The Western Bulldogs may have discovered the AFL’s latest Irish recruit, with 19 year old Aidan O’Shea beginning a two week trial at the Club today. 

O’Shea only arrived in Australia last night but that did not stop him from jumping straight into a gruelling pre-season training session, despite the jet lag. 

And the Club has not been taking it easy on O’Shea, one of his first duties this morning was to work the punching bags with new recruit Barry Hall.

O’Shea who plays gaelic football with County Mayo, will be living with Bulldogs ruckman Will Minson during his stay in Melbourne and says he is really impressed with the setup at the Whitten Oval.

“The players here are top class and the facilities are brilliant.  The first morning was a bit tough but I definitely enjoyed it,” O’Shea said.

O’Shea says he has been playing close attention to the AFL back home and was relishing the opportunity to train with some of the game’s biggest stars like Captain Brad Johnson and Jason Akermanis.

He admits that the rigorous fitness regime may take some getting used to but that the physical side of AFL football was enticing.  

“It’s a much longer game, four quarters and the games go for about two hours.  So it is not only the endurance but learning the skills of the game with the new ball.  So there are a few differences I suppose, but you can definitely be a bit more rough in the tackle, so there are pros and cons,” O’Shea said.