The NFL is taking over the MCG this week, with the first game of the 2026/27 NFL season kicking off this Friday on the hallowed turf.
For the first time in history, an NFL game will be played in Australia, as the NFL aims to expand its market globally, but it's not the first time Australians have been exposed to the NFL.
Several former AFL players have made the switch to the NFL, using arguably an AFL player's best skill: kicking.
AFL players have been able to use the most common ability in AFL to carve out a role in the NFL and evolve the position of punting.
Max Duffy
Max Duffy was drafted with pick 39 in the 2012 AFL draft by Fremantle; he only managed three games across his three seasons at Fremantle.
He was delisted at the end of the 2015 season and returned to the WAFL before retiring from Aussie Rules in 2017 to begin training to become an NFL punter.
Duffy played College Football with Kentucky and was rated one of the best punters in his draft class, but didn't get drafted.
The punter was signed by the Denver Broncos, but only featured on the practice squad.
He went on to play in the United States Football League with the Pittsburgh Maulers.
