Anyone who watched the documentary “Departure Day” last Monday night on RTÉ will be well aware of the vast numbers of young men from GAA backgrounds who are heading away for new life and work opportunities in both Canada and Australia.
Former Galway minor football captain, and Corofin senior player, Ronan Steede is joining that exodus too as he heads to Australia next Monday on an AFL contract for the season with Grove Dale, a club just South of Melbourne.
He will spend the first three weeks in Richmond, before joining up with the Grove Dale players.
Steede who would have been expected to a be a key player for the Galway U-21 team this season is very excited about the opportunity and looking forward to his new challenge.
“It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and having the contract until next September means that I can give it my all and see how it works out. If you did not go and try it, you would always wonder, what might have been?”.
Steede who is a past pupil of St Jarlaths College, Tuam has deferred his college course in Sligo IT for the year and he is very open minded about what may, or may not come out of his trip.
“I have been working hard over the past few weeks trying to bulk up in the gym and I know it will not be easy to make the break through into the AFL and the Grove Dale team, but I am going with an open mind and a very positive attitude. I will give it my all and see what happens”.
