GAA Taking Measures To Prevent Kobe McDonald-Esque AFL Departures

According to reports in Australia, the GAA are taking measures to limit the number of Gaelic footballers making the move down under to play Aussie Rules, as Mayo's Kobe McDonald prepares to join St Kilda.

18-year-old McDonald was a star of Mayo's epic All-Ireland win on Sunday, as they ended a 75-year wait to bring Sam Maguire back out west.

It will forever linger as the greatest "one and done" season in Gaelic football history, with McDonald setting off for Melbourne with his family shortly to pursue a career in the AFL.

His departure to Australia has been lamented by many, with a question of "what if?" hanging over his exit for Mayo supporters.

McDonald, though, is just one of many great footballers who have made the move to Oz over the past decade, with the likes of Zach Tuohy, Mark O'Connor, and Tadhg Kennelly just a handful of the names who have carved out hugely successful careers in the AFL.

The growing exodus to Australia has been much lamented within the GAA in recent years, with prominent players proposing potential solutions to the issue.

It appears as though the GAA, too, are now taking active measures to quell the tide, according to a report on the AFL's official website.

GAA taking measures to prevent AFL exits

The AFL's website posted an update on the comings-and-goings in the Aussie Rules' trading circle, and referred to the imminent arrival of Kobe McDonald at St Kilda.

Intriguingly, the report revealed that the GAA and AFL are in talks, as chiefs on this island seek to prevent yet more young players deciding to ply their trade down under.

The Gaelic Athletic Association and AFL have been in discussions as the Irish code looks to build in measures to limit Australian access to Irish athletes.

It comes as the GAA has flagged different rules to limit their best young talents being poached by AFL clubs, including capping how many players can be taken per county team and also the process in contacting the talents and establishing links through official teams rather than direct, which is how most AFL clubs scout Irish talent.

The line about capping players per county team is intriguing, with Mayo's women's team having been hit especially hard by moves to the AFLW in recent years, and Kobe McDonald joining fellow Mayo star Oisin Mullin in Australia.

Many will see this as a long overdue move, with some of Ireland's brightest talents spending the prime of their footballing careers in Australia.

One of the year's most remarkable GAA stories saw Mark O'Connor return from Oz to help Dingle to an epic All-Ireland senior club title in January. The Kerryman has been playing for Geelong in the AFL for the best part of a decade, and has committed his long-term future to Geelong.

He and Geelong teammate Zach Tuohy joined an exclusive club of Irish players to have won AFL titles in 2022.

They have since been joined at Geelong by Mayo's Mullin, who was allegedly asked to travel back to join Kobe and co in the Mayo setup for last weekend's All-Ireland final.

The seemingly impending measures will be seen as a positive in the GAA, and seem to herald the beginning of a new era of collaboration between the association and the AFL.

Further along in the AFL statement, it was announced that talks are also underway for the International Rules series to return in 2027.

The AFL and GAA are also in discussions about a return for the International Rules Series for the men's competition in 2027, although the AFL's first priority is bedding down the structure of the season in 2028.

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