GAA people have a right to be irked by AFL clubs cherry picking rising stars
Literally no-one begrudges young GAA stars like Cillian Burke and Eamonn Armstrong the chance of a professional career in Australian Rules, but you don't have to like the AFL clubs for it.
Only the most selfish in the GAA would begrudge young players the opportunity to forge a professional sporting career for themselves.
In fact, GAA clubs in particular often take great pride from the exploits of one of their own at the high end of other sports.
The GAA doesn’t offer playing as a paid career. No doubt this was a big factor in young Kerry sensation Cillian Burke’s recent move to Geelong and rising Meath star Eamonn Armstrong’s switch to St. Kilda.
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That, the life experience on offer, and young players not wanting to have any regrets in the future. The GAA is always there as a safety net if AFL doesn’t work out.
However, GAA people, particularly those heavily invested in coaching young players, have a right to be a little bit annoyed when the AFL come in and cherry pick one of their rising stars.
The idea that the AFL is some kind of big bad wolf in the eyes of a cohort of GAA people was commented on by Zach Tuohy in his recently released autobiography.
He addressed comments by Kerry legend Tomas O’Se and asked the question why is the same anger and criticism not directed at other sports like rugby and soccer.
Code breaker Tuohy - one of Ireland’s greatest ever sportspeople - changed to an entirely different sport (AFL) in his late teens and made a huge success of it.
In some ways he is the perfect person to talk about GAA players going to the AFL and he also stated in his book that he is interested in helping more young GAA players move to Australian Rules.
If this is part of a career plan, he’s hardly going to slam the concept.
He is also a Geelong Permiership winner and club stalwart. Geelong have Mark O’Connor (Kerry), Oisin Mullin (Mayo) and now Cillian Burke (Kerry) on their books.
You wouldn’t expect Tuohy to lace into one major tenant of his AFL club’s recruitment strategy.
He did pose the question though, about the GAA losing players to other sports, asking, ‘Why is AFL an evil code and everything else is fine?’
The question is too black and white, but the answer is an obvious and simple one.
Young players pursuing a career in rugby and soccer have generally been coached in their locality or schools in these sports.
There are ties to the community and connections there. It may even be the same coaches in some cases across various sports.
Work and effort has been put into developing young people. People investing in each other.
That can change very quickly if big professional rugby or soccer clubs come calling, but at least there’s a local element to it.
Also, the pathway of the most talented is generally known from a long way out. There is an acceptance of where the best are heading.
When AFL clubs swoop - and that’s what it feels like - the players are generally 18 or over, and they’re gone to the other side of the world.
They are obviously rising stars of the game, elite athletes developed by GAA clubs, schools, County Development squads and minor management teams.
A lot has been invested in them and they have given a lot back themselves.
They are 100percent entitled to go to Australia, but GAA people are also 100percent entitled to be annoyed at AFL clubs.
AFL clubs might say they’re monitoring potential recruits over a number of years and have been in regular contact with them.
Hardly a huge investment from them - and a good PR line to put out there if they decide they want to sign a player.
They’ll also argue that they pump significant resources into developing these players in their clubs, more than it costs to bring through young Australian players.
Let’s get real here. Their priority is themselves - obviously.
They wouldn’t go after these kids if they didn’t think they could help their clubs to be successful in a professional environment where winning on the pitch bolsters the bottom line off it - commercial revenues.
There are plenty of GAA fans whose only real interest in their inter-county stars - and indeed club players - is to gratify some base, selfish need in them for their team to win.
They couldn’t really give much of a toss about them otherwise. How much right they have to be annoyed is debatable. All sports have these fans.
But, professional sport is different. The word cut throat has been used over and over again by young GAA players who have gone to the AFL.
Clubs care about your well being when they see you as a potentially valuable commodity that can be trained up or traded off. When they don’t, you are discarded.
Inter-county football squads, even at underage, can be quite similar so the GAA shouldn’t get too high and mighty about it.
What makes the GAA different though is that the vast majority of players represent the same club throughout their life and continue to do so - even if they become big county stars.
That’s gone in rugby now and it doesn’t exist in most other sports. It’s still something to be protected and cherished.
What AFL clubs are doing is the way of the world, where the big corporation guy comes and takes from the little guy.
It is a massive opportunity for Cillian Burke and Eamonn Armstrong. We have yet to hear one person begrudge them the chance - and you won’t either.
AFL clubs are operating in that commercial space. It’s dog eat dog. What other way are they going to go about it?
But it doesn’t mean you have to like them for it.
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