Bradley could be Derry's Michael Murphy

Glen Watty Graham’s Emmet Bradley

DERRY boss Brian McIver has urged attacking starlet Emmett Bradley to ignore the lure of Australian Rules football, and become a key component in his Oak Leaf revolution.

Glen club man Bradley, who has just commenced his second year of study in St Mary’s University in Belfast, was one of those who took part in Tadhg Kennelly’s Irish AFL recruitment camp back in February. Last month he travelled to Australia for their recruitment tests. It now seems inevitable that he will be offered a contract by at least one of the AFL clubs next month.

McIver though hopes that the young Derry star will make the decision to turn his back on a move Down Under, and instead throw his lot in with his Oak Leafers as they commence their preparations for the 2013 season.

“We would obviously be very, very keen to keep hold of Emmett Bradley as he is a very special talent and an exciting young player. He is one of the players who we very much want to see in our trials in the coming weeks.”

There are those who would argue that a few years operating as a professional athlete would result in a fitter, stronger and better all-round player returning to play Gaelic games down the line, but McIver certainly does not buy into that theory. He is firm in his belief that the example which youngsters should follow is that of Donegal skipper Michael Murphy.

“Michael Murphy for me is the prime example of what can happen. He had the opportunity on more than one occasion to go to Australia, decided to stay, and now at 24 is an All-Ireland senior winning captain and recognised as one of the greatest players Gaelic football has ever produced.”

The full story is in the current issue of Gaelic Life, published on Thursday October 18. Buy your copy now in your local newsagent, or you can purchase the online version – for only 90p – by clicking here