Surprise move as Pies split with 'homesick' player

2 years ago 362

Collingwood defender Mark Keane and the nine person mutually parted ways, with the import deciding to stay successful Ireland.

The Pies contiguous confirmed Keane would not instrumentality to the nine contempt having 1 twelvemonth remaining connected his contract.

Keane joined Collingwood successful 2018 arsenic a Category B rookie and was contracted with the nine until the extremity of the 2022 season.

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The Irishman near the AFL programme aboriginal to instrumentality location successful August past year.

He came backmost concisely to implicit pre-season grooming successful November but did not instrumentality to recommence grooming connected January 10.

Kean made his debut successful Collingwood's Round 9 clash with Fremantle successful 2020, going connected to play 5 elder games for the club.

As a Category B rookie, Collingwood is incapable to regenerate 21-year-old successful their squad.

"Although a pugnacious call, I cognize remaining successful Ireland and being with my household is the close determination for maine astatine this time," Keane said.

"I person thoroughly enjoyed my clip astatine the Pies, and I convey the nine for giving maine the accidental to play AFL football.

"The nine has greatly supported maine for the duration of my enactment successful Australia and I volition ever admit that."

Collingwood shot brag Graham Wright said Keane struggled being successful the AFL situation and distant from home.

"We convey Mark for his publication to the programme implicit the past 3 years," helium said.

"Unfortunately, Mark has suffered from homesickness his full clip astatine Collingwood. He went location aboriginal successful August anterior to the play finishing and returned aft grooming had started successful November.

"Mark didn't instrumentality for grooming successful the New Year and we decided, on with Mark, that the rigours of AFL shot combined with being distant from location are excessively overmuch for him astatine this time.

"We privation Mark each the champion with his aboriginal endeavours and anticipation being location successful Ireland is precisely what helium needs."

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