Controversial Aussie Rules agent Ricky Nixon has claimed that AFL clubs are losing interest in recruiting Irish players.

Nixon, who plans to hold another camp in Ireland next year, says a lot is riding on how former GAA stars Tommy Walsh, Jamie O'Reilly and Niall McKeever fare out next season with St. Kilda, Richmond and the Brisbane Lions respectively.

"It will really come down to how Tommy Walsh, Jamie O'Reilly and Niall McKeever do in the next 12 months," he told The Irish Daily Star.

"If they burst onto the scene and they play well, of course people will still be interested, but at a much lower level, and they won't spend the money they were spending previously.

"My view is that the 'Irish experiment' could be dead within 12 months. We still have clients who want to have a look, but I'd have to say most of the clubs are dropping away pretty quickly.

"They think it's too much of an investment for two years to wait and it costs you twice as much. It's making it pretty difficult to recruit from Ireland in the future. That's exactly what I said three years ago, but no-one wanted to listen."

Kildare teenager Paul Cribbin is the only Irish player added to the books of an AFL club for the 2011 season. Tweet

Most Read Stories