Australian football
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THE Irish experiment has hit Griffith.
For decades, AFL clubs have raided Gaelic football and transformed amateur sportsmen like Jim Stynes, Tadhg Kennelly and Pearce Hanley into professional stars.
Now the Griffith Swans will get a crack at this style of code conversion, with a keen bunch of Irish backpackers hoping to play in the Riverina Football League this year.
"One guy, Ethan (Murphy), is 6'5" and has played a fair bit of Gaelic football. He plays as a forward, as one of the main goalkickers," coach Guy Orton said.
"These guys are pretty set on playing. They've been to quite a few sessions already.
"When you haven't played the game before, obviously we've got to show them the ropes but if they end up being good enough for a senior spot, then they're good enough."
The first thing the foreigners must come to grips with is the weather, with Griffith's relentless summer heat clearly a world away from the chill of an Irish winter.
"I was talking to Ethan after the first training and he said when they train, it's cold as," Orton said.
"Then they've got to get used to the shape of the ball, obviously.
"Last night after we finished a couple of the boys took them aside and were trying to teach them how to kick the footy properly, which is what they need.
"Later on in the year we'll know how they'll adapt to the physical side of the game with our tackling drills, but I don't think they'll be scared at all."
But the Irish invasion hasn't been the only source of fresh faces at Swans pre-season training.
Basketballers Steven McCanna, Dean Spratt and Todd Howard have all followed former Demons boss and new fitness coach Andrew Cullen to the Swans.
"Obviously Andrew's a bit of a drawcard for them, but last year they all said they were keen to play," Orton said.
Aside from the code swappers, the Swans have finally locked in a handful of new recruits with genuine footy experience.
Midfielder James Kennedy and key position player Richard Malone have both moved to Griffith for work reasons after last season playing for Finley in the Murray Football League.
"It's a pretty strong comp they're coming from so they'll be handy players for us," Orton said.
"James is pretty wiry but quick and has some good skills on him, and Richard's a big guy with a good set of hands. Hopefully we can use him around the ground a bit."
The others are Dan Moysey, Bart Mackay and Thomas Smith, a former junior returning to the club.
"They're all training well and fitting in nicely," Orton said.