KILKENNY ALL-IRELAND WINNING captain Darragh Joyce will make his AFL debut this Sunday as his St Kilda side face Melbourne.
Joyce, who skippered the Cats to All-Ireland minor hurling glory in 2014, was named in the extended St Kilda squad yesterday for their Round 15 tie at the MCG.
Selected amongst eight interchange players with four to be omitted as the final squad was announced today, the Rower-Inistioge clubman made the cut and secured his start.
“In exciting news for Saints fans, Darragh Joyce’s years’ worth of hard work have paid off as the Irishman runs out in the red, white and black for the first time on Sunday,” the team news statement reads.
“Joyce earns his debut on the back of a string of impressive VFL performances, and the 21-year-old 194cm defender comes in for the omitted Logan Austin.”
The debut comes as a major Aussie Rules breakthrough for Joyce, who has been in action of late for St Kilda’s reserve team Sandringham in the Victorian Football League.
“It’s all paying off,” he told saints.com.au, adding that his Mam was making the trip over to watch.
“It’s been a big journey for me, so to get here, there’s been a lot of hard work over the last year, but hopefully it’s the first of many.”
Having not played Gaelic football at club level, Joyce caught the eye of AFL scouts in action with his school, was soon invited for trials and interest from Melbourne-based St Kilda’s emerged at the 2015 AFL Draft combine.
He moved to Australia in October 2016, and has worked his way through the ranks successfully since then.
Wishing the big little brother @JoyceD97 the very best of luck on his senior debut for @stkildafc at the weekend. He is now mammy's favourite son. Some achievement for a @KilkennyCLG player in his 2nd season. #proudbrother. pic.twitter.com/xJ2dA8trj9
— Kieran Joyce (@joycek87) June 28, 2018
Best of luck to @JoyceD97 making his Senior debut this weekend for St Kilda, some achievement in his second year. I’d say you learned the “shutdown” roles from @joycek87 #baller pic.twitter.com/L0XJnhYQNN
— Jackie Tyrrell (@MrJackieTee) June 28, 2018
Kilkenny’s Darragh Joyce will make his AFL debut on Sunday, St Kilda finalised team for game against Melbourne. https://t.co/T3bDpGRbwf
— Fintan O'Toole (@fotoole13) June 29, 2018
- Originally published at 09.55
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Good man Norman, needed that 1
While sitting in the crowd and people sang stand up for the boys in green I stayed seated and laughed because parke was a British man in the ultamite fighter he’s as Irish as my French poodle , terrible fighter I was half asleep in the arena for this fight .
Think your mistaken, we were singing stand up for the Ulstermen
Well I didtn stand up I was fast asleep .my granny is more exciting playin bingo
Is your poodle from Ireland? He’s as Irish as our former President Mary McAleese, Gerry Adams, Mickey Harte, Rory Best….
He’s terrible anyways only there to make up the numbers