THE FUTURE of Port Adelaide rookie defender Daniel Flynn's AFL career is in question, with the 20-year-old returning home to Ireland indefinitely to be alongside his terminally ill grandfather.
Flynn has struggled with homesickness since joining the Power last October and was granted leave from the club's overseas training camp in Dubai last November before visiting his grandfather a few weeks ago.
While the Power remain hopeful the talented Irishman will return to the club, Power football manager Peter Rohde said there was a chance he might not.
"Over the weekend Daniel Flynn made the decision he'll be going home to Ireland for a reasonably extended period," Rohde said.
"There's no hiding the fact he's battled homesickness the whole way through and he's been home to visit his grandfather a couple of weeks ago … [he] just feels the need to get back home.
"We'll obviously be in contact with him and Tadhg Kennelly through the AFL will keep working with him to try and help him to make the decision to continue with his AFL career.
"There's a chance he won't be back but we'll keep working with him – he's made a two-year commitment to us and we see it as a long-term path he's on."
At 190cm and capable of blistering speed, Flynn had developed quicker than the club had expected and Rohde said he "loves the footy side of it".
He attracted significant attention at last year's NAB AFL Draft Combine for his combination of speed, size and skills for a player with very little experience.
"He just finds that when he's not here he's missing home too much," he said.
While home in Ireland Flynn is expected to play Gaelic football for Kildare.
Meanwhile, Power midfielder Andrew Moore declared he had no issue with being hair-tested for illicit drugs out of season, saying such substance use had no place at Alberton nor in the AFL.
Power players were forced to offer hair samples early in the pre-season last year to test for illicit drug use over their break.
A hair test's window of detection is up to three months wide, compared to a several days for blood or urine tests.
But they are less accurate than a blood or urine test and, as such, don't count towards a player's three strikes.
If a positive result is shown by a hair test, the club can target test a player with blood and urine tests.
"Yeah, absolutely [it's fair]," Moore said.
"We won't tolerate any drugs around the club and it shouldn't be seen around the AFL as well.
"We embrace that and want to be a drug-free club.
"Obviously in the off season guys will go away, do their own thing but it's important that they realise what career they have."
