Tadgh Kennelly has been listed as one of the top 10 rookies in the AFL. After a successful first full season with the Sydney Swans, Kennelly is back in Listowel and on the Ireland panel for next month's International Rules series with Australia.
Omitted from Kerry's panel for Sunday's All-Ireland final against Armagh, the former underage star can take consolation from the Australian Rules Rising Star rankings.
Top of the list is St Kilda's 19-year old phenomenon Nick Riewoldt whose first full season has been rewarded with 34 out of a possible 35 votes from the adjudicating panel. There was some expectation that he might even make the All-Australian selection, which has just been named and will form the basis of the Australia International Rules.
In the event he didn't make it despite having more impressive season statistics than some of those who did make All-Australian but it has been confirmed that he has been selected for the International Rules tour to Ireland.
"That's a great honour that I'm really looking forward to," he said. "But as far as missing out on the All-Australian side, well it was such an honour to even be considered and I'm at the start of my career and hopefully I've got plenty of chances to make up for that."
Also of Irish interest is the runner-up in this category, Chris Judd of West Coast, who is the first of the Australian players to have graduated from the under-17 International Rules series and make an impact in the AFL.
Although Kennelly was one of the last players in the rankings and along with Jamie Charman (Brisbane) and Jordon McMahon (Western Bulldogs) received only one vote, it represents an achievement to have made the list. Kennelly was named Rising Star of round eight of the AFL.
Injury has kept Nathan Buckley out of the past two series but should he indicate an interest in travelling it is likely that he would be added to the panel. Another former captain, James Hird, whose club Essendon is also unrepresented, misses out but like Buckley would be an automatic add-on if available given his performances when leading the Australians to their only series whitewash in 2000.
Hird was captain of the All-Australian side last year and that honour goes to his then vice-captain Michael Voss whose Brisbane Lions side are currently the dominant force in Australian Rules. Brisbane have received the highest representation with six players.
Among them is a name familiar to Irish followers of International Rules, Jason Akermanis who was suspended for last year's series after incidents with Peter Canavan two years ago.
Other names familiar from previous international series on the selection are Justin Leppitsch, Ben Hart, Adam Yze, Warren Tredrea, David Neitz and on the inter-change panel former vice-captain Shane Crawford, Nigel Lappin and Mark Ricciuto.
The Australian party will arrive in Ireland a week after the AFL Grand Final - which will take place on the last Sunday in September - and the Tests will be played at Croke Park on October 13th and 20th.
