscription to GAAGO can watch our games.

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1906 - 07/01/2020 11:31:08    2257929

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Why doesn't our GAA president come out and make a statement on this or why don't some journalists ask him about it?

Derry have lost 3 blue chip players and they had some great underage teams over the last 5 years, we've lost 2 with a possible 3 more to go as well, Mayo Tyrone Galway and Donegal look like they're going to lose some as well, these teams will compete with eachother but how are we supposed to compete with the team of the decade?

And this is a serious question.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 07/01/2020 12:35:40    2257950

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I think people need to cool the jets a wee bit here. Cathal McShane is a superb footballer who is well within his rights to head to Australia and at least see the set up and what's involved. But it isn't cut and dry by any means that he's going to become an AFL player. As Marty Clarke said, these are professional outfits who put a lot of effort into profiling a player. Physically, McShae probably ticks a lot of the boxes but there are so many other aspects that will come into the equation, not least if he's adaptable enough for the oval ball game.

I wish him all the best and hope it goes well or him but if he's playing League football for Tyrone come March it wouldn't unduly surprise me either.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9746 - 07/01/2020 12:55:41    2257958

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Taught Harte's comments were way off the mark, he said mcshane would be better served staying here rather than pursuing an opportunity to be a professional sportsman and never explained why he would be better served staying here. I understand his disappointment and frustrations but you can't begrudge him the opportunity.

Also rather than the AFL talk recently, the bigger issue should be the likes of gary brennan, Michael quinlivan and the Kingston brothers not togging out for their counties this year and why their choosing to do so.

bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 07/01/2020 13:12:33    2257963

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Replying To KingdomBoy1:  "Why doesn't our GAA president come out and make a statement on this or why don't some journalists ask him about it?

Derry have lost 3 blue chip players and they had some great underage teams over the last 5 years, we've lost 2 with a possible 3 more to go as well, Mayo Tyrone Galway and Donegal look like they're going to lose some as well, these teams will compete with eachother but how are we supposed to compete with the team of the decade?

And this is a serious question."
And what would you have him say?

This whole argument is totally pointless. Unless we can offer these guys an alternative professional contract to stay at home and play Gaelic Football and pay then accordingly then it is a total non starter.

These are grown men who play an amateur sport in their spare time. None of us and that includes the president of the GAA have any right to tell these guys to stay at home and turn down a professional contract abroad.

Also I think Mickey Hartes comments were extremely petty. McShane has worked extremely hard for Tyrone of the past number of years and the least he deserved was for his manager to wish him all the best on his new venture.

Wally (Tyrone) - Posts: 926 - 07/01/2020 13:38:44    2257970

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Replying To KingdomBoy1:  "Why doesn't our GAA president come out and make a statement on this or why don't some journalists ask him about it?

Derry have lost 3 blue chip players and they had some great underage teams over the last 5 years, we've lost 2 with a possible 3 more to go as well, Mayo Tyrone Galway and Donegal look like they're going to lose some as well, these teams will compete with eachother but how are we supposed to compete with the team of the decade?

And this is a serious question."
What would u like the President to say??????

Down with that sort of thing

:-)

Mayonman (Galway) - Posts: 1920 - 07/01/2020 13:52:57    2257973

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Replying To Wally:  "And what would you have him say?

This whole argument is totally pointless. Unless we can offer these guys an alternative professional contract to stay at home and play Gaelic Football and pay then accordingly then it is a total non starter.

These are grown men who play an amateur sport in their spare time. None of us and that includes the president of the GAA have any right to tell these guys to stay at home and turn down a professional contract abroad.

Also I think Mickey Hartes comments were extremely petty. McShane has worked extremely hard for Tyrone of the past number of years and the least he deserved was for his manager to wish him all the best on his new venture."
Mickey Harte petty? Surely not!!

Mailman98 (Galway) - Posts: 319 - 07/01/2020 14:18:28    2257984

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This is begrudgery; if a young lad gets at chance at travelling and livingas a professional athlete, good luck to him. The AFL isn't the Premier League, it's not drop-dead money, and will be hard earned. A much bigger concern is the loss of rank-and-file club players, who can't keep up the the absurd demands at club level

befair (Down) - Posts: 238 - 07/01/2020 15:11:00    2257996

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I've no issue with young McShane going to the AFL, i think any lad that has an opportunity being a professional sportsman, should at the very least give it a chance and see if they like it or not.
What i wouldn't mind seing though, the club or county being compensated somewhat by the AFL. As in, if you want one of our best guys/gals, they pass your trials/tests and will be offered a contract, then pay $100,000 (for example).
That way their club will benefit in a way from all work that went into helping said player reach their potential and same goes for the county. Maybe 50/50 kinda thing.
The loss of the player will somehow be eased by the club recieving extra cash , which can be put towards the next crop of youngsters coming through, better facilities etc.
or something along those lines..

freddy2 (Wexford) - Posts: 215 - 07/01/2020 15:15:41    2257998

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Replying To sourmilk93:  "Didnt stop them taking the O'hailpin brothers who were better known as Hurlers or Darragh Joyce from Kilkenny"
The AFL does not take any players; they go there of their own free will.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2740 - 07/01/2020 15:17:22    2257999

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Replying To OGarmaile:  "The International Rules series will start to appear dafter if more GAA players leave."
Dropping the international rules series would only be a token intervention by the GAA that would make little or no difference. The GAA are always required to look at the bigger picture. The only intervention that would make a difference is for the GAA to explore professionalism something they nor members want. For that reason the President or any other GAA power broker will never make a statement regarding young GAA members exploring a professional sporting career abroad. Until the GAA can offer players upto 80K plus a year and a professional career then they can't do anything to stop this no matter the bizarre comments this week.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 07/01/2020 15:59:57    2258011

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