Kobe McDonald: 'I was very emotional, probably never cried as much in all my life'

The Mayo star said having his parents with him in Australia will make adjusting to life at AFL club St Kilda much easier

Kobe McDonald: "I’ve always dreamed of being a professional athlete, so when St Kilda gave me the opportunity, I could never say no, never turn it down." Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie

Kobe McDonald said the last fortnight - which included winning Sam Maguire with Mayo and moving to Australia to join AFL club St Kilda - has been a "whirlwind." The 18-year-old, who has signed a three-year deal as a category B rookie with the Melbourne club, arrived Down Under over the weekend. 

"It’s been a long time at home, 75 years since we won it," said McDonald in an interview with St Kilda.

"I always dreamed of winning it, and it’s extra special to win it alongside my brother.

"On the day, I was very emotional, very overwhelmed and probably never cried as much in all my life. It was a nice one to get, thank God."

McDonald said having his parents Ciarán and Karen with him in Australia will make the transition far easier.

"It’s a lot easier when they’re here," he explained.

"It was hard saying goodbye as it is, so it would have been a lot harder if I was saying goodbye to both of them.

"It makes it very easy to settle in when you go home to them and not home to people you don’t know."

The lure of becoming a professional athlete was too much for him to turn down. 

"I’ve always dreamed of being a professional athlete, so when St Kilda gave me the opportunity, I could never say no, never turn it down," he said. 

"Test my skills, test new things and meet new people. It’s very exciting.

"The first introduction [to AFL] was before I signed, when a local lad, Oisín Mullin, went. That was the first thing I got with AFL.

"Then, when I got introduced to St Kilda, I met Liam [O'Connell] first. Once Eamonn [Armstrong] signed, that was my second introduction to it. I’ve watched it since then because it’s very entertaining and I’m involved in the club."

Though he has just arrived at the club, he's already sufficiently recognisable for supporters to request photos with him.

"Everyone has been so welcoming and it makes it a lot easier," said McDonald.

"Of course, there were a bit of nerves coming in first because I don’t know many people, but the supporters, fans and people who work for the club have made it so easy."

Asked to compare himself to an established AFL player, McDonald said it was too early to make such a claim.

"I won’t marry myself off to any AFL player yet because that might be a bit disrespectful because I haven’t played a game," he said.

"At home, I’m very expressive, play with a smile on my face, just love what I’m doing and try to break the game up."