THE AFL is set to contribute to a Gaelic Athletic Association investigation that aims to help Irish ex-AFL footballers better reacclimatise on returning from Australia.

GAA officials brought the topic up in a discussion with AFL football boss Steve Hocking and head of talent, education and projects Tristan Salter that included the International Rules Series.

Part of the concern in Ireland is how few of the players in question manage to resume as top-tier Gaelic footballers after their AFL stint ends, but it is understood the study will go beyond that.

How they fare in returning to the workforce and life in general post being a professional athlete will also be a priority in a process that will involve interviewing Ireland's former AFL players.

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The AFL has committed to work with the GAA on the project, which coincides with a record 14 Irishmen being on AFL lists next year.

One of the GAA's powerhouse counties, Kerry, has also released a booklet called 'Stay, Play and Work in Kerry' and formed a committee in a bid to make the AFL lifestyle less alluring to its young stars.

Former Swan and Saint Tommy Walsh has become the poster child for the wider issue.

Walsh, who was described as "a cautionary tale" in the Irish media, was considered the Next Big Thing in Gaelic football before he left Kerry to join St Kilda in October 2009.

The now-30-year-old failed to play a match for the Saints, requested a trade to Sydney – where he played only five games – then pulled the pin on his injury-riddled AFL career at the end of the 2014 season.

Making matters worse is the GAA's 2008 Young Footballer of the Year never lived up to his lofty Gaelic football reputation and struggled to make Kerry's top team when he went back.

Tadhg Kennelly is one of only three ex-AFL players to become a Irish 'All-Star'. Picture: AFL Photos

Of the 24 Irishmen to play at least one AFL match, only Paul Earley (Melbourne), Tadhg Kennelly (Sydney) and Marty Clarke (Collingwood) became 'All-Stars' on returning, according to the Irish Examiner.

Clarke is now an AFL Europe specialist coach and helps groom Ireland's budding AFL stars and run the annual Talent Combine, which involves a battery of physical and skill testing.

On a related note, the AFL is yet to make a call on which four Irishmen will be brought to Melbourne in April to train with the AFL Academy.

Almost 40 players were involved in training sessions in Belfast and Dublin this year, with 20 of those invited to the combine in early December.

That same group will take part in another session in February before the most promising quartet travels to Australia to potentially heighten their AFL hopes.