GAA loses another talented footballer as Derry minor signs for AFL champions

The GAA loses out on yet another top talent.

Conor Glass is set to become the 11th Irish player currently playing in the AFL after he signed for champions Hawthorn this afternoon. It's being reported on the club's website that the Derry teenager has inked a deal to become an international B list rookie with the Hawks from next year. https://twitter.com/HawthornFC/status/659274679014715392 However Glass is still in school and will not be making the move Down Under until next summer, once his studies are completed. According to the Hawthorn website the youngster is delighted with the move and admits he's looking forward to trying to find his feet with the club.

“The kicking’s come fine, and all the attributes like the running and the tackling, but it’s just more the style of the football. “It’s getting used to the type of the play and the stoppages. Gaelic’s more free flowing, but AFL’s more stop-start, with clearances and stuff like that so that’s probably the most different bit about it.

Glass was one of the stars of Derry's Ulster success this season, helping the county to the provincial title before losing out to Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final in August. The 18-year-old is reagrded as one of the best young footballers in the country, and has claimed three Ulster club minor titles with the Watty Graham team, as well as two MacRory crowns and a Hogan Cup victory with St Patrick's Maghera. Hawthorn Recruiting and List Manager Graham Wright admits that the AFL side were tracking the youngster for a long time

“Conor has been on our radar for some time now and we are thrilled that he is finally a Hawthorn player. He is a good mark of the round ball and has shown great skills on both side of his body. “Now it will be a matter of him honing these skills with an oval ball and learning the game of AFL.

Glass' move now means there are almost a dozen Irish players in the AFL and the Derry man follows the path of Colin O'Riordan who signed a deal with Sydney Swans earlier this month. https://twitter.com/JohnFogartyIrl/status/659350349724127232 https://twitter.com/KCsixtyseven/status/659348167092248576 And it seems the young man's repuation has preceded him in Australia as local fans are excited at his capture https://twitter.com/melieraxis/status/659183277987622912 https://twitter.com/dazzb65/status/659188960611053568 https://twitter.com/Hotflix/status/659204594602381312