Irish recruit Tommy Walsh will be given every opportunity to establish himself in a key forward role for the Sydney Swans next season, according to senior coach John Longmire.
Acquired for picks 35 and 68 at next month's AFL national draft, the untried former Gaelic football star is versatile enough to play at both ends of the field.
But Longmire, who welcomed Walsh to the club on Tuesday morning, is keen to see how the 23-year-old fares in attack.
"We'll probably look at him a bit forward early in the pre-season," said Longmire.
"He's played down back for St Kilda reserves and done a good job down there, but he played forward at the back end of the year and kicked six goals against the Collingwood reserves and had a real presence in the forward line."
"We'll give him an opportunity to play in that role."
Longmire believes Walsh can form an effective partnership with star youngster Sam Reid.
"The opportunity to put another big body in there is what we're looking at," Longmire said.
"(Matt) Spangher did a good job for us across half forward over the last month and Jesse White has been able to play some good footy for us."
"But it will give us some real depth in our key position stocks that we've been missing the last few years."
Walsh, who failed to crack it for senior selection in his two years with the Saints, said he had nothing against his former club.
He said he was attracted by the Swans' strong track record of developing talented players from rival codes including his countryman Tadhg Kennelly and former Canadian rugby star Mike Pyke.
"It had nothing to do with St Kilda," said Walsh.
"They were a great club and everything."
"It was just the opportunity that was presented to me up here really appealed to me so I just went with it."
"I knew before I came how strong the culture was up here."
"Most of the guys that have come out here have been very successful, but I'm not trying to emulate anyone or do anything, I'm just trying to be my own player and try and do the best that I can."