Red Óg Murphy is the latest gaelic football prodigy to opt for a career in the Australian Football League.

The Sligo teenager has signed a rookie contract with North Melbourne, making him the sixth hot GAA prospect to move Down Under this summer. He becomes the 14th Irish player currently operating in the AFL.

Murphy slotted eleven points during Sligo’s All-Ireland minor quarter-final defeat to Derry last year – a game which also featured Anton Tohill and Callum Brown, both of whom have left the Oak Leaf County for the AFL. He also hit 2-3 in this year's Connacht U20 quarter-final loss to Roscommon and featured for Curry in Saturday's Sligo IFC final replay defeat to Shamrock Gaels.

James Madden (Dublin), Mark Keane (Cork) and Stefan Okunbor (Kerry) are the others to have signed with Aussie Rules clubs in recent weeks.

According to North Melbourne’s GM of Football Cameron Joyce. “Red was invited to Arden Street and we were really happy with his ability and character. Our recruiters, and in particular our Pro Scout Nick Byrne, have stayed in touch with him and his family ovr the past few months and we are really happy to have signed him as a Category-B rookie on our list.”

“We did a variety of tests with Red and he was exceptional. We feel that he has the right foundations to enable him to have a real crack at playing in the AFL and we will give him every chance.”

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