Welcome Cillian Burke signs with Geelong

[cats_09]

Geelong continues its love affair with Ireland and showing the league it's the true home of the Irish as we welcome our 7th current Irish player across both our AFL & AFLW teams as Cillian Burke signs as a Cat B rookie:

Geelong has signed exciting young Irish talent Cillian Burke as a Category B rookie ahead of the 2025 AFL season.

Recruited out of Kerry, the same Gaelic club as fellow Irishman and Cats midfielder Mark O’Connor, Burke has impressed back home with his athleticism, speed and ball skills.

Viewed by many as one of the Gaelic Athletic Association’s most promising and a highly touted youngsters, at 21 years of age, Burke will arrive in Australia in late November and join the Cats for the beginning of the 2025 pre-season.

Burke is set to be the seventh Irish-born player at Geelong in 2025, joining Oisin Mullin and Mark O’Connor on the AFL list, with Kate Kenny, Aishling Moloney, Rachel Kearns and Anna-Rose Kennedy all playing a key role in Geelong’s 2024 AFLW season.

“Cillian is a very athletic and a talented prospect, we are thrilled he has decided to join Geelong and can’t wait to welcome him to Australia next month,” Geelong General Manager – Football Andrew Mackie

Andrew Mackie

Age

40

Ht

193cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.2

5star

K

12.6

5star

HB

6.6

4star

M

5.7

5star

T

2.1

4star

MG

346.7

5star

No current season stats available

D

9.0

3star

K

6.2

3star

HB

2.8

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.2

4star

said.

“A very established GGA player, we understand Cillian has made a big life decision to move to Australia. We will support him and have a plan in place to make a smooth transition to the Cats and our football program.”

Cats secure Burke as Category B rookie

Geelong has signed exciting young Irish talent Cillian Burke as a Category B rookie ahead of the 2025 AFL season.

www.geelongcats.com.au

 

[winty]

 

[year of the cat]

Looks a terrific athlete. Powerful type.

 

[patience]

Welcome Cillian.

 

[Live in hope]

Really like the look of those highlights - looked eager to take on the contest and assured under pressure. Looks good physically.
Hopefully Oisin and Mark can make him comfortable on the vagaries of the oval ball. Welcome Cillian.

 

[Strange Cat]

Really like the look of those highlights - looked eager to take on the contest and assured under pressure. Looks good physically.
Hopefully Oisin and Mark can make him comfortable on the vagaries of the oval ball. Welcome Cillian.

Looks comfortable in traffic ..granted not the same sort in the AFL but it’s there at least

 

[CharacterFirst]

Another flippin rort!

 

[Turbocat]

Any chance we can employ 2E to teach him how to kick? He looks like he will be a take it on type...

Any player that wants to back himself like that must be used to being quicker than an opponent…. lets see how he finds it when he can be tackled….

What sort of time frame would we put on him …. as Mullins has shown its not PnP? A year in the VFL?

Really it might be time to have an alt strip with a bit of green in it … the additions in the male and female list are have a great input….

 

[FootyLad0]

Another flippin rort!

Waiting for someone to suggest we have a secret deal with an Irish based company and are getting kickbacks to sign Irish folk

 

[bulletproof]

Moves well!

Watching him reminds me of seeing early O’Connor. Geez I hope they let O’Connor settle in the backpocket next year.

 

[cats_09]

Waiting for someone to suggest we have a secret deal with an Irish based company and are getting kickbacks to sign Irish folk

Apparently Merrick & Cillian are Scott's assistants at his other job

 

[Mattlock]

Get him a director position at Morris Finance stat

 

[Hamingja]

Do we have a height? Looks more a MOC size heading up to high 180s?

Would love a free running attacking Irishmen but we seem to prefer to use the Irish kids athleticism for tactical purposes instead.

 

[Hamingja]

Get him a director position at Morris Finance stat

The Irishmen get a $1 pub instead silly. All the Guinness they can drink.

 

[Strange Cat]

Get him a director position at Morris Finance stat

No grow the hair long and get that sweet sweet cotton on money

 

[D BRIDGE]

He looks an almost perfect size/shape for our game... Will Day like.

I think he will have a better game sense than Mullin who is more of a power athlete.

This guy looks like he has great timing and mouse + moves very nicely.

Reckon this could be a very good signing.

 

[BlakeyNoFlakey]

Welcome, Killer.

 

[TheMenz Gallery]

I really like those long handballs out in front of teammates who don’t have to miss a stride running on to them

 

[dazbroncos]

Good shot worth taking
Expect nothing from him for 3 years.
Give him the VFL and let him cook and learn.

Makes the Furphy move obvious. Onwards and upwards

Go Catters

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Waiting for someone to suggest we have a secret deal with an Irish based company and are getting kickbacks to sign Irish folk

Paying the Kerry player in Gold? I can't believe he's not Butters