Brisbane Lions have confirmed that James Madden will be returning to Dublin after a six-year stint with the AFL side. It is news that could have intriguing implications for Dessie Farrell’s 2025 planning.
24-year-old Madden was recruited by the club back in 2018 off the back of a record-breaking performance in the European Combine in Dublin the previous year.
Madden broke the record for the 20-metre sprint in the combine, putting AFL sides on high alert and ultimately leading to his move Down Under.
In six seasons in the AFL, he made 13 appearances, with his most prolific season being his debut campaign in 2021. That year saw him appear nine times, scoring his first goal and helping the team to a fourth-place finish in the regular season.
He even earned plaudits from giants of the game Down Under such as Leigh Matthews for his exploits during his breakthrough season.
His appearances became more sporadic from then on, with Madden making only two appearances in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons. A shoulder injury picked up midway through the 2023 season would see him miss the rest of that campaign.
Unfortunately for the former Dublin minor star, that would be the end of his playing time with the Lions, as he failed to make a single AFL appearance during this year’s championship-winning campaign.
The Lions have now confirmed that Madden will return to Dublin and to Gaelic football, in what could be a boost to Dessie Farrell’s plans for 2025.
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Return of AFL man Madden could be boost for Dessie Farrell and Dublin
26 April 2018; Brian Fenton of Raheny in action against James Madden of Ballyboden St Enda’s during the Dublin County Senior Football Championship Group 1 match between Ballyboden St Enda’s and Raheny at Parnell Park in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
His departure was announced by Brisbane on Friday, with general manager of football Danny Daly saying:
Jimmy has played a really key role for us for a number of years coming in and out of the senior side but we respect his decision to return to Ireland and wish him all the best with his pursuits in Gaelic footy.
It appears clear from Brisbane’s statement that Madden has every intention of diving right back into Gaelic football upon his return home.
James Madden began his career as a midfielder and half-forward for Dublin’s underage football teams, lining out for the Dubs in the 2018 U-20 championship before departing for Brisbane.
Madden also lined out at club level for Ballyboden St. Enda’s and is now set to return to the club after calling time on his stint in Australia.
He was a highly-rated player during his youth career, and the plaudits he received early in his stint with Brisbane show how valued his talent was in Australia.
It is expected that Dublin will be in transition in 2025, after their shock exit at the quarter-final stage of this year’s All-Ireland championship.
The futures of several senior players will be up for debate. Dublin fans will surely not be surprised should the likes of Stephen Cluxton decide to finally call time on their inter-county careers and usher in a new era for the Boys in Blue.
Should there be departures in the midfield or half-forward line, there could be an opening for James Madden to force his way into Dessie Farrell’s thinking for 2025.
There will undoubtedly be pressure on Farrell to turn things around after the disappointment of 2024 and, with many of the old guard starting to falter for Dublin, fresh legs in attack could well be a major boost for the Dubs manager ahead of next season.
Elsewhere, Kilkenny man Darragh Joyce has signed a one-year contract extension with the Brisbane Lions.
Joyce captained Kilkenny in the 2014 All-Ireland minor hurling final before moving to Australia in 2017. He began his time as a Category B rookie with St. Kilda’s, breaking into the first team set-up the following year. He moved to Brisbane in 2023, though like Madden failed to get on the pitch for their victory in this year’s AFL final.
