Adelaide to give Irishman Karl Gallagher pre-season chance to win rookie spot
A top Irish prospect will train with Adelaide in pre-season as he looks to win a spot on the Crows’ rookie list and join compatriot Mark Keane at the club.
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Adelaide will give Irishman Karl Gallagher the chance to win a spot as a category B rookie when the Crows’ pre-season kicks off later this month.
The 21-year-old, who plays for Monaghan in the GAA, is expected to arrive at West Lakes for pre-season as he undertakes a three-week trial with the Crows.
Quick and seen as a half-back, Gallagher has been long tracked by Crows recruiting boss Hamish Ogilvie.
Ogilvie said he was excited to see how Gallagher faired when he comes out to Australia.
“He’s got good speed, agility and a vertical leap, and has already done some work with Mark Keane in Ireland,” Ogilvie said.
“He was super impressive at the 2019 combine before Covid put a dampener on Irish recruiting for a couple of years.
“But we stayed in contact, followed his career and he has a good attitude and a thirst to have a go at a new challenge.
“There are no guarantees but we are looking forward to seeing him on the track.”
If he does win a spot on the Crows’ list it would be as a category B rookie.
Adelaide recently delisted category B rookies Tariek Newchurch and James Borlase, although the Crows have said they will re-draft Borlase as a rookie to keep him at West Lakes in 2024.
Gallagher, who played in all eight Monaghan championship games in 2023, tested at a draft combine in 2019 - with his results among the best.
The Crows had Cathal McShane from Tyrone at West Lakes in early 2020 but he opted to stay in Ireland rather than pursue an AFL career.
Former Collingwood defender Mark Keane returned to the AFL from Ireland for the Crows in 2023, signing a new contract after he made his debut for Adelaide and is set to have an increased role because of injuries to Matthew Nicks’ key defensive stocks.
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Originally published as Adelaide to give Irishman Karl Gallagher pre-season chance to win rookie spot
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