'They're all in Australia' - Former Mayo star on LGFA's talent drain

GPA CEO Tom Parsons has spoken out on the impact of GAA and LGFA players swapping Gaelic games for Australian Rules, particularly those from his native Mayo.

Charlestown Sarsfields clubman Parsons, who represented his county with distinction, noted how the Green and Red on the Ladies' side of things have been affected.

Of the 39 Irish players competing in the AFLW, seven of them have plied their trade for Mayo.

Sarah Rowe (Collingwood), Dayna Finn, Maria Cannon (both Carlton), Grace Kelly, Niamh Kelly (both Adelaide), Rachel Kearns (Geelong), and Aileen Gilroy (Hawthorn) are all involved Down Under, while Oisín Mullin, much like Kearns, is playing with Geelong.

"If we're losing 40 of our highest profile female Gaelic games athletes, that young people see playing and those role models are then taken out of our system, it's a huge blow to Gaelic games," Parsons stated.

"We know how important role models are for kids to go into games, to want to go to games.

"We can only imagine how many kids are pulling out of their parents to go and see David Clifford play. We have amazing female players who had that same pull in Mayo, as an example, and they're all in Australia."

Parsons also advocated for the improvement of the conditions that inter-county footballers receive, stating that he thinks that if the correct structures were in place, those flocking to pastures new could potentially reconsider.