Aussie Rules NewsTwo years after his shock defection to Aussie Rules from hurling, Setanta Ó hAilpín is discovering that professionalism in Australia is proving to be a tougher world than he expected.

The 2003 All Star, who surprised GAA supporters when he joined Carlton, has still not played a full senior AFL match, and has been returned to the "Navy Blues" rookie list after becoming the first Irishman to kick a goal with his first kick in league football last month.

While Ó hAilpín's achievement was remarkable given he has only played 30 VFL - a competition for senior reserve squads - matches, the future remains uncertain. Carlton are bottom of the AFL ladder, in debt, and still reeling from the salary cap breaching penalties that denied them access to players in the national draft.

Ó hAilpín and his brother Aisake are earning around 18,000 a season but they are a long way from establishing themselves in the senior team and earning the large salaries of some of the game's top stars.

Aisake Ó hAilpín is currently in the VFL seconds and is expected to require at least two years to grasp the rules of a new game and strengthen his slender frame.

Setanta Ó hAilpín has little hope of playing for Carlton in the immediate future, unless there is a long-term injury to a senior listed Carlton player.

With Carlton having recently re-signed their star full forward, Brendon Fevola, the Cork player has once again dropped down the pecking order of would-be Carlton players.

"It's been frustrating to be back on the rookie list but I am over that now," Setanta Ó hAilpín said. "Compared to Tadhg Kennelly I am still a long way behind but at the start of the season I never expected to play for the seniors. Having done that it has increased my determination to make it at Carlton and hopefully I will get another senior game before the end of the season.

"Carlton is my home now and playing Aussie Rules is an even bigger dream than playing hurling for Cork, but I have not achieved anything in Aussie Rules yet.

"The only time for people in Ireland to get excited is when I have played 40 to 50 AFL games and I am regularly kicking five or six goals a game."

This month Ó hAilpín has been under as much pressure as at any time during his Aussie Rules career. Last week he was on the receiving end of some harsh words from Bullants coach Barry Mitchell who has grown increasingly frustrated with his body language following his demotion to the rookies.

This was always expected following the return from injury and suspension of several senior listed Carlton players but for Ó hAilpín it has not been any easier to accept.

"We know Setanta is very disappointed about being back on the rookie list but he has to improve his body language as a priority," Mitchell said.

"He can kick, mark, and handpass, but his off-the-ball play is holding him back. Dennis Pagan will not tolerate that kind of body language in the seniors."

Irish legend and former Melbourne Demons Brownlow medallist and team of the century member Jim Stynes remains sceptical about Ó hAilpín's chances of fulfilling his dream of achieving AFL stardom.

"Most AFL teams tend to move players on who drift in and out of their senior team," Stynes said.

"Setanta has got to be a significantly better than his teammates to establish himself in the Carlton seniors.

"Playing Aussie Rules is a bloody tough business and most players don't even play 20 matches let alone 200."