Ray Connellan Biography

Ray Connellan is still confident he can carve out an AFL career after being delisted by St Kilda.

At 24, the blisteringly quick left-footer is not ready to resume his Gaelic football career.

"I'm a pretty realistic person. I think if I was crap at this sport and I knew I wasn't good enough to play AFL football, I'd happily admit that. There's absolutely no shame saying you're not good at a sport you've never played before," Connellan said.

"I've asked coaches (and) I've asked players to be honest with me and tell me if I'm no good … and I'll be good at Gaelic football and I'll live a comfortable life at home.

"But everyone that I spoke to, even the reaction of fellow players, they were shocked that I didn't get another year at it.

"That cemented it in my mind that, look, you're good enough to be here. Do everything you can to get to another club and if it happens, you've now got this unbelievable burn inside you to make it work, that you never even had before."

Ray Connellan is delisted by St Kilda but is reported to be keen to continue his AFL career at another club after two years of playing in the VFL.

St Kilda signs two new Irish rookies as it continues a strategy of building its list with international talent.

The Saints have signed hurling star Darragh Joyce and International Rules player Ray Connellan, both on two-year deals.

The pair trained with St Kilda for three weeks mid-season and hope to relocate to Melbourne before the end of the season.

"Our strategy from mid-2013 has been to increase our talent base through different means," Saints recruiting boss Tony Elshaug told The Age.

"We hope these boys could play a significant part in that."