World Footy News

 

The following story by Travis King at www.afl.com looks at the next potential cab off the rank of North American sportsmen who have left behind their native codes to try their luck at Australian Rules football on the highest stage – the AFL.

 

AMERICAN man mountain Alex Aurrichio says he's been inspired to keep chasing his AFL dream by Jason Holmes' action-packed debut for St Kilda.

 

Holmes' high-leaping ruckwork had a major impact in the Saints' draw with Geelong last Saturday night.

 

 

And it proved to rookie hopeful Aurrichio that there's rewards on offer if he persists and builds on an encouraging first season playing VFL for the Northern Blues.

 

"Jumping over the Geelong ruck … unreal," Aurrichio said of his compatriot Holmes.

 

"He's had a hell of a week. I actually spoke to him a couple of times, I think he's still in a bit of shock – he hasn't taken it all in yet. But he's handled it really well and he played really well on the weekend, which was good.

 

"Seeing how successful he's been, it definitely pushes you that much harder knowing there's definitely opportunities if you earn it."

 

Nothin will stop Alex Aurrichio

 

Aurrichio is more of a power athlete than the spring-heeled Holmes, who hails from Chicago.

 

At 198cm, he's slightly shorter than most League ruckmen but that's just another hurdle the hulking 107kg former soccer goalkeeper is determined to overcome.

 

Aurrichio only arrived in Australia last November after being encouraged by his New York Magpies teammates to bite the bullet and move down under, despite no clubs following up after he tested well at the USAFL Combine.

 

He's defied his wildest expectations by playing in 10 senior VFL matches so far for the Carlton-aligned Northern Blues.

 

A raft of injuries cracked the door open and he's competed hard to average 28 hit-outs (Holmes averaged 29 this year before making his Saints debut) and five disposals.

 

Last round, Aurrichio achieved a heartening landmark when he was named in the Blues' best for the first time after winning 36 hit-outs in a 90-point hammering from Box Hill, a side stacked with Hawthorn-listed players.

 

"Right now we've been ravaged by injuries. Top to bottom, we've been killed … it's kind of worked out in my favour a little bit," he told AFL.com.au.

 

"(Robert) Warnock went down and a couple of other injuries have really opened the door for me. It's been a hell of a year to be honest, just in terms of personal development.

 

"I've played at the 'G, I've played at Etihad and I'm going to play this weekend at Simonds Stadium down at Geelong.

 

"The situation I was in when I first came out here, if you had of told me I would play at these iconic Australian stadiums, I would've said 'You're out of your mind'."

 

 

To read this story in full, click on the following link to afl.com:  http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-08-27/aurrichio-hoping-to-follow-in-footsteps-of-fellow-american-holmes