Tadhg Kennelly claims Cathal McShane will play for Tyrone in this year's championship.
The Sydney Swans assistant coach believes it is too late for the 24-year-old sharpshooter to join Adelaide Crows for this year, despite flying to Australia to spend two weeks with the club.
"The AFL's final playing list has been lodged for the 2020 season so he can't play this year," said Kennelly.
"He'll be playing with Tyrone in the championship this year.
"He can come out in July if he did get selected in the mid-season draft but that is highly unlikely for an international player.
"Generally, the mid-season draft in the AFL is for a club that has had a number of injuries in a position where they then go to a lower league and pick up a player to put straight on their list.
"They'll probably offer him a contract if they're happy with how it went and send him back home to continue his year.
"They'd more than likely attempt to get him back out during the year when it suited his fixtures and then sign him in early October, November as an international rookie."
Former Kerry ace Kennelly, who was speaking to Off The Ball, added that he has known McShane from when, as an 18-year-old, he took part in an AFL trial when Kennelly was working as a recruiter.
But the Listowel man admits he's "almost sick" of the criticism dished out by Tyrone boss Mickey Harte of ex-GAA players who are now scouting for talent to bring Down Under.
"It's nothing new," said Kennelly. "Obviously, I understand where he's coming from and of course he's going to be disappointed.
"I'm almost sick of it. It is almost a consistent theme, and while I understand the frustration within the GAA, I think the AFL is an easy target.
"His comment about players coming (back from the AFL) and not playing well, there are examples going the other way too.
"Colm Begley has been fantastic for a long time with Laois. Brendan Murphy who was with the Swans went to Carlow when he came back.
"Chrissy McKaigue who was with the Swans went back and has dominated with his club and captained Derry. So, there are examples every way".
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