Cian McBride first picked up an Australian football in April, but just seven months on the Irishman has moved his life across the globe to chase his footy dreams.
McBride had been inspired to try his hand at the sport following the efforts of fellow Irish code-switchers including dashing Bomber Conor McKenna and his raw talent saw him make sharp progress.
After impressing at a number of AFL Europe training sessions, McBride was invited to test at the NAB AFL Draft Combine last month where he put on a show with his elite athleticism to grasp his chance and secure a contract with the Bombers.
“I heard about (Australian football) a couple of years ago at home when a couple of lads from home were moving out, and I looked into it and said it might be something I’d like to give a go,” McBride said on Monday.
“I saw (McKenna) plenty of times before in the red and black. If one Irish man can do it, we all want to try and give it a go too.
“The two weeks down here were amazing. I got to meet a couple of the under-18 lads and made a couple of friends, so that was great too.”
McBride admitted it was no easy decision to make such a significant move at just 18 years of age, but the youngster says he has settled into Melbourne well and is loving his time at the club.
“It was always going to be tough moving away from home. It was a big decision, but it was the right decision in the end, I’m happy here at the minute,” he said.
“We got out and had a look about over the weekend and it’s a great city.”
The County Meath product’s addition to the squad completed an exciting Irish trio at The Hangar, with fellow recruit Ross McQuillan also joining McKenna in the red and black.
McBride said having his countrymen by his side in his first fortnight at the club has helped him “big time”.
“It’s great to have a couple of Irish (players) at the club, so you don’t feel too far from home – they’re always there to just give you that extra bit.
“And it’s not that the other lads don’t, everybody is getting behind you, but it’s great to have the boys from home with you.”
His quick rise in the game has been remarkable, but sharpening some key football skills is the immediate goal for McBride given his lack of experience.
“The drop for the kick and the hands, you need quick hands and hands out front all the time, so I need to get working on them,” he said.
“(I want to) just get in and get going. Getting my hands right and feet right, getting my shot selections right and just focus on all of my skills, because they all need a bit of a touch-up.”
McBride shouldn’t have any concerns living up to the athletic reputation of the league’s growing population of Irish players.
Standing 197cm tall, he claimed a top-five finish at the combine with an impressive 87cm running vertical jump alongside a sharp 2km time trial (6:17 minutes) and a 2.99-second 20-metre sprint.
While his athleticism is plain to see, the high-flying Bomber hopes some other skills can become key weapons in the future.
“My marking and hopefully further down the line a bit of goalkicking (can be strengths).
“We’ll have to show that (athleticism), it’s the trait of the Irish so we’ve got to keep that going.”
McBride will meet the last of his teammates when the full squad returns to kick off the pre-season next Monday, November 25.
