Irish experiment
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The Irish experiment is the popular term for the recruitment of Irish athletes, mainly Gaelic footballers, by VFL/AFL clubs to play Australian rules football professionally in Australia. The AFL's foc
A statue of Jim Stynes at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The first Irish-born player to win the prestigious Brownlow Medal, Stynes is among the most successful recruits from the Irish experiment.
Tadhg Kennelly became the first Irish AFL premiership player in 2005 and represented Ireland 6 times.
Setanta Ó hAilpín went against the Gaelic Football trend and made a successful conversion from hurling.
Zach Tuohy holds the record for most AFL games by an Irishman with 288. He won an AFL premiership and represented Ireland 4 times.
Zach Tuohy
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Zach Tuohy is an Irish former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club and Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League.
Irish experiment
…of Australia and win the 1991 Brownlow Medal. Other stand-out players include Tadhg Kennelly, the first Irishman to play in and win a premiership; and Zach Tuohy, who holds the record for most VFL/AFL games played by an Irish recruit, with 288 games. Irish women have become a significant source of talent in the…
Tuohy in 2025 at Queenscliffe Literary Festival