Tadhg Kennelly’s future with the Sydney Swans in the AFL is in doubt as he was among ten full time coaching staff not to be brought back into the club.

With AFL clubs dealing with severe financial difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a maximum number of 25 football department staff are allowed in each club.

Sydney Swans had 35 coaching staff before the pandemic hit and assistant coach Kennelly is one of the ten who has not been brought back to the club.

Kennelly’s AFL career spanned ten years starting in 2001 and he returned home in 2009 to win an All-Ireland with Kerry before returning to Australia and retiring from playing with the Swans in 2011.

"We have had to combine roles and look for efficiencies where we can find them to maximise the contribution of every role within the 25 head count," Swans head of football Charlie Gardiner told the AFL website.

"That has also resulted in the stand-down period for 10 full-time staff being extended, while a large number of part-time and casual staff are not able to be re-engaged.

"The staff members not reinstated include assistant coach Tadhg Kennelly and two other Sydney Swans life members in opposition analyst Stuart Maxfield and NEAFL and Team Swans manager Craig Holden.

"All have been wonderful servants of the club – we are feeling for them and their families.

"Unfortunately, we do not know what the future holds, as we continue to see the landscape change throughout this crisis. What we do know is the impact of these changes will be felt for some time to come."

 

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