Former Derry star Chris McKaigue chats to CATHERINE MURPHY about his first few weeks with the Sydney Swans, learning to come to terms with the physicality of the AFL, and laying claim to a senior guernsey by season’s end.

While the Sydney Swans’ experience with nurturing Irish recruits means that Derry’s Chris McKaigue has been afforded all the trappings required to adapt to his new life in the Harbour City, training has been less comfortable for the young rookie.

Despite his AFL career being in its infancy, he hasn’t been spared any of the physical exchanges which go hand in hand with his new sporting code.

“I’ve taken a few knocks at training but that’s part and parcel of it,” McKaigue said. “Here, when players get a knock, their first instinct is to try to get straight up again.

“Their mentality is to be as tough and brave as they can. That’s how you earn respect off your 
team-mates here, there’s no room for complainers.”

The Derryman is certainly feeling the contrast between his new professional sport and his native code.

Sydney Swans new recruit Chris McKaigue is loving life as a full-time athlete.

“What I’ve learned so far is there’s a lot of pushing and shoving off the ball to make yourself available, a lot of body work, whereas at home that would be a free or even a yellow card. In Gaelic football there’s none of that before the ball comes in. It’s just so physical here.

“But then you do so much gym work here to prepare your body for it.”

Such is the level of “body work” off the ball, McKaigue admits that he can understand how differences in the physical approach in both codes can lead to conflict during international rules games.

The hybrid series is due to resume in October 2010 with the Australians planning to make the trip to Ireland. The Aussies pulled out of the 2009 series due to what they cited as financial reasons.

“The first time I played in a backs and forwards drill, the boys were pushing and shoving off the ball and I was getting frustrated with it but you get used to it. There’s no malice in it… mind you when it turns into full blown fighting that’s different.”

As big as the transition to the oval ball game’s more robust style is, the challenge is perceived even more difficult by Australians.

“When you talk to (Australian) reporters or even players, they consider Gaelic football to be non-contact, which it isn’t of course, but that’s the way they see it.”

With the Swans having missed out on finals action in 2009, and with a number of the club’s 2005 Premiership side hanging up their boots, the pre-season regime has been extra tough.

“The guys were saying that this pre-season is the most intense for a while. It’s a big change from just training in the evening at home and it definitely takes the body time to adjust.

“Because there are so many young new guys at the club, who’ve only done one or two pre-seasons or none at all, they’re trying to get miles into our legs so that we can cope with the season.

“I’m only now realising how long it is. It’s 22 games minimum, not counting finals, so you need those miles to get through it. As well as being long it’s tough and physical. You have to take the bumps and recover within a week.”

McKaigue has a big act to follow at the Swans. Tadhg Kennelly became the first ever Irish player to win a Premiership in 2005 and is now back in Sydney having added an 
All-Ireland medal to his collection. The pair actually spent some quality time together before this year’s Sydney pre-season meeting.

“I started the National league final and he came on for the last 20 minutes and was my direct opponent.”

But who came out best during the meeting which saw Kerry claim their 19th National league title with a three-point win over Derry?

“It was coming to the end so neither of us got many touches… he did go down dramatically and got a free for it though. He still gives me grief about that,” McKaigue laughs.

While Kennelly’s presence back in the Harbour City is certainly a bonus for the former Gaelic footballer, he says he chose the Swans, not just because of Kennelly’s experiences with the club, but because of the way they went about recruiting him.

“They (player development manager Stuart Maxfield and recruitment consultant Rick Barham) had seen me play a game but before they rang me, they sent me a letter first asking if it was okay to make contact. They were so respectful of the GAA and what it means to people in the way they went about it.

“At the start I was interested, but you’re always hesitant at the thought of moving to the other side of the world and leaving your family… but once they offered me a contract and I made my decision, my mindset completely changed. I’ve committed to playing AFL and making it is enough of a distraction to keep my mind off homesickness.”

Despite the challenge that lies ahead proving a big enough distraction, McKaigue admits that avoiding homesickness at all is probably impossible.

“Tadhg has said that once I start going out and making new friends things get easier. I think homesickness will always be there no matter how long you’re at the club but you just have to learn to cope with it.”

As well as Kennelly offering support, the rookie says senior players at the club have also been welcoming.

“The older guys on the team have been really good to me. Jude Bolton lives close to me and he gives me a lift to and from training every day. He’s almost 30 and has played nearly 250 games so we have great conversations to and from training.”

McKaigue also has a good network outside the club. He lives with his Australian first cousin Tom Dorrans and Tom’s girlfriend Fiona.

“He’s been home a good few times so he was pretty keen for me to come out here. I’m really lucky because his girlfriend Fiona has been really good to me and does all my cooking and washing. There are not many lads who get that done for them.”

Clearly focused on the task of playing the game at the top level, a challenge which has eluded many Irish recruits in the past, including former Swans rookies Kyle Coney and Brendan Murphy, McKaigue isn’t afraid to speak of his aim to don a senior jersey in season 2010.

“I was talking to Craig Bolton (club co-captain) and he was telling me about how much the team has changed. A lot of the really experienced veterans from the ’05 Premiership and ’06 final are gone.

“He said if I work hard there’s no reason why I can’t play towards the end of the season. I just want to work hard and learn the game and play for the reserves and then if I get the opportunity that’s all I can ask for.”

McKaigue, in the meantime, has been handed the No 36 guernsey for the season ahead.