IRELAND'S Colm Begley has admitted he'd like to show the Australians what they missed out on after a bitter end to his AFL career.
The versatile Laois defender played 30 games in total during a three-year AFL career with Brisbane Lions and St Kilda. But he was ultimately deemed surplus to requirements by St Kilda in 2009 and couldn't find another club to take a punt on him. The 29-year old has since become a mainstay for Laois and is now an International Rules veteran. But he admitted that, in an ideal world, he'd have stayed in Australia and enjoyed a long AFL career.
The Stradbally man, who plays his club football with Parnell's in Dublin, is determined to prove a point now to the Aussies. He's part of Joe Kernan's 23-man match day squad for Saturday's Croke Park showdown and admitted he doesn't lack motivation.
"For me, there are two reasons I want to do well," said Begley.
"Firstly, GAA players who are amateur are getting a chance to prove themselves against some of the top athletes in the world. That's a personal thing for each player. And the AFL guys are some of the top athletes in the world, fitness-wise and strength-wise, especially in field-based sports. As GAA players, we consider ourselves professional too in the way we train. So to go up against these fellas and beat them is always a proud moment for lads.
"Then, for me, I also like to show myself and maybe show them that 'Oh yeah, he could have made it, he was a good player out there and he's back here now playing for Ireland'."
Begley said there's no one single reason why he didn't make it as an Aussie Rules player: "I've been thinking for years and years wondering about that question," he said.
"It's probably a combination of things. The first few years went well, then a new coach came into the Brisbane Lions. I thought I was going to get a contract from my old coach Leigh Matthews, but he stepped down.
"Then, I went to St Kilda and they won 20 in-a-row. So I only got one game that year. They just went so well. Maybe my ability wasn't quite good enough at that level too. I don't know. I would have liked to have tried another team out there."
Getting to see his family and furthering his education back in Ireland has eased the blow of rejection. But he conceded that, if he had his way, he'd still be in Australia being paid to play: "Part of me would yeah, definitely," he said.
"If I'd made it properly and was able to make a career for myself, definitely. I did enjoy the sport, I did enjoy the people and the place itself. So if that option was still there, yeah. Having come back, the things I've experienced here, spending time with family and finishing my degree hopefully, they're all really positive. But if you get a chance to make a career for yourself out of sport, that's always the best option."
Begley will go up against former team-mates and colleagues when Ireland take on Australia: "Nick Riewoldt, I played with him and Leigh Montagna and [Brendon] Goddard," he said.
"I would have played against [Jarryd] Roughhead, Eddie Betts as well, he's always been a fantastic player. Had a few tough battles with him. It'll be good to see them again and to catch up."
Begley was part of the Ireland squad that lost to Australia by 10 points last year. The Aussies fielded a strong team, having lost heavily in 2013.
"It's a sense of pride for them that they don't want to be beaten by amateurs," he said.
"They do know what's going on in Ireland. Often the boys have asked me, 'How are you still not getting paid?' And I said, 'I don't know, to be honest'. So they know what we're about. Other times, they've asked about training, what we do in pre-season.
"Some of their coaches even last year were talking to me about our training, so they know that we're not just lads who are training Tuesday and Thursday and playing a game on Saturday and then going on the beer."
