DERRY defender Eoin McEvoy is believed to be the number one target for Australian Rules clubs keen to source new talent from the GAA.
It is understood that Magherafelt clubman McEvoy, a back-to-back Ulster Championship winner and All-Ireland semi-finalist with the Oak Leafers, impressed AFL coaches during trials recently.
A rich crop of young GAA talent were put through their paces by various AFL clubs. The 20-strong group included Derry prospect Ruairi Forbes, Meath’s Eamon Armstrong, Luke Crowley (Kerry), Dublin’s Ethan Dunne and Kobe McDonald, son of former Mayo star Ciaran McDonald.
An Ulster finalist at minor level two years’ ago, Forbes graduated to the Derry U20s last season and was a regular scorer as the Oak Leafers progressed to another provincial final.
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All of the young players who were invited to Australia are obviously richly-talented but it is understood that McEvoy, who skippered St Mary’s Magherafelt to the MacRory Cup in 2022, is viewed by several clubs as the standout prospect.
The 21-year-old would seem to have a lot of the attributes required to be successful in Aussie Rules. He is young, tall, strong, quick over the ground, athletic and a natural competitor who has played Gaelic Football at the highest level.
Aussie Rules clubs veered away from the official ‘Combine’ set up and worked on an individual basis. A number of clubs are believed to have been involved in the trials including Freemantle, St Kilda, Geelong, Essendon, Adelaide Crows, North Melbourne, Hawthorn and Greater Western Sydney.
It goes without saying that McEvoy would be a huge loss to Derry should he make the switch to Aussie Rules.
The O’Donovan Rossa clubman was brought into the panel in 2022 but made his mark the following year when he quickly established himself at full-back allowing Brendan Rogers to partner Conor Glass in midfield.
An ever-present throughout the Championship, the youngster was nominated for an Allstar and for the Young Player of the Year award.
He continued his development in the early stages of last season and showed his all-round potential when, wearing the number six jersey, he joined the Derry attack in the Division One final against Dublin and scored two superb goals.
A hamstring injury meant Derry were without him for the All-Ireland group games against Galway and Armagh and defeats in those games put a massive dent in their confidence of a side viewed as Sam Maguire contenders.
Looking short on fitness, McEvoy was brought back for the scrappy victories against Westmeath and Mayo before Derry bowed out against Kerry at the All-Ireland quarter-final stage.
Since then Mickey Harte resigned as manager and his successor may not be appointed until after the loss of one of Derry’s outstanding young players.
