Richmond Tigers Irish defender Jamie O’Reilly makes his debut for the club in this weekends’ clash of the titans against rivals Carlton at the MCG.

The 22 year old former Gaelic football player is the Melbourne club’s first ever Irish player, after picking up the AFL code at a remarkable pace.

The County Down native was first spotted by Richmond recruiters playing U-21s for his county last March, and the following week in an All Ireland semi.

After being offered a trial with the Tigers, he put his commerce degree on hold and made the trip to Australia.

Following an impressive performance at Punt Road late last year, he signed for the Tigers on an international two season rookie contract. “I’m really loving it,” he told  richmondfc.com.au last month.

“It’s everything that I expected it would be, living the professional lifestyle. At home I had a part-time job, was studying full-time and had football five or six nights a week for all different teams.

“So it’s good to be able to concentrate all of my energy on one thing.

O’Reilly also recently told the Irish Echo how he hoped to notch up a senior game in the three remaining rounds of the season.

Now it seems his dream has come true, and after playing for the reserves for the past year, the Irish man will line out on the half back line against Carlton on Saturday.

The AFL rookie will be well represented for the big game, with the Tigers reportedly flying out his parents from Belfast.

He also told the Irish Echo how the dream was to follow the footsteps of fellow Irish players who made their AFL debuts in their first year.

‘You could almost count on one hand the guys who have managed to do it [play in their first year]- like Martin Clarke, Michael Quinn and Colm Begley, so it would be great to do it.

But does he have any hankerings to return to his native Down and Gaelic football?

O’Reilly admits he’s thought about it, but that he has no regrets. ‘I’m out here and I’ve made the decision to pursue another adventure, and I’m fully focused on trying to play senior football’.