After a long journey from one side of the globe to the other and nearly a full day on a plane, Cillian Burke has touched down in Australia and visited his new home at GMHBA Stadium.
Geelong's newest Irish recruit was a highly talented Gaelic footballer, hailing from County Kerry which was the same club as Mark O'Connor.
Burke made the decision to switch codes and follow in the footsteps of O'Connor and Oisin Mullin, signing with the Cats as a Category B Rookie for the 2025 season.
Speaking with Cats Media on his first day at the club, Burke said he took inspiration from Geelong's strong Irish contingent when deciding his future.
"There were probably other places they could have gone but seeing guys like Zach Tuohy and the other Irish players here, it makes everything a lot easier because you feel more comfortable," Burke said.
"Everything with Geelong so far has been super smooth, they are very accomodating of all Irish players. That is why there is so many here, it has been very good so far.
"When Mark O'Connor originally came over here, seeing him play in a Grand Final gave plenty of interest to people back home because he was a local.
"I met him and Oisin back at home when they were over there recently, seeing them play and especially Oisin cause he is closer in age, it shows a pathway to know you can follow them. He also got into the team this year which was exciting, it was a journey that I could follow really."
A highly talented athlete in Gaelic football, Burke is set to bring elite athleticism, speed and ball skills to the Geelong list in 2025.
The Irish recruit talked through what Cat fans can expect from him, and what enticed him to try Australian Rules Football.
"At home I am an explosive kind of player with a strong running game, with pace and a fast player," Burke said.
"The professionalism of the sport (AFL) stood out to me.
"Back home it is obviously an amateur sport and everything, but seeing the professionalism and the facilities here it is hard to get our head around.
"The change and the personal nature of the sport, it is weird to see how much you can improve having that environment around you."
