
Football
Share
Published 10:03 5 Nov 2025 GMT
Updated 10:03 5 Nov 2025 GMT

While the headlines over the past week have been dominated by Kobe McDonald's deal with AFL side St Kilda, Austin Stacks and Kerry U20s star, Ben Murphy, has signed with the Brisbane Lions.
The issue of losing players to Australia has now come to a head, with clubs and counties not only losing talented footballers, but not receiving any compensation for it either.
Kerry GAA CEO, Peter Twiss, has come out strongly on the issue, and has encouraged the GAA to combat the AFL's recruiting strategy, saying that they must "fight fire with fire."
Twiss also criticised some aspects of the Aussie's scouting tactics.
He added: “It’s an amateur sport, and he’s an amateur player, and his family’s entitled to their privacy. So, we appreciate that. It would be ideal if there was some more of a structured thing because at least then everybody might be aware of what’s going on.
“If a young lad is doing his Leaving Cert, nobody should be ringing him. I’m not saying that’s the case, but from what I hear, some people were saying there were phone-calls made while he [Murphy] was doing his exams. Now, that to me would be wrong. I’d call it out. At the same time, a young lad and his family are entitled to make whatever decision they make.”
Explore more on these topics:

Legendary Tyrone boss being proven right after staunch anti-AFL stance
He was loud about it! Tyrone’s legendary All-Ireland winning manager, Mickey Harte, has long been banging the anti-AFL drum. As far back as 2006, he was highly critical of the International Rules series, which he felt was taking away from the GAA and providing a platform for players to showcase themselves to Aussie rules teams. […]
Football
4 days ago
Kerry on verge of losing two of their best talents to AFL
Sad times. If Mayo fans think they have it bad with the departures of Kobe McDonald and Oisín Mullin to Australia, Kerry have objectively been hit worse, and it does not look to be getting any better for the Kingdom. According to a report from the Irish Examiner, U20s talents Evan Boyle and Daniel Kirby […]
Football
4 days ago
Mayo star suggests Kobe McDonald could come back this season for club
Football