Aussie Rules side Richmond not set to add to Irish recruit
Thursday November 26 2009
RICHMOND recruitment manager Francis Jackson has insisted that the Tigers will not sign a second Irish player despite Antrim's Thomas McCann spending three weeks at the club and Mayo's Aidan O'Shea due to trial at Punt Road next week.
While McCann paid for his own flights in a bid to impress with the Aussie Rules club and was not offered a contract, DCU student O'Shea's trial is part of an organised visit incorporating a stint with the Western Bulldogs this week.
Richmond signed their first ever Irish recruit, Down's Jamie O'Reilly, this year having been involved in Ricky Nixon's recruitment network for the second year running.
When asked if there was any chance that the Melbourne based club could sign a second Irish man, Jackson was steadfast.
"No, not this year," he said.
Even if O'Shea was to make a massive impact during next week's trial, the December 2 deadline which looms only days into his stay at Richmond all but rules him out of contention at the Tigers due to time constraints.
IMPRESSING
O'Shea has assured Mayo manager John O'Mahony that he will be available for GAA duties next season (Mayo begin their NFL campaign at home against Galway)but is reported to be impressing during a trial at the Western Bulldogs. The Bulldogs have never before signed an Irish player.
In the meantime the Tigers are impressed with their recent Irish signing Jamie O'Reilly, even if the Down younster is depleting the club's sun screen stocks fast!
"We just cover him in sunscreen all the time," Jackson quipped when asked how you help an Irish recruit dealing with soaring temperatures in the Victorian city.
"He's settling in well but it has been very hot, up to 35 degrees. We're due some rain today though so he should feel right at home."
- Catherine Murphy
