TWO-TIME AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE champion Harry Taylor believes two Irishmen in particular are suited to Aussie Rules.
The Geelong defender – a Premiership champion in 2009 and 2011 – was a part of the victorious Australian team, who won 56-46, in last year’s one-off Test in Perth.
Taylor saw enough in two Ireland players to reckon they’d be a success with the oval ball – Tyrone’s Sean Cavanagh and Michael Murphy of Donegal.
Photo caption: Ireland captain Michael Murphy holds onto possession ahead of Australia’s Harry Taylor during last year’s International Rules Test at the Patersons Stadium in Perth
“There was a guy who played, I think it was Cavanagh,” Taylor told SportsJoe.ie when asked if any of the current Irish panel have the raw ingredients to play AFL.
“I liked the way he moved, he read the ball well. He seemed to be a hard tough player and a I think a younger version of him would do really well in our game.”
“And obviously Murphy, I think he may have gone out and tried out AFL when he was younger. He’s another who read the ball well and that football sense about him and very very hard to teach.
“Those two guys stood out. I think they’d excel at our game with a big pre-season under their belt.”
Cavanagh is injured, while Glenswilly clubman Murphy is resting up for the winter, although Kilcar’s Patrick McBrearty is part of Joe Kernan’s Ireland panel for Saturday night’s International Rules Series against Australia at Croke Park.
