St Kilda have signed an Irish Gaelic football star to the AFL club's roster for two years.

Tommy Walsh, 21, will join the Saints as an international rookie.

The 195cm, 95kg forward was a member of County Kerry's All Ireland final-winning side this year and scored four points in the decider.

Walsh was also the Gaelic Athletic Association's young player of the year in 2008.

St Kilda believe he has the ability to make the transition to the Australian game and play in the AFL as early as 2010, a club statement said.

"Tommy Walsh is one of the most credentialled players to come out of Ireland," St Kilda's list manager Matthew Drain said.

"While he faces hard work to adapt to AFL at the highest level, we are confident that what we have seen of him proves he has enormous talent to become an important player for St Kilda.

"Essentially, we see that Tommy Walsh, in addition with Andrew Lovett, has taken place as a first round draft pick, based on his size, ability and credentials."

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