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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I wish him the best of luck. St. Kilda is playing the Melbourne Demons, my team. He will have his hands full with the Dees forward line.
Great achievement. There has been a reduction in the Irish activity in the AFL this season. Basically only Touhy and McKenna. Would love if O’Connor could get more game time with Geelong and O’Riordan getting a start with Sydney.
A footballer from Kilkenny!!!! Wonder of wonders!!!
@Micheal S. O’ Ceilleachair: the dubs best footballer has Kilkenny blood in him
Well done to Joyce and that’s one less Kilkenny assassin that Galway have to worry about in the future
@Finnster: and Joyce a good Galway name!!!!!!
Great to see someone make it in professional sports. Well done
Fair play to him & the best of luck!!!
Some loss to the Kilkenny footballers though ……cough!!!
Paddy McCartin at half forward, sounds like a buck from Leitrim or Cavan.
@Enda Reynolds: whereas Maverick Weller is definitely one of them Wellers from Moate