McDonald 'couldn't turn down' chance at pro career
Young Irish athlete Kobe McDonald has signed with the Australian Football League (AFL) club St Kilda after a successful season in Ireland. He is moving to Australia with his parents to pursue a professional career in Aussie Rules football.
Why it matters
The migration of Irish Gaelic football talent to the AFL is a growing trend that impacts both the Irish inter-county scene and the Australian professional league.
Kobe McDonald says he couldn't turn down the opportunity to become a professional athlete in his first interview as a St Kilda player.
The 18-year old McDonald, son of former Mayo great Ciaran McDonald, was one of the stories of the inter-county season as he made a rapid adjustment to inter-county football and then helped the county deliver a sensational and unexpected All-Ireland final victory amid euphoric scenes at Croke Park.
A further element to the story was the knowledge all the while that McDonald was bound for Aussie Rules, having agreed to join St Kilda once he'd completed his leaving cert, which he did during the summer.
"I've always dreamed of being a professional athlete," McDonald told St Kilda's YouTube channel.
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