Two new Irish rookies

[kosifantutti]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-2016-s ... qg5sr.html

The Saints have signed teenaged hurling star Darragh Joyce and 22-year-old Ray Connellan, a member of 2015 International Rules squad, with both young Irishman to relocate to Melbourne as early as next month.

Why two of them?

To be sure, to be sure.

[Impatient Sainter]

Interesting good luck to boys - does anyone know anything about them size etc...?

[saintbrat]

So Barclay still on the list but Giovani gone

Recruiting boss Tony Elshaug confirmed the club had completed its paperwork signing both players on two-year contracts despite Connellan suffering a broken leg several weeks ago playing for Westmeath in the Leinster final against Dublin.

"Our strategy from mid-2013 has been to increase our talent base through different means," said Elshaug, "and we hope these boys could play a significant part in that." The Saints, which have also access to their New Zealand scholarship pair Barclay Miller and Joe Baker-Thomas must soon make a call on US-born former college basketballer Jason Holmes after three years with the club as an international rookie.

[saintly]

So Barclay still on the list but Giovani gone

Recruiting boss Tony Elshaug confirmed the club had completed its paperwork signing both players on two-year contracts despite Connellan suffering a broken leg several weeks ago playing for Westmeath in the Leinster final against Dublin.

"Our strategy from mid-2013 has been to increase our talent base through different means," said Elshaug, "and we hope these boys could play a significant part in that." The Saints, which have also access to their New Zealand scholarship pair Barclay Miller and Joe Baker-Thomas must soon make a call on US-born former college basketballer Jason Holmes after three years with the club as an international rookie.

it doesn't say that Giovani has gone.

[saynta]

Interesting good luck to boys - does anyone know anything about them size etc...?

Ask tony74

[saintbrat]

So Barclay still on the list but Giovani gone

Recruiting boss Tony Elshaug confirmed the club had completed its paperwork signing both players on two-year contracts despite Connellan suffering a broken leg several weeks ago playing for Westmeath in the Leinster final against Dublin.

"Our strategy from mid-2013 has been to increase our talent base through different means," said Elshaug, "and we hope these boys could play a significant part in that." The Saints, which have also access to their New Zealand scholarship pair Barclay Miller and Joe Baker-Thomas must soon make a call on US-born former college basketballer Jason Holmes after three years with the club as an international rookie.

it doesn't say that Giovani has gone.

but doesn't say he is there....
But also I believe Joe is an International Rookie now and not scholarship..

[Junior]

Giovanni has gone is at an academy being tun by Brad Sewell and Michael Osborne.

Darragh Joyce is 193 cm and 88kg, Ray Connellan 191cm I believe.

[Wombat15]

Interesting good luck to boys - does anyone know anything about them size etc...?

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-01-25/i ... ys-us-camp

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-11-04/i ... -afl-dream

Ray; Left footer, very fast, broke his leg 2 months ago but will be right for preseason.

Darragh; seems a school boy prodigy. played both Hurling and Gaelic from what i could find.
Both are a decent size and i think its a great thing for the club and the AFL to do. they only go on as category B and dont impact on the salary cap and they get 3 years so why not.

[tony74]

They trained with us for about 3 weeks in June ( with the main squad ). Seemed like quality blokes. Ray can really move whilst Darragh seems a natural. Well worth the risk.

[saynta]

Thanks mate.

[Saintly Passion]

Did you see them train tony74? Think they could play next year?

[Impatient Sainter]

They trained with us for about 3 weeks in June ( with the main squad ). Seemed like quality blokes. Ray can really move whilst Darragh seems a natural. Well worth the risk.

Thanks Tony...

Does that mean Holmesy is finished with the Saints?

[Impatient Sainter]

They trained with us for about 3 weeks in June ( with the main squad ). Seemed like quality blokes. Ray can really move whilst Darragh seems a natural. Well worth the risk.

It looks like the Irishmen will bring speed speed and more speed.

[Munga]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-2016-s ... qg5sr.html

The Saints have signed teenaged hurling star Darragh Joyce and 22-year-old Ray Connellan, a member of 2015 International Rules squad, with both young Irishman to relocate to Melbourne as early as next month.

Why two of them?

To be sure, to be sure.

[saintbrat]

St Kilda FC Retweeted

Ray Connellan ‏@connellanray

Delighted to sign for @stkildafc for the next two years! Exciting times ahead and I can't wait…

[saintbrat]

Response in Ireland

AFL Feeds ‏@aflfeeds
Saints sign Irish pair #AFL @zerohanger: The Saints have signed hurling star Darragh Joyce and International Rules… http://dlvr.it/Lvhrxl

Mark Townsend ‏@MarkTownsend10
And people say we don't play football in Kilkenny. Fair play Darragh Joyce http://hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=258797 …

Ray Connellan liked
Aidan O'Brien ‏@Flyingbolt2
Well done to both and in particular Darragh. At last a KK man through @GCC_NewRoss opts for the big ball. http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic- ... 20155.html ….

