TADHG KENNELLY SAYS his decision to retire from Australian Rules Football will help him to rediscover his best for the Sydney Swans’ AFL finals campaign.
The 30-year-old Kerryman says he felt a weight lift from his shoulders when he announced his decision, as thoughts about his future had badly affected his performances since he injured himself against Fremantle in July.
Kennelly has looked a ghost of his former self and was dropped for the crucial round 22 clash with St. Kilda.
He did, however, play in the recent away win over Geelong.
“Now I look back on it and I think that was definitely the anguish of the mental stress I was putting myself under, I suppose thinking so much about my future,” Kennelly, who returned to Ireland to win an All-Ireland title with the Kingdom in 2009, said in the Sydney Morning Herald.
“I’m generally a very positive person (but) that’s taken its toll on me physically. It’s definitely affecting me on the field.”
Despite his intention to end his AFL career, it seems unlikely that Kennelly will return to his home country for another stab at the Sam Maguire.
“I hope to still be involved in the AFL in some capacity, whether coaching or media,” he added.
