The GAA are facing a huge problem.
While the headlines over the past week have been dominated by Kobe McDonald’s deal with AFL side St Kilda, Austin Stacks and Kerry U20s star, Ben Murphy, has signed with the Brisbane Lions.
The issue of losing players to Australia has now come to a head, with clubs and counties not only losing talented footballers, but not receiving any compensation for it either.
Kerry GAA CEO, Peter Twiss, has come out strongly on the issue, and has encouraged the GAA to combat the AFL’s recruiting strategy, saying that they must “fight fire with fire.”
Twiss also criticised some aspects of the Aussie’s scouting tactics.
He added: “It’s an amateur sport, and he’s an amateur player, and his family’s entitled to their privacy. So, we appreciate that. It would be ideal if there was some more of a structured thing because at least then everybody might be aware of what’s going on.
“If a young lad is doing his Leaving Cert, nobody should be ringing him. I’m not saying that’s the case, but from what I hear, some people were saying there were phone-calls made while he [Murphy] was doing his exams. Now, that to me would be wrong. I’d call it out. At the same time, a young lad and his family are entitled to make whatever decision they make.”
