SYDNEY SWANS’ Irish players Tadhg Kennelly and Brendan Murphy have started their St. Patrick’s day celebrations early with a drastic change of hair style. Both players have had their heads shaved, just leaving enough hair to form a green dyed patch in the shape of a shamrock.

“The boys kept asking us what we were going to do for St. Patrick’s Day so we said we’d have to do something,” laughs Murphy.

The boys went to a lot of trouble to achieve their unique look with many hair establishments unable to cater for their unusual request.

“We went to so many salons to try and get it done before we found one that could actually did it, but it was worth it,” says Kennelly.

The new dos got a rapturous reception for the Swans boys at training, but the big question is, would Tadhg’s mum Nuala approve of his new look?

“I was on skype this morning and showed her, she thought it was funny,” he said.

While Mrs. Kennelly likes the Irish inspired do, Murphy isn’t sure that the look is going down so well with the Australian ladies.

“We were out for dinner last night and there was two girls staring at us. I think they were laughing at us to be honest,” he admits.

Whereas their hair do might be very Irish, the manner in which the two boys will celebrate Paddy’s day is not so traditional. With the season only days away, it will be a more subdued celebration than if the boys were back in Ireland.

“I haven’t been back in Ireland for Paddy’s Day for years now, but with the season starting so soon, it will definitely be a lot quieter this year,” Kennelly says.