Eric Wallace jokes around during a North Melbourne training session.
FORMER college basketballer Eric Wallace still hasn't worked out a way to explain to friends and family back home in America how AFL works in less than a minute.
But the 24-year-old is hoping he will have an easier time once he has completed his first pre-season with North Melbourne.
The 196cm and 102kg North Carolina native was snapped up by the Kangaroos as an international rookie just before Christmas after impressing during a 10-day trial at Arden Street.
This followed a four-day testing session at the draft Combine, where Wallace recorded 80cm for the standing vertical jump - which was ranked in the top three per cent of all draft hopefuls - and a slick 2.90 seconds for the 20m sprint.
In Tasmania with North Melbourne's other first round draft picks from last year, Wallace is enjoying life in his new sporting code even if he is struggling to tell people back in the US about his experiences.
"I'm pretty sure all Australians get the same question, "you mean rugby?"," Wallace said yesterday after visiting residents of the fire-ravaged town of Dunalley.
"I'm forced to explain and I still haven't figured out a way to explain Aussie Rules Football in under 30 seconds. It is something new, something different.
"My first AFL game I ever watched on television was quite a while ago, I was confused with the oval field, it was a weird shaped ball and it seemed to me like there were 50 guys on the field at once.
"But I got a chance to watch some of the finals and I got a chance to go the grand final and got more of an understanding. It is a very compelling game."
Wallace admits making the transition from the basketball court to the football field is a gradual process as he learns completely new skills and develops the aerobic capacity required to run out a 120 minute match.
However it is a challenge he isn't backing down from and one which will eventually end with a debut appearance at the elite level.
"I hoped that I would make a team, make a list if given the opportunity and have a fair crack at it," he said.
"I was lucky enough North Melbourne gave me a chance, it is going to be a challenge but I'm up for it.
"The aerobic part [is the biggest adjustment], it is a lot more running than I'm used to, basketball is a shorter court and a lot more explosive running.
'I'm learning every day, improving and taking it slowly. I have to keep learning the game and hopefully one day I will make an AFL game."
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