North Melbourne recruit Darragh Joyce has barely settled into life at his new club, but has already identified a coaching ambition for when his AFL playing career ends.
The 29-year-old was forced to consider life beyond football after Brisbane delisted him at the end of October, prompting him to think about what the next chapter might look like.
Joyce has spent nine seasons in the AFL, joining St Kilda from Ireland ahead of the 2018 season before moving to Brisbane (2023-2026).
The brief limbo period before the Kangaroos' real interest in signing him as a delisted free agent gave the Irishman time to think, and it quickly became apparent that his desire is to help develop players.
"A lot of thoughts were taken up as to what I was going to do next," Joyce said on SEN.
"Coaching is something I really want to do. I'd love to get into the development coach space. I have a real passion for that, working with the young lads."
Joyce was plucked from Ireland, where he played both Hurling and Gaelic football.
However, he never got the chance to grace a Hurling field once the AFL dream became a reality, and a return to Ireland, before an eventual settling in Australia, looms as his favoured option.
"But while I'm fit, I'll keep playing while I can over here and then hurling is always an itch I want to scratch eventually. I never got to play at the top level because I was down here when I was 18.
"But I'll eventually settle over here."
Joyce revealed his frustrations during his time at the Lions, stuck behind premiership defenders Harris Andrews, Ryan Lester and Darcy Gardiner.
"It's a blessing and a curse," Joyce said.
"It's lovely to be part of such a successful environment and organisation, but the opportunity wasn't there for me. Took some great learnings when you're playing alongside Harris Andrews and Ryan Lester and these lads; it was really good.
"They all knew my frustrations throughout the year. I was so close. I had so many messages and lifelong friends up there. They were super rapt for me, but it's obviously sad to leave the club you have so many special connections with."
Joyce is looking to take his defensive prowess, as well as the offensive side of the game he learned at the Lions, to North Melbourne.
