Football’s fierce tackling and physicality is what drew Carlton’s newest rookie to the game.
Having played basketball throughout college, American Matt Korcheck can’t wait to start crashing into his opponents – legally!
“It’s exciting to me, I love it – my favourite part of the game is the tackling,” Korcheck told SEN on Friday.
“As a basketball player you always get called for the little tick-tack fouls when you barely touch someone and then they blow the whistle and you get angry…so it’s (the physicality) exciting.”
Since officially arriving at Ikon Park last week, the 208cm (6’10”) unit has barely left the Club, making sure he’s totally prepared to start an AFL pre-season.
“I’ve been in the Club every day lifting weights and doing some running – trying to get past the soreness stages before we start pre-season.”
A big part of Korcheck’s pre-season will involve skills training, an area he knows he need to improve, especially when the football is bobbling around below his knees.
“I’m doing alright – it probably looks like I’m chasing a chicken around,” he laughed.
“I think that it’s (kicking) something I need to keep working on, it’s a big part of the game, but I think it comes pretty naturally to me.
“That being said I still need to do a lot of work in that area, it’s nowhere near where it needs to be, but it feels pretty good as a beginner.”
Another AFL beginner, fellow American Jason Holmes made his AFL debut for St Kilda last season. Korcheck says Holmes’ story inspired him to move to Australia and give Aussie Rules a go.
“Jason Holmes, another American that came over was a big motivation and Mason Cox…those guys motivated me to get out here and try something new and really push myself.”
Korcheck’s family, who live in Arizona, were surprised to learn he wanted to move to the other side of the world, but after hearing his determination and enthusiasm, they have been nothing but supportive.
“I think when I brought it up with them at first they were like ‘what do you mean you want to move to Australia’, and I said ‘I really want to do this’.
“They’re really excited about it and know it’s a good opportunity for them to visit Australia now – they’re really happy about it!”
Pre-season for one-to-four year players officially kicks off on Monday 9 November.
