AFL 2022: Collingwood defender Mark Keane leaves Magpies
The 21-year-old played five matches for Collingwood after being drafted as a Category B rookie.
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Collingwood defender Mark Keane will remain in Ireland and not see out his final year of his contract due to homesickness.
Keane has decided to remain in his home country, after initially leaving the AFL program early in August last year.
“Although a tough call, I know remaining in Ireland and being with my family is the right decision for me at this time,” Keane said.
Keane enjoyed his time at the Pies and thanked the club for giving him an opportunity to play AFL football.
“Unfortunately, Mark has suffered from homesickness his entire time at Collingwood,” GM of Football, Graham Wright said.
“Mark didn’t return for training in the New Year and we decided, along with Mark, that the rigours of AFL football combined with being away from home are too much for him at this time.
“We wish Mark all the best with his future endeavours and hope being home in Ireland is exactly what he needs.”
The 21-year-old played five matches for the Pies after being drafted as a Category B rookie in 2018.
The highlight of his time in the black and white was his performance against North Melbourne last year, where he amassed 21 disposals and three spoils.
Keane is set to feature for the Cork hurlers in the Canon O’Brien Cup later this week and will be a part of the Cork senior hurling panel for their upcoming season.
Given he was a Category B rookie, Collingwood are unable to replace Keane in their squad.
Revealed: The 15 players vying for final list spots
By Dylan Bolch, Thomas-Wilson
The AFL confirmed on Tuesday the 15 players that have been invited to train with various clubs throughout the pre-season, giving them the chance to try and secure a spot on an AFL list in 2022.
There are currently nine AFL clubs with list positions open.
Carlton, Geelong, Gold Coast, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Sydney and West Coast all have one list slot open, whilst Essendon and St Kilda have two list vacancies.
The Pre-season Supplemental Selection Period (SSP) opened on Monday and allows clubs to sign players before the regular season commences.
Clubs have until March 9 to fill the spot if they choose to.
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Gold Coast are interested in injury-riddled midfielder Nathan Freeman, who averaged 38 disposals for Frankston in the VFL in 2021. The former Saint and Pie could help fill the vacancy left by departing star Hugh Greenwood.
Paddy McCartin will also look to receive an AFL lifeline after walking away from the game in 2019 due to concussion. McCartin’s VFL form and good health has accelerated his bid to return to the AFL, hoping to join brother Tom at the Swans.
Marty Hore is hoping to extend his AFL career at North Melbourne after being delisted by the Dees following their premiership winning 2021 campaign. The defender burst onto the scene in 2019 playing 14 games before injury kept him on the sidelines the past two seasons.
Joshua Cripps, brother of co-captain Patrick Cripps has also been training with the Blues.
Should a club opt not to fill a list position, they may elect to fill it during the Mid-Season Draft on Wednesday, June 1.
The full list of the fifteen players and the clubs they are training at are:
Carlton: Joshua Cripps, Tyreece Lieu
Essendon: Dylan Clarke, Ronald Fejo Jnr, Nicholas Martin
Gold Coast: Nathan Freeman, Morgan Ferres, Lewis Rayson, James Tsitas
North Melbourne: Marty Hore
St Kilda: Jack Hayes
Sydney: Patrick McCartin
West Coast: Kade Dittmar, Luke Strnadica, Logan Young
SSP showdown: The exciting tall impressing at Blues
Will your club find a hidden gem this pre-season?
After their Christmas break, AFL players return to pre-season training on Monday.
And along with the stars are players trying to either get a chance at the big time, or keep their career alive, through the Pre-Season Supplemental Selection Period (SSP).
Running from January 10 to March 9 those clubs with an additional rookie spot or two can add a player to their lists.
Already a bunch of players have been invited to train with clubs across the country. Will one of these turn out to be a hidden gem?
Jack Hayes (Woodville-West Torrens)
The reigning Jack Oatey Medallist, Hayes has been invited to train with St Kilda. Eagles coach Jade Sheedy has long wondered why his star hasn’t had a chance at AFL level but Hayes could get his opportunity at the age of 25.
A 192cm utility who has kicked 123 goals from 93 SANFL games, Hayes is the only player St Kilda has invited to train so far. In the 2021 SANFL season he averaged just under 20 disposals, 2.4 clearances, 2.1 intercept marks, 7.1 score involvements and 1.1 goals.
Nathan Freeman (Frankston)
The No. 10 pick of the 2013 Draft had a luckless time with injuries at Collingwood and then St Kilda, only managing two games. Now 26, Freeman, who became an AFL player agent, is doing everything he can to get another opportunity.
He averaged 38 disposals in the VFL for Frankston, which earned him a train-on spot with Gold Coast — who are looking for a mature midfielder after Hugh Greenwood sensationally signed with North Melbourne.
