ESSENDON is looking at follow the lead of other AFL clubs and enter into the international recruiting market.
Speaking before the Bombers trained at Windy Hill on Friday morning, coach Matthew Knights said Essendon was looking at ways it could also join the list of AFL clubs who prosper by looking outside their own shores.
Sydney (Tadhg Kennelly) and Collingwood (Martin Clarke) have greatly benefited by raiding Ireland’s Gaelic football ranks for fresh talent, while Brisbane and Carlton also have players from the Emerald Isle on their playing lists.
Given the success of these players, it seems likely more clubs will look abroad in coming years in search of gifted youngsters.
And Knights said the Bombers, long considered one of the AFL’s power clubs, were looking at ways they could join the international scouting game.
“We haven’t gone international at this stage,” he said.
“But it’d be remiss of us as a club not to look internationally because some other clubs have had great success.
Knights used Clarke’s success at Collingwood as the example of what players from overseas could achieve when given the opportunity.
In 2007, the young Irishman was superb for the Magpies in just his first season in the AFL.
“He’s been absolutely outstanding,” Knights said.
“As an objective point of view, the praise I’ve got for that young fella is enormous, to see him play good finals footy last year.
“We’re certainly looking into those areas and demographics for recruiting.”
Knights said while Essendon didn’t have anyone on the ground in Ireland, the Bombers realise it’s important not to get left behind by some of their AFL rivals.
“We’re working, sort of behind the scenes at this point, to put a process in place so we can get a look at some talent from international areas,” he said.
“The Essendon board is very supportive of the football department in searching different places and different countries for players.
“It’s [international recruiting] not the be-all-and-end-all but as I said, it’d be remiss of us not to look into different areas of the world.”
Speaking before the Bombers trained at Windy Hill on Friday morning, coach Matthew Knights said Essendon was looking at ways it could also join the list of AFL clubs who prosper by looking outside their own shores.
Sydney (Tadhg Kennelly) and Collingwood (Martin Clarke) have greatly benefited by raiding Ireland’s Gaelic football ranks for fresh talent, while Brisbane and Carlton also have players from the Emerald Isle on their playing lists.
Given the success of these players, it seems likely more clubs will look abroad in coming years in search of gifted youngsters.
And Knights said the Bombers, long considered one of the AFL’s power clubs, were looking at ways they could join the international scouting game.
“We haven’t gone international at this stage,” he said.
“But it’d be remiss of us as a club not to look internationally because some other clubs have had great success.
Knights used Clarke’s success at Collingwood as the example of what players from overseas could achieve when given the opportunity.
In 2007, the young Irishman was superb for the Magpies in just his first season in the AFL.
“He’s been absolutely outstanding,” Knights said.
“As an objective point of view, the praise I’ve got for that young fella is enormous, to see him play good finals footy last year.
“We’re certainly looking into those areas and demographics for recruiting.”
Knights said while Essendon didn’t have anyone on the ground in Ireland, the Bombers realise it’s important not to get left behind by some of their AFL rivals.
“We’re working, sort of behind the scenes at this point, to put a process in place so we can get a look at some talent from international areas,” he said.
“The Essendon board is very supportive of the football department in searching different places and different countries for players.
“It’s [international recruiting] not the be-all-and-end-all but as I said, it’d be remiss of us not to look into different areas of the world.”
