Two new Irish rookies

[Bluthy]

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.

Struggling to bounce a ball? How far back are these guys starting?

[Con Gorozidis]

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.

Struggling to bounce a ball? How far back are these guys starting?

A fair way back but they are training full time remember.

[saintbrat]

http://www.saints.com.au/news/2017-01-1 ... sh-recruit

Joyce, 19, has been at St Kilda since the start of November where he has hurled himself head first into all the challenges presented by an AFL pre-season.

>>>>>>>>>>>>

“I’d be very fit for my game back home, but this is another four or five steps up and that’s the biggest thing.

“When you do that much running it’s then about getting the skills under control under fatigue, but that’s just something to keep working on.

“It’s become a 24-7 learning life, there are so many coaches around who are available; you should be improving in this environment.”

Shifting from a part-time sport to a full-time program was one of the major attractions for Joyce when deciding whether to uproot his life in Ireland for a move down under.

Earmarked for a role down back, at least to begin with, Joyce says that whilst his workload has dramatically increased, his focus has also switched to recovery, which is a concept that is almost non-existent in Ireland.

“We’d only do half the amount of training [in Ireland] but we’d still have to go to college and work on top of that, so [being in a professional environment] it’s a nice lifestyle,” he said.

“The intensity is something else; I think they did research at home; I’d only do 35 per cent of what I’m doing over here, so it’s a big jump in the workload.

“But you’ve got so many resources, you can go for a massage, physio or jump in an ice bath; recovery is a big thing over here compared to back home where you jump straight back in the car after training and then go to bed.”

[Bluthy]

Unlike most Irish recruits, Joyce is not transitioning from Gaelic football, instead he is making the switch from a bat and ball sport -

A

He's coming from Hurling not even gaelic footy. Wow. A lot to learn.

[mad saint guy]

Unlike most Irish recruits, Joyce is not transitioning from Gaelic football, instead he is making the switch from a bat and ball sport -

A

He's coming from Hurling not even gaelic footy. Wow. A lot to learn.

Hurling players are a hell of a lot tougher than Gaelic footballers though. Insanely fast, dangerous and intense sport

[saints66]

Dont worry, all guys play hurling and Gaelic in Kilkenny. It is just that he is better known as a hurler. Now that he is in a professional environment with specialist coaching he will improve his ball skills dramatically. He has all the attributes to make it, he just need time and patience.

Remember Tommy Walsh came from a Gaelic background but it did not make him suitable for our game.

[kosifantutti]

Dont worry, all guys play hurling and Gaelic in Kilkenny. It is just that he is better known as a hurler. Now that he is in a professional environment with specialist coaching he will improve his ball skills dramatically. He has all the attributes to make it, he just need time and patience.

Remember Tommy Walsh came from a Gaelic background but it did not make him suitable for our game.

The games are very similar in terms of rules. You need to be aware of what's going on all around you like GAA and AFL. And I'm sure he would have played a lot of football growing up.

[CQ SAINT]

Joyce played both. Gaelic for his school and hurling for his county. The county doesnt have gaelic (it isnt popular there) he must have boarded in a different county. You cant count on him having pace and timing and being able to read the flow of play. Im backing him in to impress.

[saynta]

Joyce played both. Gaelic for his school and hurling for his county. The county doesnt have gaelic (it isnt popular there) he must have boarded in a different county. You cant count on him having pace and timing and being able to read the flow of play. Im backing him in to impress.

Cant or can?

[saintbrat]

awaiting the video- is on Instagram
Darragh and Ray taught the boys some hurling this morning.

[saints66]

Joyce played both. Gaelic for his school and hurling for his county. The county doesnt have gaelic (it isnt popular there) he must have boarded in a different county. You cant count on him having pace and timing and being able to read the flow of play. Im backing him in to impress.

Yes Darragh went to school in New Ross which is in County Wexford. Kilkenny dont take Gaelic seriously maybe because they are perennial hurling champions.

He still is a very athletic fast young Irishman who will pick up AFL quickly. I wish him well for his sake and more importantly for the Saints sake as we have had very little success with overseas recruits.

[Bluthy]

Darragh and Ray taught the boys some hurling this morning.

Better than teaching hurling on a big Saturday night at the pub - I used to be a champ at that.

[White Winmar]

Darragh and Ray taught the boys some hurling this morning.

Better than teaching hurling on a big Saturday night at the pub - I used to be a champ at that.

[saintbrat]

there is some insight into the irish players and how they are tracking in this podcast
about 11 min mark

[the dome]

Wishing the 2 lads all the best in their AFL adventure.
Along with Jason Holmes on the list (who I really hope makes it to the next level) Ray & Darragh
will be making Saintly eyes smile if they too make it.
Good luck young Sainters.

[saintbrat]

determined to make it- Darragh is becoming addicted


second half

[Zed]

ive always been sceptical of these overseas players we've picked up along the way, as none have come close to making it. But I must say, for these boys to be holding down a spot at Sandy seniors in their first year is impressive, and from all reports they don't sound like they are out of their depth. Probably the most optimistic I've been (apart from about the first 6 months of Tommy Walsh - until I actually saw him play) .

[BigMart]

Tommy Walsh played Sandy Seniors - he even kicked 6 in a senior game!

He looked at lot like Darragh... maybe a bit bigger

Connellan has afterburners

[Bluthy]

Maybe we are trying to rid ourselves of some weird curse we seemed to have picked up (bounce on the ball on Milney, Hawkins paid a goal hitting the post etc) by trying to draft in the luck of the Irish. Plus we've got a few leprechaun types in Steven, Lonie, Minch, NOK, Sinclair. Hopefully we will find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. To be sure, to be sure. Fiddly dee potatoe.

[kosifantutti]

ive always been sceptical of these overseas players we've picked up along the way, as none have come close to making it. But I must say, for these boys to be holding down a spot at Sandy seniors in their first year is impressive, and from all reports they don't sound like they are out of their depth. Probably the most optimistic I've been (apart from about the first 6 months of Tommy Walsh - until I actually saw him play) .

I wouldn't get too excited about them holding down a place. It's not about who's earning a place, it's about what's best for the Saints as there's no limit on the number of Saints players in the team.

[saintbrat]

http://www.aflplayers.com.au/article/st ... australia/

One was a burgeoning Hurling champion, the other was one of Gaelic football’s stars on the rise.

Seemingly with the world at their feet in their home country, Darragh Joyce and Ray Connellan made the brave decision to jump ship and head over to a foreign country, to play a foreign sport.

Of course, we’ve heard of this story before, and you need not look any further than trailblazers like Jim Stynes and Tadhg Kennelly, but this story has its own unique touch.

Both Joyce and Connellan played different sports growing up, and came from completely different parts of Ireland.

For Joyce, his sporting life centered around Hurling, whereas Connellan played Gaelic.

Incredibly, they’ve both wound up living in the same Australian city, and play for the same club.

Two of St Kilda’s newest recruits sat down with Aflplayers.com.au to discuss their journey to Australia, settling into life with the Saints and their goals for the future.

[desertsaint]

Happy to keep developing future Sydney trades if they keep paying overs for them!

[Proph3t of egan]

Connellan will possibly get a call up later this year apparently

[kosifantutti]

Connellan will possibly get a call up later this year apparently

He still has a lot to learn but they have a bit to work with.

[Bernard Shakey]

Connellan will possibly get a call up later this year apparently

He still has a lot to learn but they have a bit to work with.

He certainly gives it a red hot go!