FLYING Start Management boss Ricky Nixon will fly to Ireland on Wednesday to meet with Director General of the Gaelic Athletic Association Paraic Duffy about the recruitment network which is set to create a draft like system for clubs interested in investing in the Irish experiment. Nixon says that six clubs have shown interest so far.
“Brisbane Lions, St Kilda, Richmond, Geelong (have all committed). The Kangaroos are pending and there’s one other that has approached me today but I can’t say who that is. So at this stage it’s five but it will probably be six,” Nixon exclusively told afl.com.au.
Nixon says he is looking forward to the opportunity to discuss the project with the GAA and although he is hopeful that he can work together with the organisation, he says his plans will go ahead regardless of whether he gains their blessing.
“It’s a pretty big step forward (meeting with the GAA). That’s only been confirmed over the last 24 hours. I want to be up front and tell them what’s going on. We intend to run a camp over there. I’m not sure whether that will be in August, September or October, it just depends on the availability of the players.
“If they didn’t want to meet then I would have kept going anyway. It wouldn’t have stopped us doing what we’re doing but I think it’s far better to at least talk about it.
“Put it this way, if I don’t do it, it’s going to happen anyway. And it’s going to happen in a way that’s far more damaging than the way I’m going to do it.
“We’re going to be honest and upfront. The last thing that a county side over there needs is their best talent there one day and gone the next.”
However, Nixon insists that he is happy to take guidance from the GAA as to how the recruitment system should work in terms of structure and possible financial compensation for clubs who lose their star young players.
“If they say to me, ‘Ricky, we don’t like what you’re doing but we know it’s going to happen anyway so we’d rather work with you, so we suggest this, this and this or transfer fees’ then I’m all ears. I’m happy to work with them. While I can never comprehend how ingrained in Irish culture Gaelic footy or hurling is, I can at least understand given how big AFL football is… I assume it’s pretty similar.”
Despite the staunch and long-standing amateur ethos of Gaelic Games, Nixon believes the GAA could gain from his expertise.
“I’m quite happy to offer assistance to the GAA in respect to making the playing conditions and what the players are able to do over the next 10 years more professional. In the early ’90s, on the back of a lot of stuff I did … the AFL was able to become truly national and was able to have fully professional players and was able to have a players’ association that’s funded to the tune of $10 million now so I can give that expertise to the GAA if they want it. It’s up to them if they want to use it.”
However, Nixon is fully aware that his plans will meet resistance.
“Players have been coming out of Ireland since 1980. All we’re really doing is trying to make this more professional and organised as opposed to one AFL club I know who flew out of Melbourne this morning in a panic because I’m going over there. So they are going to go over there, start ringing kids, turning up to games, turning up to houses unorganised and not being upfront with the GAA.”
Nixon did not wish to reveal which Melbourne-based club has sent representation to Ireland on Wednesday.