DERRY’S CONOR GLASS has become the latest young Irish player to sign for an AFL side after champions Hawthorn confirmed his signature this morning.
The Derry minor captain will join the club as an International Category B rookie after finishing secondary school next June.
Glass is the second Irish teenager to secure an AFL contract this month, after Tipperary dual-star Colin O’Riordan signed for the Sydney Swans. Killenny man Darragh Joyce also took part in the recent Australian Football League Draft Combine.
Glass captained Derry to this year’s minor Ulster title and All-Ireland semi-final, and the Watty Grahams clubman has officially signed after taking three visits to the club in recent years.
I’m very excited,” he told Hawthorn’s website.
“Coming from a small town back in Ireland to a big city in Melbourne, it’s an unbelievable experience and hopefully I can get the most out of it.
“Everyone’s been really supportive since I got here, and they’ve really helped my progress in becoming an AFL footballer.”
The club’s recruiting manager Graham Wright says the the half-forward has been a player they’ve been keen to recruit for some time.
“Conor has been on our radar for some time now and we are thrilled that he is finally a Hawthorn player,” he said.
“He is a good mark of the round ball and has shown great skills on both side of his body.
“Now it will be a matter of him honing these skills with an oval ball and learning the game of AFL.”
