"My mother wouldn't let me go," joked David Clifford on Monday evening when asked about his decision not to join the growing Irish contingent in Aussie rules.
Clifford had just confirmed to Radio Kerry's Tim Moynihan moments earlier that he would be committing to Kerry for the 2018 season.
The 18-year-old disclosed that a move to Australia had been considered. However, his dream has always been to play senior football for Kerry.
Yeah, of course [AFL was considered]. And as you say there's a lot of factors that might lure you in. I suppose the one thing for me personally was saying to a few friends that I grew up dreaming of playing for Kerry, I never grew dreaming to become an Aussie rules player.
Obviously, the weather down there might be better and it's a professional game and all that. I suppose in my near future I'm hoping to keep progressing in the Kerry jersey and the Fossa jersey too.
Clifford did admit that that joining the AFL in the future was not out of the question. "To be honest, I don't know. For the near future, my concentration is on football and staying in this country. If things didn't work out here, then maybe it's something you could look at."
At a little over 6' 2" and 91kg - along with some stunning minor performances for Kerry over the last two years - it's easy to see why AFL sides have scouted him with covetous eyes.
It's also why he's already being talked about as a likely addition to Eamonn Fitzmaurice's personnel for an assault on Dublin's dominance.
Whether he lines out for Jack O'Connor's U20s in 2018 or the Kerry seniors, Clifford is going to take it in his stride.
That won't be my decision, that'll be for who's over both of the teams: Jack and Eamonn Fitzmaurice. Whatever happens, we'll just take it and go along with it.
Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
