O'hAilpin hoping for second chance
THE EXPRESSION 'luck of the Irish' is misinterpreted more often than not.

Rather than suggesting the Irish are an uncommonly lucky bunch, it is an ironic reference to the way Ireland's history has been plagued by famines, war, foreign occupation and prejudice.

So it's fair to say Setanta O'hAilpin endured the luck of the Irish when he was sacked by Carlton after playing a constructive role in its 2011 finals campaign.

Carlton delisted O'hAilpin, 28, last month in a lineball decision in which the Blues found themselves having to decide between the versatile Irish tall and 23-year-old defender Paul Bower. In a press release announcing their decision, the Blues said there was "no doubt" the age difference between the two had been an "important" factor in their decision.

But O'hAilpin told the Herald Sun's Scott Gullan on Monday he had moved on from the shock and disappointment of his delisting and felt he was still improving as a footballer and had a lot to offer over the next three to four years.

O'hAilpin said he had spoken to a few clubs since his delisting but would leave it up to his manager, Michael Quinlan, to complete negotiations.

"I'm happy to go wherever [the draft] takes me," O'hAilpin said.

"I've had a great taste of footy. I know what it's about and I think people know I wear my heart on my sleeve and what I give is 100 per cent.

"Some others might have a bit more talent but if you've got a guy that is willing to give 100 per cent, you take him every time of the year."

O'hAilpin said he had not thought of returning to Ireland after his delisting and had been buoyed by the continued support of fellow countryman and recently retired Sydney Swan Tadhg Kennelly in recent weeks.

As O'hAilpin says, any club who drafts him know it is going to get a whole-hearted competitor and one who is capable of playing forward, back and pinch-hitting in the ruck. It's an enticing package for the right club and the fledgling Greater Western Sydney, with its horde of the nation's best young talent, must be sorely tempted to add his big frame to its inaugural list.

No luck with the Irish
The AFL has partially blamed timing and a lack of stars on the disappointing crowds at this year's International Rules Series, The Age reports.

The two Australia-Ireland matches together attracted little more than 35,000 people and ended in one of the most lop-sided results in the series' history, with the Irish prevailing by a combined 65 points.

According to The Age's Michael Gleeson, AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou told the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) the League had erred in scheduling the first match in Melbourne and had been hurt by the lack of elite players in the Australian team - just two players from the 2011 All Australian team played (Geelong's James Kelly and St Kilda's Stephen Milne).

GAA director general Paraic Duffy told the Irish Examiner Demetriou had told him this year's longer AFL season and resultant player fatigue had been a factor in the below-strength Australian team, while this year's series had had to compete for media coverage with the Rugby World Cup and the Melbourne Cup. 

Gleeson wrote that Demetriou told a dinner following last Friday night's final match the AFL was committed to International Rules, saying the series gave players of both countries a chance to play at an international level.

As previously scheduled, the Australia-Ireland series will take a break next year, before resuming in 2013 (in Ireland) and 2014 (Australia).

Dawson moving to Lyon's den
St Kilda's struggle to fit its total player payments under next season's salary cap has been well documented.

It led to speculation during trade week that senior players could be jettisoned, with Jason Gram the player most often linked with other clubs.  

Until now, the Saints' financial squeeze has not cost them any players, but that seems about to change, with The Australian reporting full-back Zac Dawson will walk out on the club "shortly" to join Freo via the national or pre-season drafts.

Reporter Greg Denham wrote that Dawson had rejected a new contract offer with St Kilda in favour of a "lucrative" three-year deal at Fremantle.

According to Denham, Dawson is "almost guaranteed" to get to Fremantle because there has been "minimal interest" in him from opposition clubs, including the one best placed to snare him, AFL new boys Greater Western Sydney.

Denham wrote that St Kilda was likely to announce contract extensions for Sean Dempster, Brett Peake and Farren Ray this week, while Dawson's defection meant Jason Blake, Dean Polo and Raphael Clarke could stay if they accept pay cuts.

Dogs in better shape than Saints
With Jason McCartney starting his new role as Western Bulldogs list manager on Monday, The Age's Michael Gleeson cast his eye over the Bulldogs' list.

Gleeson sought the opinions of several opposition recruiters and list managers about the state the Bulldogs find themselves in. Predictably, all preferred not to be named, but with the shield of anonymity they offered some interesting observations, including:

- The Bulldogs' list is in better shape than St Kilda's. "They have holes but they still have some reasonable players and a few coming through," one list manager said.

- Several said the Bulldogs' most glaring need was to recruit players of "silk" and outside midfield runners, with one recruiter questioning whether Adam Cooney's knee problems would allow him to return to his best and whether Ryan Griffen would ever be consistent enough to be an elite player. The same recruiter said the rest of the Bulldogs' midfielders were "dour and honest".

- The fact a number of their better players are around 30 would be a cause of concern, another recruiter said.

Gleeson, himself, suggested 2009 first-round draft pick Christian Howard was "a beautiful kick and not slow" so would be given more opportunities in 2012 to provide the silk the Dogs are lacking.

Gleeson also looked at the transitions the Bulldogs will need to make in the ruck and attack next year, with Will Minson, Jordan Roughead and Ayce Cordy in line to pick up the slack left by Ben Hudson's 'retirement'/move to the Brisbane Lions, and Liam Jones, Jarrad Grant and rookie Matthew Panos among the forwards the Bulldogs will look to fill the sizeable hole left by Barry Hall.

Meet a Giant young forward
On Monday, the Herald Sun's series profiling this year's 30 most-eligible draftees continued, with Matt Windley profiling yet another prospective GWS recruit.

For much of this year it has seemed a given the Giants will draft Eastern Ranges key forward Jon Patton, the only question being whether they will take him at No.1 or whether they will prefer West Australian on-baller Stephen Coniglio. 

Whatever pick he's taken with - the Giants have the first five selection in this year's draft, so he will wear orange, charcoal and white next year - no player will be more important to the Giants' long-term on-field hopes.

The best way to get a sense of Patton's imposing playing style is to consider the AFL player he is most commonly referred to - Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown.

Although such comparisons are overdone at this time of year, the Giants will be hoping they can build their future attack around Patton like the Lions have built theirs around Brown over the past decade.

Only time will tell whether the Brown-Patton comparison is a media beat-up. But the Giants will be glad to read that the young forward wants to get into the thick of the AFL straight away.

Patton told Windley he closely watched star AFL forwards like St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt, Hawthorn's Lance Franklin and Collingwood's Travis Cloke at games last year, looking at their positioning, leading patterns and body language.

He is also enthused that playing for the Giants will probably mean he is thrust into AFL football more quickly than he would be at an established club. Where some might see that as a daunting prospect, Patton sees it as an opportunity to learn from playing on some of the competition's best defenders. 

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL

Follow Nick Bowen on Twitter at @NickBowen71