Nov 01,2024
Kerry will be without rising star Cillian Burke next year after the 21-year-old agreed a 'Category B Rookie' contract with AFL side Geelong Cats.
The two-time Munster U20 winner plays anywhere from wing-back to half-forward and came off the bench to good effect in the championship clashes with Derry and Armagh in the summer, scoring a point in the semi-final defeat to the latter.
The Milltown-Castlemaineman will link up with fellow Kerryman Mark O'Connor and Mayo's Oisín Mullin at Victoria port city Geelong, where Kate Kenny, Aishling Moloney, Rachel Kearns and Anna-Rose Kennedy also feature for the AFLW side. Laois man Zach Tuohy retired at Geelong this year, having set the Irish AFL appearance record of 286 games.
"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 of football Andrew Mackie said.
"A very established GGA (sic) 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."
Geelong finished third in the regular Aussie Rules season this year and were narrowly beaten by eventual champions Brisbane in the preliminary (semi) final.
Two-time minor All-Ireland winner O'Connor (27) joined the Cats before ever playing senior for Kerry. He has played 122 times since making his debut in 2017 and joined Tuohy and Jim Stynes in the select group of Irish AFL title winners in 2022.
Mullin (24) joined Geelong in 2023 after winning an All-Star and two Young Footballer of the Year awards in his three senior seasons with Mayo. He featured in 12 games this year after playing six times in his debut campaign.
