Irish Gaelic football star Cathal McShane still undecided on code swap after training with Adelaide Crows during pre-season
Irish Gaelic football star Cathal McShane is yet to make a call on a potential code swap to the AFL, after trialling with the Adelaide Crows during the pre-season.
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Irish football star Cathal McShane has yet to inform his Gaelic team whether he will leave his native code to pursue an AFL career with Adelaide.
The 24-year-old joined the Crows for a pre-season training program earlier this month, but was present in the crowd for his Gaelic club Tyrone’s league win over Meath in Ireland on Sunday.
Adelaide can still sign McShane, who was named as Ireland’s best full forward in 2019, as a Category B rookie for this season.
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Tyrone manager Mickey Harte was unaware McShane had returned to Ireland, and said the club was unsure whether the forward will be playing in Ireland or Australia in 2020.
“I didn’t know he was back from Australia,” Harte told the BBC when informed that McShane was in the crowd.
“I’d been talking to him before he went out there (to Australia).
“He hadn’t told me he’s landed back in Ireland.
“I’m sure I’ll be talking to him during the week.
“All we need to know is that final decision – is he going to be here for us, or is he going to be in Australia?
“When he gives us that final decision we’ll know exactly where we stand.”
In early January, The Advertiser reported Adelaide and Brisbane were thought to be in a bidding war for the topscorer in last season’s All-Ireland Championship, but that the Lions had never entertained a formal approach.
At the time, Adelaide general manager, list management and strategy Justin Reid said the Crows were “looking forward to Cathal joining pre-season training”.
“He has the physical attributes, coming in at a touch over 190 centimetres,” he said.
“He’s also strong in the air and can kick on both feet.
“Once he lands in Adelaide, it will give him the opportunity to understand more about our club, our philosophies and what our program looks like.”
At 24, McShane would be one of the older Irish players to try their hand at AFL, with a record 17 Irishmen set to be on AFL lists this season, with another 18 women locked in to play in the AFLW.