Mayo dreams are Kilda 'gain

The worst kept secret in Mayo GAA became official public knowledge on Monday with confirmation that Kobe McDonald is to pursue a career in Australian rules football.

Melbourne-based St Kilda announced that the 17-year-old from Crossmolina is to join the club in 2026.

McDonald, one of the most exciting up and coming Gaelic footballers in the country, lit up this season’s Mayo Senior Football Championship with a series of sensational displays in his debut year, but the hope of seeing him transfer those talents to the green and red of Mayo has diminished greatly as a result of Monday’s announcement.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Kobe and the McDonald family to St Kilda,” CEO Carl Dilena said.

“Kobe’s natural abilities have been evident for some time, and his experience playing Gaelic football will provide a great foundation for his transition to AFL.

“We’ve seen the impact Irish players can make in our game, and we’re looking forward to supporting Kobe as he begins his journey with the club.” 

Describing Kobe as an exciting attacking prospect with natural flair and composure, St Kilda said the Leaving Certificate student at Jesus and Mary Secondary School, Gortnor Abbey would relocate to Australia once he completes his final year of school in mid-2026.

Whether that leaves a small window of opportunity for McDonald to run the risk of injury and play some part in Andy Moran’s debut season as Mayo senior football manager or perhaps more realistically, in Mayo’s U20 championship season that runs from mid-March to potentially late May, remains to be seen.

Kobe McDonald announced himself on the national stage in 2024 when scoring 4-30 in seven games during Mayo’s run to the All-Ireland U17 football championship semi-final. This year he scored 1-15 in two games for Crossmolina against Belmullet and Westport in the quarter- and semi-finals of the Mayo SFC.

His father Ciaran represented Ireland with distinction against Australia in the 2004 International Rules Series but now Kobe will aim to follow in the footsteps of fellow Mayo men Pearce Hanley and Oisin Mullin and carve himself a professional career Down Under.

Ballaghaderreen native Hanley made his Mayo senior debut as an 18-year-old in 2007 but the following year was Down Under where he would make 169 AFL appearances for Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast before retiring in 2020. Mullin, who played in two All-Ireland SFC finals for Mayo, debuted for Geelong in 2023 and has since become a firm fixture in their team, scoring a goal in September’s Grand Final defeat to Brisbane Lions.

Kobe McDonald will join St Kilda as a Category B Rookie, who are players from non-traditional recruiting backgrounds. Rookie-listed players are not eligible to play in AFL matches unless they are elevated to the senior list, either to replace a retired player or a player with a long-term injury.

St Kilda currently have no Irish player in their senior men’s or women’s squads, with Colm Begley the best known of their former Irish players.