Kerry look set to lose another one of their brightest talents to Aussie Rules
Kerry look set to lose yet another rising star to the AFL, with U20s player Ben Murphy flying to Australia this week.
He is to visit the Brisbane Lions, with another club also interested according to Maurice Brosnan of the Examiner.
The Austin Stacks man won the 2025 U20 Munster title with Kerry, and was named in last year’s Minor Football Team of the Year.
He has also led his school, Mercy Mounthawk, to successive Corn Uí Mhuirí titles, and helped his club to the Kerry U21 Championship in July.
Kerry’s most prominent player Down Under is Geelong’s Premiership winner Mark O’Connor, who was joined last year by Cillian Burke.
Rob Monahan is with the Carlton Blues, while both Stefan Okunbor and Deividas Uosis have both returned from stints in Australia.
Last year Kerry chairman Patrick O’Sullivan spoke against the dangers of losing talent to Aussie Rules.
He said: “Representatives of the AFL are constantly floating around Kerry minor and U20 teams over the last number of years. They come selling a professional sport to our younger players. It is hard for young players not to look at a professional career in sport.
“We in Kerry aren’t the only county suffering from this issue. There are players from other counties choosing to emigrate as well. We will be calling on the GAA to form a committee to look into this matter.”
Sports Joe
