The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) has called upon the committee to set up a compensation procedure for the loss of players to the AFL.

The 'Irish Experiment' began when Melbourne legend Ron Barassi drew comparisons between Australian Rules Football and Gaelic football, potentially hitting an untapped market for the country down under.

Demons champion Jim Stynes has been the biggest name to jump codes, whilst a host of AFL stars have followed suit, including the recent signings Rob Monahan (Carlton) and Cillian Burke (Geelong).

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According to theย Irish Mirror, a top Kerry official, Patrick O'Sullivan, begged the GAA to take action following a report that indicated AFL scouts targeting seven young prospects.

"Procedure will have to be put in place where players cannot be taken without contributing to the club and counties who give so much to the development of these players," O'Sullivan said.

"They come selling a professional sport to our younger players. It is hard for young players not to look at a professional career in sport.

"If our younger players keep emigrating to Australia, the outlook for Kerry senior teams going forward will not be a good one.

"Kerry players are at the heart and soul of our county, and we have to figure out a method of retaining and keeping our players at home in Ireland.

Brisbane Lions defender Conor McKenna (Image: Brisbane Lions)

"We in Kerry aren't the only county suffering from this issue. There are players from other counties choosing to emigrate as well. We will be calling on the GAA to form a committee to look into this matter."

Monahan and Burke join a long list of Irish-born athletes who jump ship.

Geelong housed premiership players, Mark O'Connor and Zach Tuohy, with the latter recently hanging up the boots after 288 senior games, the V/AFL games record for an Irish player.

Sydney defender Taghg Kennelly was the first Irish player to win a premiership in 2005, while Stynes was a Brownlow Medallist in 1991.

The 'Irish experiment' hasn't been limited to the men's competition, with AFLW making the most of the talent in Ireland.

Irish players have become a mainstay of the AFLW, bringing a verve and attacking flair from their Gaelic roots.

There are 33 Irish players and counting in the women's competition.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 18: Zach Tuohy of Ireland gets his kick away during game two of the International Rules Series between Australia and Ireland at Domain Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

The relationship between the two countries also fostered an International Rules Series, combining Gaelic and Australian Rules Football.

The first proper series took place in 1984, ironically the year Stynes was drafted to Melbourne.

The popular cross-code match was a consistent fixture in the calendar up until 2017.

Earlier this year, officials from both the AFL and GAA were exploring the possibility of reviving the concept.

Notable Irish-born AFL players

Year Player AFL Club Matches
1982 Sean Wight Melbourne 150
1984 Jim Stynes Melbourne 264
1999 Tadhg Kennelly Sydney 197
2004 Setanta O'Hailpin Carlton/GWS 88
2006 Martin Clarke Collingwood 73
2007 Pearce Hanley Brisbane/Gold Coast 169
2009 Zach Tuohy Carlton/Geelong 288
2014 Conor McKenna* Essendon/Brisbane 123
2016 Mark O'Connor* Geelong 122
2016 Conor Nash* Hawthorn 98
2016 Darragh Joyce* St Kilda/Brisbane 24
2018 Mark Keane* Collingwood/Adelaide 31
2018 Callum Brown* GWS 42
2021 Oisin Mullin* Geelong 18

(* denotes current AFL players).