\n Conor Nash (right) at Irish International Rules training last November<\/p>\n
Source: James Crombie\/INPHO<\/p>\n
TEEN PRODIGY CONOR Nash has admitted that turning his back on Meath GAA and Leinster rugby to forge an Aussie Rules career was a \u2018massive call\u2019 for him.<\/p>\n
Nash\u2019s last game of Gaelic football came at the weekend when he powered Simonstown Gaels to a maiden Meath SFC title success.<\/p>\n
Meath legend Trevor Giles said recently that Nash is a GAA superstar in waiting while Leinster rugby wanted to sign him up to their academy.<\/p>\n
\n Conor Nash in action for Leinster U18’s in 2014<\/p>\n
Source: Ken Sutton\/INPHO<\/p>\n
That would have meant studying at UCD for the 18-year-old who completed his Leaving Cert this year and a potential professional career on his doorstep.<\/p>\n
But the sky-scraping midfielder passed it all up for the opportunity to make his name in Australia with Hawthorn who won a three-in-a-row of AFL titles between 2013 and 2015.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a massive call for me,\u201d admitted Nash.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was probably back in February that I was offered the deal by Hawthorn. I went out and then came back and was given a lot of time to make a decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cRugby was a massive opportunity for me and if I\u2019d stayed, I would be playing rugby, hopefully with Leinster up in UCD.<\/p>\n
\n Conor Nash playing in an Ireland U18 Clubs International in 2015<\/p>\n
Source: James Crombie\/INPHO<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rugby boys, the Leinster lads, they were very sound and said, \u2018look, if you do come back then you\u2019re certainly not off the books\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n Get closer to the stories that matter with exclusive analysis, insight and debate in The42 Membership.\n <\/p>\n
Become a Member<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Hawthorn have been tracking Nash for three years and hope that living with Derry\u2019s Conor Glass, another recruit from GAA, will stave off any homesickness.<\/p>\n
Nash has been fine tuning his AFL skills for months with the help of Longford star and ex-Essendon player Michael Quinn.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s also received advice from former Aussie Rules players Tadhg Kennelly and Tommy Walsh from Kerry. Meath great Colm O\u2019Rourke is Nash\u2019s club boss at Simonstown and said he\u2019d \u2018love to see\u2019 the wonder kid tearing it up for Meath at Croke Park some day.<\/p>\n
\nWe can't wait to see him in brown & gold! pic.twitter.com\/oUpnatrtQ5<\/p>\n
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) October 30, 2016<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Source: Hawthorn FC\/Twitter\n <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
(Click here if video doesn\u2019t play)<\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cPlaying senior for Meath would certainly have been something I\u2019d have liked to give a crack to,\u201d said the former St Pat\u2019s student.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can\u2019t happen now. It might happen in a couple of years, we\u2019ll see how things pan out.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Nash struck two points in Sunday\u2019s county decider.<\/p>\n
But he flies out to Australia on November 15 and won\u2019t be available for the club\u2019s AIB Leinster championship clash with Rhode on Sunday week.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a new experience, an opportunity to test myself,\u201d he said. I think with the support network and the opportunities at Hawthorn, if I get stuck into training I know in my own head that I\u2019ll be fine and that I\u2019ll succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!<\/p>\n