It is quite the task to succeed in the AFL, even harder for those recruited from overseas to play the game.
These players have gone most of their life to that point, not knowing what Aussie rules is most of the time.
Than there are players who are born overseas but move to Australia at a young age, giving them ample time to learn the sport as they grow up.
This list will look at players on both sides of the coin, those who were not born here but moved at a young age, and those who were recruited from other sports worldwide.
Those who played before 1965 do not make the cut.
Honourable Mentions:
Current: Former No.1 Draft Pick and Rising Star Bomber Andrew McGrath (Canada), 2016 Norm Smith medallist and Premiership Bulldog Jason Johannisen (South Africa).
Former: Heritier Lumumba (Brazil) and Trent Croad (New Zealand) were both Premiership players and All-Australians at the Magpies and Hawks respectively.
Mike Pyke (Canada) won a Premiership at the Swans in 2005, and was the first international sportsman (rugby) outside of Gaelic football to switch to AFL.
Brian Mynott (England), played in the Saints only premiership in 1966.
7. Tadhg Kennellyย
Yet another Irishman, Tadhg Kennelly became a revelation for the Sydney Swans. Born in Listowel in County Kerry, Ireland, Kennelly had a promising underage career in both soccer and Gaelic football. In 1999, he signed with the Swans as a rookie and was elevated in 2001.
Kennelly was a 2002 Rising Star Nominee and a 2005 AFL Premiership player, the first Irish-born. Kennelly became an important player for the Swans during this time period.
And who can forget his famous Irish jig after being presented the medal?
He would play 197 games for Sydney between 2001 and 2011, with a one year hiatus in 2009, where he returned to Ireland to play Gaelic once again and achieve his dream of winning an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. He is the first player to win an All-Ireland and AFL premiership.