Kieran Joyce ‏@joycek87 Waterford, Ireland
Congrats to brother @JoyceD97 who now the favourite at house. Massive achievement. Big ball still alive in kk. http://m.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-ga ... 20155.html …


Daragh Ó Conchúir ‏@RebelDevil71
Great St Kilda stick with Ray Connellan after leg break. He'll have company in Melbourne, Kilkenny's Darragh Joyce earns contract #AFL #gaa

Independent SportVerified account ‏@IndoSport
AFL's St Kilda sign Westmeath's Ray Connellan and Kilkenny hurler Darragh Joyce http://indo.ie/ZN0K302HamD

Donnchadh Boyle ‏@depboyle
Ray Connellan heading for AFL and St Kilda despite leg fracture. Kilkenny hurler Darragh Joyce will join him there
http://tinyurl.com/j5enemz

Midlands103Sport ‏@MidlandsSport
Irish duo Ray Connellan and Darragh Joyce have signed for St Kilda and will join the Melbourne club in September


Will O'Callaghan ‏@willocallaghan
St Kilda have completed the signing of Irish duo Ray Connellan and Darragh Joyce. Will win speaking to @connellanray on Midlands Today 2moro

[saintbrat]

like this

AFL giants St Kilda have signed injured Westmeath football star Ray Connellan to a two-year contract.

Connellan, who suffered a double leg break in the Lake County’s Leinster SFC final defeat to Dublin this month, will be joined at the Melbourne club by former Kilkenny All-Ireland minor winning captain Darragh Joyce and both are expected to relocate Down Under as early as next month.

St Kilda’s recruiting boss Tony Elshaug confirmed that both players have been signed to the club, despite the 22-year-old Connellan’s recent injury woe.

"Our strategy from mid-2013 has been to increase our talent base through different means," Elshaug is quoted saying on theage.com.au, "and we hope these boys could play a significant part in that."

After undergoing surgery two weeks ago, Connellan told the Irish Independent: “Injuries happen in sport. They (St Kilda) know that. It's not going to be any major delay.

"Pre-season doesn't start until November so it's not going to affect it too much. My fitness will probably be a bit off but it's nothing I can't deal with."

http://hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=258797

[ace]

They trained with us for about 3 weeks in June ( with the main squad ). Seemed like quality blokes. Ray can really move whilst Darragh seems a natural. Well worth the risk.

It looks like the Irishmen will bring speed speed and more speed.

I feel the need for speed.
But we don't need illicit drugs.
Let's leave that to Essendon.

[ace]

They trained with us for about 3 weeks in June ( with the main squad ). Seemed like quality blokes. Ray can really move whilst Darragh seems a natural. Well worth the risk.

Thanks Tony...

Does that mean Holmesy is finished with the Saints?

Holmes has been a rookie "B" for 3 years.
After 3 years all rookies must either be promoted to the senior list or go into the draft.
Any team can then select them for their senior list or rookie "A" list.

That leaves us with 3 rookie "B" slots.
We can have two NZ rookie "B" if we like = Joe Baker-Thomas and Barclay Miller
Only one Irishmen can be listed as a rookie "B" = Darragh Joyce (age 19)
The other Irish rookie will need a rookie "A" slot = Ray Connellan (age 22)
We can only have 4 rookie "A"
That means that at least one of Nick O'Kearney, Brenton Payne, Nick Coughlan, Josh Saunders must be promoted or cut to make space for Connellan.

[BigMart]

Saunders will be cut
NOK will either remain or be promoted
Payne will be touch and go
Holmes should have been promoted he may leave

its about time we had an ounce of luck with this
the two kids from Sydney (duncan & ferguson) - fail
JBT - fail
Holmes - if he leaves - fail
Walsh - fail
Mountain - fail

[shrodes]

New article on Darragh Joyce today:
http://www.saints.com.au/news/2017-01-1 ... -for-joyce

“I went for a bounce at a training session before Christmas and I copped a fair bit of slack for it. It pretty much came up and hit me in the face, but I’ll do it again,” Joyce said.

[saynta]

New article on Darragh Joyce today:
http://www.saints.com.au/news/2017-01-1 ... -for-joyce

“I went for a bounce at a training session before Christmas and I copped a fair bit of slack for it. It pretty much came up and hit me in the face, but I’ll do it again,” Joyce said.

Flack, mate, flack

Not slack.

[saint3d]

New article on Darragh Joyce today:
http://www.saints.com.au/news/2017-01-1 ... -for-joyce

“I went for a bounce at a training session before Christmas and I copped a fair bit of slack for it. It pretty much came up and hit me in the face, but I’ll do it again,” Joyce said.

Flack, mate, flack

Not slack.

Flak, not flack.

[saynta]

New article on Darragh Joyce today:
http://www.saints.com.au/news/2017-01-1 ... -for-joyce

“I went for a bounce at a training session before Christmas and I copped a fair bit of slack for it. It pretty much came up and hit me in the face, but I’ll do it again,” Joyce said.

Flack, mate, flack

Not slack.

Flak, not flack.

Silly me.

[loris]

New article on Darragh Joyce today:
http://www.saints.com.au/news/2017-01-1 ... -for-joyce

“I went for a bounce at a training session before Christmas and I copped a fair bit of slack for it. It pretty much came up and hit me in the face, but I’ll do it again,” Joyce said.

Flack, mate, flack

Not slack.

Flak, not flack.

Silly me.

You said it saynta......... most accurate statement from you for 2017!!