TonyK
CibbuanoKennelly to return to Swans
November 13th 2009 00:42
SYDNEY premiership player Tadhg Kennelly will return from Ireland to play with the club next season.
The 28-year-old quit AFL football on the eve of the 2009 season to return to Ireland to pursue his boyhood dream of winning an All-Ireland Gaelic football title with his native County Kerry.
But after that dream was fulfilled in September, Kennelly has decided to come back to Australia to add to his 158 games in the red and white.
Swans coach Paul Roos was delighted that the 2005 premiership defender was returning to the club.
"It's great news for the footy club - it was all sort of finalised last night," Roos told SEN on Friday morning.
"He's a terrific player and the year off has only helped him from a footy point of view get his body back right and we look forward to seeing him next week."
Roos said Kennelly may be moved away from his customary half-back position given the recruitment of Rhyce Shaw and the development of Martin Mattner.
"I think the first thing is to get him back as quick as possible, because he's got to step up aerobically from a 90-minute game to a 120-minute, so he really needs to get a good pre-season under his belt and I'm confident he'll do that," he said.
"He played a bit on the wing and he played as a forward in Ireland as well, so there's a variety of different roles we could play him in."
Kennelly, who was not delisted by the Swans, will sign a two-year deal.
The 28-year-old quit AFL football on the eve of the 2009 season to return to Ireland to pursue his boyhood dream of winning an All-Ireland Gaelic football title with his native County Kerry.
But after that dream was fulfilled in September, Kennelly has decided to come back to Australia to add to his 158 games in the red and white.
Swans coach Paul Roos was delighted that the 2005 premiership defender was returning to the club.
"It's great news for the footy club - it was all sort of finalised last night," Roos told SEN on Friday morning.
"He's a terrific player and the year off has only helped him from a footy point of view get his body back right and we look forward to seeing him next week."
Roos said Kennelly may be moved away from his customary half-back position given the recruitment of Rhyce Shaw and the development of Martin Mattner.
"I think the first thing is to get him back as quick as possible, because he's got to step up aerobically from a 90-minute game to a 120-minute, so he really needs to get a good pre-season under his belt and I'm confident he'll do that," he said.
"He played a bit on the wing and he played as a forward in Ireland as well, so there's a variety of different roles we could play him in."
Kennelly, who was not delisted by the Swans, will sign a two-year deal.
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