{"id":259583,"date":"2025-11-03T11:23:30","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T11:23:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/259583\/"},"modified":"2025-11-03T11:23:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T11:23:30","slug":"st-kilda-sign-irish-teenager-kobe-mcdonald-after-blockbuster-trade-period-brisbane-snare-ben-murphy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/259583\/","title":{"rendered":"St Kilda sign Irish teenager Kobe McDonald after blockbuster trade period, Brisbane snare Ben Murphy"},"content":{"rendered":"

St Kilda<\/a> have continued their off-season recruiting spree, signing impressive Irish teenager Kobe McDonald from Gaelic football as a Category B rookie.<\/p>\n

The Saints lured rival AFL<\/a> players Sam Flanders, Tom De Koning, Jack Silvagni and Liam Ryan during a hectic trade and free agency period<\/a>, and have now gone international for their next prospect.<\/p>\n

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Irish star joins Lions\u2019 premiership push.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today \"Download<\/a><\/p>\n

McDonald is still only 17 and will not join the Saints until he has completed school in mid-2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cSt Kilda has signed 17-year-old Irish prodigy Kobe McDonald as a Category B rookie,\u201d 7NEWS Melbourne\u2019s Mitch Cleary said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe son of Gaelic legend Ciaran McDonald who famously starred v Australia in International Rules.\u201d<\/p>\n

St Kilda CEO Carl Dilena said it\u2019s an exciting signing for the club.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re thrilled to welcome Kobe and the McDonald family to St Kilda,\u201d he told the club\u2019s website.<\/p>\n

\u201cKobe\u2019s natural abilities have been evident for some time, and his experience playing Gaelic football will provide a great foundation for his transition to AFL.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve seen the impact Irish players can make in our game, and we\u2019re looking forward to supporting Kobe as he begins his journey with the club.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"KobeKobe McDonald joins the Saints. Credit: St Kilda<\/p>\n

McDonald joins sought-after Irish prospect Ben Murphy in the AFL ranks after the 18-year-old was snared by two-time reigning premiers Brisbane.<\/p>\n

Murphy was first identified by the Lions almost two years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am really excited to get the chance to join the Brisbane Lions and play AFL,\u201d Murphy said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think anyone joining a team in the position the Lions are in, as back-to-back premiers, would be delighted and I am no different.\u201d<\/p>\n

Murphy will play alongside Darragh Joyce and Conor McKenna as Irishmen on the Lions\u2019 AFL list, while the club\u2019s women\u2019s team already boasts three Irish players in Orla O\u2019Dwyer, Neasa Dooley and Jen Dunne.<\/p>\n

Just last week, Murphy lined up on Geelong\u2019s Mark O\u2019Connor, who played in a Gaelic final between Austin Stacks and Dingle back in Ireland.<\/p>\n

Seeing players like O\u2019Connor, as well as several others in the AFL, make the move across the planet has inspired Murphy to follow in their footsteps.<\/p>\n

\"BenBen Murphy has joined the Lions. Credit: Brisbane Lions<\/p>\n

\u201cAFL is similar enough to Gaelic, though I expect to face a few obstacles like getting used to a totally new ball, but I\u2019m excited to face the challenge,\u201d Murphy said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere have been a number of players make the switch like Conor (McKenna) and Darragh (Joyce) already at the club.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut there are also a few other players that I aspire to be like back in Kerry like Mark O\u2019Connor, Cillian Burke (Geelong) and I went to school with Rob Monahan (Carlton) as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeeing a person so close to you being successful really gives you the confidence that you can be too if you put your mind to it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI also hope to inspire other young players by showing them if you keep working hard you will get your opportunities too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lions recruiter Shane Rogers played a key role in luring Murphy to Australia.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s really an elite player for his age group, so he\u2019s probably in the top two or three over in Ireland,\u201d Rogers told 7NEWS.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing tall, I think he can play half-back, wing, go through the midfield at some stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking to the Lions\u2019 website, Rogers outlined the club\u2019s early plans for Murphy.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has been a midfielder in Gaelic, though with his size and athletic profile it should allow him to play multiple roles at AFL level,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe will start as a defender initially whilst he learns the game but has scope to develop craft across a number of lines and the ability to play wing long term.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe look forward to having Ben arrive for preseason training next month and also welcome the Murphy family of Benny, Claire, Jack and Harry to the Lions.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

AFL captain takes aim at \u2018dirty\u2019 Saints over trade backflip<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

AFL veteran axed in \u2018difficult decision\u2019 after trade deadline<\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

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