Kerry’s Tadhg Kennelly has revealed he has talked to the GAA about setting up a retirement fund for inter-county footballers and hurlers.
Kennelly spent six years playing Aussie Rules in the AFL and there is AUS $15,000 (€8,886.83) put aside for AFL players for every season they play, with the money coming from the players’ association, while the players receive agreed payments from the AFL based on the league’s income from TV rights.
Kennelly, who returned from Australia in a bid to win an All-Ireland medal, told The Examiner: ‘If you play 10 years you get a lump sum of a $AUS150,000 (€88,874.52) payment when you are finished. Like, Darragh O Sé has played 15 years of football and it’s something you could do. No-one in Ireland would complain if you gave him 10 grand.
‘It would still be far off what he has lost from playing the game. It is more of a thank you than anything else.’
Kennelly said the GAA had not reacted badly to the suggestion but went on to say he thought the game should never go professional. ‘I don't think the game itself will ever go professional,’ said Kennelly. ‘Nor should it. I've seen the game the way it is set up in Australia. There is no loyalty.
‘As long as players aren't out of pocket because they are missing a Friday afternoon out of work, because they have to be here and there doing this and that. That's the big thing.’
Kennelly hasn't yet officially retired from Aussie Rules so hasn't received the fund, while his former Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos has left the door open for his return to the AFL should he want to.
