Former Sydney AFL premiership player Tadhg Kennelly says his mind is still open to the prospect of rejoining the Swans.

Kennelly, 28, appeared to have all ruled out that option after winning the All-Ireland Gaelic football title with county Kerry in September.

At the time, he said both his heart and his head were "truly set on Kerry".

But he says that statement was telling the Irish media "what they wanted to hear".

"I described how my heart was with Kerry and how I felt I hadn't yet become all I could be as a Gaelic footballer," Kennelly said in an excerpt from his new book Unfinished Business, printed in the Irish Independent.

"All of this was true, but the reality was I didn't know what I was going to do. There were so many factors to consider.

"My family, my life with Nicole, my financial future, my sense of unfinished business in Australia."

The possibility of the running defender returning to Sydney will be welcomed by the Swans, after his shock departure ahead of this year's season.

Kennelly remains on Sydney's playing list, as his decision to return to his native Ireland was made after the cut-off point at the end of last season.

But the Swans will need to know by the start of December whether he is returning, if they are to keep him on their list for 2010.

The news of Kennelly's possible return comes after St Kilda's signing of another Irish Gaelic star, 21-year-old Tommy Walsh.

Walsh, a 195cm, 95kg forward, was a teammate of Kennelly in the All Ireland-winning Kerry side.

He has been signed by the Saints as an international rookie.

"Tommy Walsh is one of the most credentialed players to come out of Ireland," Saints list manager Matthew Drain said.

Drain said they viewed Walsh's acquisition as the equivalent of a player picked in the first round of the upcoming national draft.

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