It wasn’t until former Gaelic football convert Colm Begley opened Ray Connellan’s eyes that the Irishman contemplated the possibility of picking up a game he had barely heard of, let alone thought about. The pair was in the middle of a recovery session during last year’s International Series when they began discussing the Australian game. And it was that conversation that left St Kilda’s latest international rookie wide eyed.

Little did he know at the time, but that poolside chat with the former Brisbane Lions defender put Connellan on a path towards Australia. It started with an invite to the AFL Europe Combine late last year, where one of Ireland’s brightest young talents, who had the Gaelic football world at his feet, pondered whether his rare athletic gifts could be transferred to a foreign game in a foreign land.

“My pathway to St Kilda started after being involved with the Irish International Rules Series squad last November. My brother then got in contact with Tadhg Kennelly, who asked if I’d be interested in attending a combine run by AFL Europe in Dublin,” Connellan told saints.com.au.

“Up until the AFL Europe combine I had never seen footy in person. I had never watched a game and I knew nothing of the rules, positions, or even the number of players on each team. I really only knew of some of the Irish boys who had come over.

“I had played with Colm Begley with Ireland in November and speaking to him in a pool recovery session about how he got to Brisbane it started to make me really see it as a viable option so from then on it was all I set my sights on.”

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From that combine last December, former Sydney Swans premiership star and Irish trailblazer, Tadgh Kennelly, selected Connellan to attend the AFL Academy’s camp in Tampa Bay, Florida, in January. In a camp where Australia’s premier underage talent congregated for a week under the intense gaze of recruiters from almost every AFL club, Connellan was somewhat of an experiment, but one who attracted attention.

It was here when Connellan first crossed paths with St Kilda List and Recruiting Manager Tony Elshaug, beginning a relationship which would eventually see the 22-year-old invited out to Seaford in June with Hurling star Darragh Joyce for a three-week trial at the Saints. From there, Connellan chose to sign with the Saints, tying a bow around a whirlwind ten months.

“I attended the combine and tested really well, and this led to Tadhg selecting me to go to America to train with the under-18 academy in Florida in January of this year. This is where I met Trout [Elshaug], and that’s where the connection with the Saints started. This led to the three week trial and now I’m signed up as a Saint,” Connellan said.

“St Kilda was a no brainer after I spent the three weeks here. The family atmosphere, the young exciting squad and the staff all going out of their way on every occasion to make me feel welcome it was impossible not to love the club.

“It just feels like an exciting time to come to the club, there’s that talent-youth-experience balance that is being nurtured so well that it just feels like it can only succeed and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Homesickness is an impediment that doesn’t discriminate. It’s a challenge that clubs and players have dealt with for a long time. And it’s a challenge that Connellan is well aware of, although he is well versed in living away from home after spending the last two years studying teaching in Galway.

“Moving away is obviously a massive challenge, but the family atmosphere at the club is great so that will make it easier. Also, having another Irish lad that I already know very well in Darragh at the club is huge too. I have a sister living in New Zealand and we have already arranged trips for her to come visit so all these little things will help heaps,” Connellan said.

“I’ve also been living out of home for three years in uni, so I’m used to being away from my parents. I’ll probably miss the banter with friends the most when there’s something on back home, but that’s a small price to pay for living your dream and the guys here at the Saints are all such good genuine boys that it will be easy to make those connections with the lads here.”

Like the vast majority of Irish imports, Connellan is set to begin his time behind the ball, playing across half-back where he can use his blistering pace to provide drive out of the defensive half. He is looking to emulate another running defender Shane Savage, a player who has found a home down there across the last 18 months.

“Like most Irish guys coming over I’ve been looking at the game through the eyes of a half-back. I watched Savage a lot during training and I like how he plays, getting on the ball and being influential going forward as well as being a complete pain as a defender,” Connellan said.

“I’ve never been a defender back home so it will take some getting used to. I’d like to be a guy using my pace to take the ball out of contest like Jack Steven does but I’d also be able to adapt to wherever I’m put so I’ll just get over, start training, and then see where I’m best suited.”