Prior to Christmas, Freeman performed well in sessions at the Suns. He isn’t exactly a hidden gem, but could be a steal for the Suns if they pick him up.
James Tsitas (Woodville-West Torrens)
The Suns have one space on its list, so Freeman is up against 2021 Magarey Medallist Tsitas right now. Tsitas, 26, was a key player in Woodville-West Torrens’ back-to-back premiership win this year, averaging 29 possessions and five clearances.
The train-on invite was a great reward for Tsitas, who has searched for an AFL opportunity since his draft class in 2013.
Tsitas has starred for the Geelong VFL team, getting a lot of praise for his character and work ethic, prior to his move to SA.
He was twice named in the VFL team of the year and won the Cats’ VFL best and fairest award in 2017.
Ronald Fejo Jr (West Adelaide)
A wingman from Darwin, Fejo Jr is training with Essendon over the pre-season.
Overlooked by AFL clubs in 2020 Fejo Jr made the move to West Adelaide to try and improve his chances of getting onto an AFL list.
He played 16 reserves matches for the Bloods and averaged 18.2 disposals at 91 per cent efficiency in 2021.
This earned him two senior call ups for West Adelaide in the SANFL.
A risk-taker with the ball, Fejo Jr finished third in the agility test (8.08 seconds) and was second in the standing vertical jump (70cm) at the SA Draft Combine.
Nick Martin (Subiaco)
The Subiaco forward will get the opportunity to press his case with the Bombers when he hits up Essendon pre-season on Monday. Martin, 20, kicked 24 goals in 17 matches in the WAFL and averaged 15 disposals and five marks to get interest from AFL clubs. Martin trained with West Coast last pre-season but suffered a quad injury and wasn’t able to secure a spot.
Kade Dittmar (East Perth)
A young contested bull of an inside midfielder, Dittmar was overlooked at the draft despite some strong footy in 2021. West Coast has invited him to train in its pre-season and Dittmar could go close to getting a gig with the Eagles. He has battled some significant back injuries but got a clear run in 2021, impressing with his intensity in the midfield.
His best footy was played at representative level but Dittmar’s strong form at colts level got him spots in East Perth’s WAFL league and reserves sides. He is the nephew of Port Adelaide SANFL great George Fiacchi.
Luke Strnadica (East Fremantle)
The ruckman was formerly at Fremantle but was delisted without playing a senior game. Since then he has worked extremely hard to reignite his career in the WAFL for the past three seasons.
At 23, Strnadica is an athletic 203cm big man who can also play forward. The Eagles have invited him to train with them this pre-season and given the lack of ruck depth at West Coast, East Fremantle coach Bill Monaghan is already expecting Strnadica to get another AFL chance.
Logan Young (Claremont)
The son of prominent player manager Colin, Young is another one who has an invite to train with the Eagles. A big-bodied 190cm on-baller, Young spent last year in Victoria.
The 19-year-old started out with NAB League side Sandringham Dragons and then played for both North Melbourne’s and Sydney’s VFL sides.
Young, who will play with Claremont if he doesn’t get a spot on the Eagles list, was in the top five in the WAFL colts in 2020 for disposals (22.5), contested possessions (13.2), tackles (eight) and clearances (6.3). Described as an extremely hard worker, with his running capability improving significantly, Young also captained Claremont to a grand final in 2020.
Josh Cripps (East Fremantle)
The brother of Carlton co-captain Patrick will get an opportunity to also become a Blue this pre-season. While his brother is a tall beast of a midfielder, Josh is a 199cm ruck/forward.
His 2020 was scuppered when he ruptured his ACL, which wiped out his draft year.
He returned with 8kg added to his big frame and impressed for East Fremantle at colts level, kicking 16 goals in 12 games and averaging 15.6 disposals.
Tyreece Leiu (Eastern Rangers)
Also training with Carlton, Leiu is a unique prospect. From Rowville, Leiu spent a large portion of 2021 impressing as a tall intercept defender.
But until last year Leiu, 194cm tall, was more of an inside midfielder who would also go forward.
It is this versatility that has the Blues impressed.
Nicholas Hodgson (Greater Western Victoria Rebels)
Overlooked so far in drafts, playing as an under 19 player Hodgson impressed in the midfield for the Rebels.
A midfielder who thrives at the contest, Hodgson was a ball magnet in the NAB League.
In eight games he averaged 127 KFC SuperCoach points and against Gippsland he showed how damaging he can be as he recorded 32 disposals, 11 clearances, eight tackles and six score involvements.
Adelaide is understood to be a fan of Hodgson, although the Crows don’t have a list spot free.
Originally published as AFL 2022: Collingwood defender Mark Keane leaves Magpies
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