Westmeath’s John Heslin is the latest player to switch codes from Gaelic games to Australian Rules Football.
The 18-year-old has signed a two-year contract with a Melbourne based club thought to be the Gold Coast Suns.
Heslin was part of Westmeath’s under-21 side that made it to the Leinster final last year, and also starred for UCD in the Sigerson Cup.
He hopes to play for the Lake County’s senior team in this season’s All-Ireland Championship before leaving for the Antipodes.
“I’m hoping to get a run in the championship with the seniors this year just to make sure I’m not missing out on anything,” Heslin told the Westmeath Independent.
“It was a great experience to go out there and learn the different aspects to a professional game, I mean I try to be as professional as I can be myself here anyway, watching what I eat and how I train.
“I am obviously going to miss my friends and playing with the people I have grown up with, but I have to take the chance while it’s there.
“These opportunities don’t come along too often, and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
