The Adelaide Crows are the latest club in line to potentially add an Irish Gaelic football star to their list, with Monaghan's Karl Gallagher set to land at West Lakes this month.
Gallagher was among the Irish contingent to take part in the AFL Draft Combine four years ago, trailing as a teenager before returning to his home nation.
The 21-year-old has since built a name for himself with Monaghan and played eight championship games this year to add to his growing career.
The Crows have invited Gallagher to train in South Australia during their pre-season program, with the Irishman a live chance to earn a Category B Rookie list spot following the recent delistings of Tariek Newchurch and James Borlase, with the latter set to be re-listed later this month.
โHe's got good speed, agility and a vertical leap, and has already done some work with Mark Keane in Ireland,โ Adelaide national recruitment manager Hamish Ogilvie said in a club statement.
โHe was super impressive at the 2019 combine before Covid put a dampener on Irish recruiting for a couple of years.
โBut we stayed in contact, followed his career and he has a good attitude and a thirst to have a go at a new challenge.
โThere are no guarantees but we are looking forward to seeing him on the track.โ
Multiple AFL clubs have already made moves to acquire Irish talent this year, withย Matthew Duffy and Rob Monahan joining Carlton, while Liam O'Connell is understood to have signed with St Kilda.
James McLaughlin, Eoin McElholm, Odhran Murdock and Conor Corbett all took part in last month's AFL Draft Combine, with McElholm posting a top 10 time for the 20m sprint test.
Adelaide signed former Collingwood backman Mark Keane ahead of the 2023 season through the pre-season Supplemental Selection Period, while Cathal McShane also underwent a trial stint with the Crows three years ago before deciding to return to Ireland.
