The conveyor belt of GAA players lending their skills to AFL teams has always been steadily moving, and on Friday next another Irish star will make his bow when Anton Tohill lines out for Collingwood.
Anton, son of Derry GAA legend Anthony Tohill, has been with the Aussie club since 2018 where he has been playing with the side's reserves. At the team announcement for Friday's clash against Port Adelaide, however, Tohill was informed that he would be making his senior bow for the club.
The news came to the delight of his teammates who hugged and cheered for him in a joyful mob as Anton himself was visibly emotional about the huge news he had just received.
Tohill had an impressive showing at the AFL's Draft in Dublin which preceded his signing for Collingwood and despite having to wait for his first senior appearance, he did sign a one year extension with the club in December of last year.
Now he has his chance to impress in the senior ranks with Collingwood. The Melbourne-based side are struggling in this year's AFL where they find themselves in 15th place after 17 games. Tohill will be relishing his chance to shine and aid the cause as the team look to improve on recent results.
Speaking on Tohill's debut, Collingwood interim coach Robert Harvey was very pleased for the young Derryman:
"It was a great moment to see his reaction to that, and the players' heartfelt feeling for him, because they know how hard he's worked for this, and how much he's sacrificed to be here with us.
"He's worked so hard on his game. He's a very smart individual. He's a medical student in waiting when he gets back to Ireland.
"The respect he's earned from us internally has been enormous. We're rapt for him."
Harvey is more than familiar with the footballing powers of Anton's father Anthony, having come up against him in the International Rules series of 1998. That he was able to hand an AFL debut to his son has left him pleased:
"I was lucky enough to play against his father, he was captain of the Irish team in 1998.
"I just know he was fast. It was at Croke Park. He was running away from us pretty easily. I know he had speed.
"I was lucky enough to have a beer with him after. It (handing an AFL debut to his son) is one of those moments I suppose you get where (you realise) the world is small."
Having offered versatility to Collingwood's reserves in VFL action, Tohill will line up in defence in Friday's encounter with Port Adelaide.
