Four Americans vying for AFL history

Three former US college basketballers and the tallest person to ever complete Aussie rules athletic testing.

These are the four Americans vying for a chance to be the first to play in the AFL.

Leading the charge is 24-year-old ruckman Jason Holmes, an international rookie with St Kilda and playing for Sandringham in the VFL.

Chicago-raised Holmes was St Kilda’s 2014 international selection at the 2014 Rookie Draft, with pick No.36.

Holmes was noticed at the Los Angeles AFL Combine, showing off competitiveness, kicking and ball skills and a 203cm, 105kg frame. But his vertical leap was most impressive - just four centimetres short of West Coast player Nick Naitanui’s record.

The former US college basketballer - whose older brother Andre plays with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders - trained with (now Melbourne Demons coach) Paul Roos at the Sydney Swans academy under before being rewarded with a two-year rookie contract from St Kilda.

Holmes told News Corp he was enjoying life as an Aussie rules player.

"I love it. People often ask me if I get homesick. I don't. I feel wanted. I feel like I have a purpose here and I enjoy what I'm doing," he said.

St Kilda head of football Chris Pelchen said Holmes was a quick learner.

"We all appreciate that Jason has come from a very limited background of AFL football, having only really experienced it for the first time just over 12 months ago."

Eric Wallace, another ruckman, is the second American rising through the AFL ranks with the North Ballarat Roosters, making his VFL debut earlier this year.

North Melbourne are ecstatic to have the 197cm, former US college basketballer in the system, according to defensive coach Josh Drummond.

"He's a very smart individual and he picks things up very quickly," he said.

Standing at 211cm, former Oklahoma State University student Mason Cox is the tallest player to ever complete athletic testing under AFL conditions, according to AFL.com.

Collingwood beat three other AFL clubs in the race to snag the ruckman.

Cox had never touched the AFL ball before signing with Collingwood, but Magpies recruiting manager Derek Hine said his physical ability more than compensated.

"The fact he had never picked up a ball was really a non-factor for us, it was more what he can do in terms of his physical testing, he said.

Patrick Mitchell is, again, a former college basketballer-turned-ruckman, comfortably in the Sydney Swans' system.

Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, the 199cm athlete commanded the Swans’ attention several weeks of training with their academy squad in 2013.

AFL.com's James Dampney said while the 25-year-old had an "unconventional" kicking action, he had potential to be devastating in the ruck.

"Mitchell is the epitome of a project player," Dampney wrote.

"But he is developing in the ruck and registers the odd NEAFL goal with his unconventional kicking action."