FORMER CAVAN FOOTBALLER Nicholas Walsh has been appointed high-performance manager of AFL outfit St Kilda.
The Irishman will take over after former chief Matt Hornsby departed in the wake of the Saints’ poor 2021 campaign.
The high-ranking role is Walsh’s latest progression Down Under. A highly touted Gaelic football youth prospect, Walsh signed for Melbourne in 2001 and he spent three seasons with the Demons. Persistent injuries interrupted his development in Australia and he returned home after being delisted.
There he played for and captained Cavan. Walsh later joined Croke Park as children’s games development officer after spending five years working for the Cavan County Board as their GAA development officer.
In 2012 when GWS Giants were founded in Sydney, he was recruited as strength and conditioning coach. He subsequently advanced to player development manager and backlines coach.
He has spent the last three years working with the AFL Coaches Association as manager of the Tackle Your Feelings program.
Walsh will join the Melbourne-based outfit ahead of the 2022 season. The club also has Kilkenny native Darragh Joyce on their list. The 24-year-old has been with the club since 2017, debuting in 2018.
Joyce’s current contract expires at the end of the season, but The42 understands a new deal has been agreed.
Walsh’s new role will make him the second Irishman in such a position. UL graduate Kevin White recently moved from Collingwood to become North Melbourne’s high-performance manager.
As an Ulster fan I’d say another weeks rest would be better ;)
@Rab McCracken: think Leinster will go very strong this weekend. URC position ning and CC final prep on the agenda…
@Stuart: Not to mention avenging the loss from earlier in the season
Great news! Although I’ll believe it when I see them take the field on Saturday… Been a few Mon/Tues updates from Leinster/Ireland this year saying so and so is fit for the weekend and then they don’t quite make it
This is fantastic. If each got 50 or 60 mins this weekend unscathed, then they’re in contention for the final. Ringrose is a worry, seems to be an injury that’s really lingering. Hopefully we see him back for URC knockouts.
Beautiful
Fantastic news we need those guys so badly.
Having Ryan and Keenan back is great news for Leinster. I thought Osborne has played extremely well no matter what number is on his back. If Ryan is fit, you could start Connor’s against Toulouse and go 6/2 split on the bench with JVDF and Conan as back up back row.
Robbie Henshaw SHOULD have been MOTM on Saturday- and no coincidence that he was back in his natural/best position of 12. He is Leinster’s best 12. So in Ringrose’s continuing absence it suggests that Osborne is being considered for the 13 slot, with JO’B also a possibility.
@John Morris: would like to see Osbourne developed there at 13, with JOB as wing/fullback with green shades on
@Arjuna: Fully agree. JOB is best on wing or 15. However, he’s good cover in the centre, if needed. The game against Ospreys shows we have lots of talent in the centre. Ngatai and O’Brien had a great game, a few errors but overall a really great return.