Kerry's talented half forward Cillian Burke has been signed by AFL side Geelong Cats, joining the sizeable Irish contingent at the club.
Milltown Castlemaine Club-man Burke has been heavily linked with an AFL move this off-season having impressed for Kerry in a breakthrough year, displaying his pace and power.
He was a starter for much of the National League before being introduced as a sub, to good-effect, in the All-Ireland quarter and semi-finals. Prior to that, Burke won two Munster U20 titles in 2022 and 2023.
The 21-year-old will become a team-mate of fellow Kerry man Mark O'Connor Down Under, with Mayo's Oisin Mullin also on the books for the Cats.
Women's AFL stars Kate Kenny, Aishling Moloney, Rachel Kearns and Anna-Rose Kennedy also play for the Cats, with Zach Tuohy having spent the last nine years at the club, based some 70km south west of Melbourne.
Burke signs for the club as a Category B Rookie, and will make the move to Australia in Late November, with Geelong General Football Manager Football Andrew Mackie claiming they will try to make it a 'smooth transition.'
“Cillian is a very athletic and a talented prospect, we are thrilled he has decided to join Geelong and can’t wait to welcome him to Australia next month,”
“A very established GAA player, we understand Cillian has made a big life decision to move to Australia. We will support him and have a plan in place to make a smooth transition to the Cats and our football program.”
Welcome, Cillian! 🍀🙌 Exciting Irish prospect Cillian Burke has joined Geelong as a Cat B Rookie#WeAreGeelong | @PepperstoneFX
— Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) October 31, 2024
It comes as a blow for Jack O'Connor having lost two half forwards already this off-season, with Stephen O'Brien and Adrian Spillane retiring from inter-county duty.
Burke was seen as a player who could play for Kerry for years but they will have to do without him for now, though the Kingdom have been braced for the news.
