Report: Saints beat rivals to sign young Irish gun

17-year-old Gaelic Footballer Kobe McDonald has signed with St Kilda, reports SEN's Tom Morris.

The Irish Examiner originally reported that the 17-year-old had interest from multiple clubs including the Demons and Lions, but Morris says it's now the Saints who have secured his signature, with the teenager to head down under once he's finished school.

Hailing from the county of Mayo, which is the same as Geelong’s Oisin Mullin and former Brisbane Lion and Gold Coast Sun Pearce Hanley, McDonald has been considered one of the best prospects that the sport has seen.

At such a young age, the teenager, who played for Crossmolina Deel Rovers' senior side this year has earned plenty of praise with one coach calling him “the most exciting thing I’ve seen in a jersey in quite a while”.

He is also the son of Ciarán McDonald who featured for Ireland's International Rules squad in 2005.

McDonald receives his high school Leaving Certificate next June, so he'll be free to join St Kilda from mid-2026.

Photo credit: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile