AFL giants St Kilda have signed injured Westmeath football star Ray Connellan to a two-year contract.

Connellan, who suffered a double leg break in the Lake County's Leinster SFC final defeat to Dublin this month, will be joined at the Melbourne club by former Kilkenny All-Ireland minor winning captain Darragh Joyce and both are expected to relocate Down Under as early as next month.

St Kilda's recruiting boss Tony Elshaug confirmed that both players have been signed to the club, despite the 22-year-old Connellan's recent injury woe.

"Our strategy from mid-2013 has been to increase our talent base through different means," Elshaug is quoted saying on theage.com.au, "and we hope these boys could play a significant part in that."

After undergoing surgery two weeks ago, Connellan told the Irish Independent: "Injuries happen in sport. They (St Kilda) know that. It's not going to be any major delay.

"Pre-season doesn't start until November so it's not going to affect it too much. My fitness will probably be a bit off but it's nothing I can't deal with." 

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