Eagle flies in for skills clinic

Up-and-coming West Coast Eagles player Paddy Brophy impressed Hedland Senior High School students with his slick footy skills last week.

And before anyone says "so he should as a professional footballer", it pays to remember Brophy didn't grow up playing Aussie Rules.

The Eagles only recruited the Irishman late last year.

Yet with each handpass and drop punt, he said he was growing more fond of the Aussie game.

"It is a great game, I enjoy the physical aspect of it," he said.

"I also love the in-depth analysis and the amount of tactics.

"When I was watching the games (back home) I would never have imagined there were so many structures involved."

But, with the tactics and new skills, also comes plenty of hard work as Brophy has had just four months to pick up the game ahead of his first-ever Aussie Rules season with feeder team, East Perth.

It is an experience that helps him relate to the Hedland Senior High students when he speaks to them as part of the Kicking and Shooting Goals program, run by V Swans and BHP Billiton.

The program aims to encourage the students to chase their goals on-and-off the sporting field by working hard and making healthy choices. Living thousands of kilometres away from family and friends, Brophy will no doubt have to practice what he preaches.

In the meantime, he is happy to pass on a word of encouragement to some more familiar sporting colleagues in the Pilbara.

"I heard the Port Hedland GAA club has set up recently and I want to wish them the best," he said.