After just announcing his tennis career was finished, Sam Groth has decided to switch the racquet for a sherrin as he will join forces with AFL games record holder, Brent Harvey at North Heidelberg for season 2018.
After a fairy-tale run at the Australian Open in the doubles with fellow compatriot, Lleyton Hewitt, Groth will return to the field for the first time since 2011, where he contributed 20 goals in 14 games for Vermont.
The 193-cm stature will be looking to make an immediate impact, with his professionalism and his match fitness already being at an elite level on the field.
While training has been difficult to commit to, one of the fastest servers in the world is now working on his skills ahead of the beginning of the season.
The relationship between he and former North Melbourne player, Harvey, was the ultimate decider in the recruitment.
Senior coach, Jimmy House, told Fox Sports, "Brent actually played in a Tennis Australia charity match.. He saw signs that Sam could seriously play. It opened up discussions in terms of what the likelihood could possibly be."
"We hope at some point, whether it's Round 1 or throughout the year, we feel Sam will fill a role for us in our senior side."
Groth joins the club after a dream 2017 scenario, where they claimed with NFL Division 2 Premiership, after a crushing 77-point grand-final victory over Diamond Creek.