The premiership player new Blue is leaning on

Before 2023, Carlton's newest recruit Rob Monahan had never stepped foot in Australia.

Now, the Irish-born talent has become the Blues' newest hope, signed on as a Category-B rookie.

But the 19-year-old's transition to life in Australia hasn't been one he's had to tackle alone.

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Instead, he's secured the support and guidance of Geelong premiership defender Mark O'Connor, who is from Monahan's hometown, Kerry.

"Went for a kick with him (Mark O'Connor) there when I was back home, that helped a lot," Monahan told 9News.

"It's a challenge, but I'm willing to take it on. Always going to be tough, but I suppose there are players that have done it before.

"See what happens, if I can forge a career I'll be doing well."

Since arriving from overseas three months ago, Monahan has made himself known, with Blues development coach Brad Ebert already singing his praises.

"He has been fantastic, he really has. He is constantly asking questions, really engaged with everything he does," Ebert told 9News.

"I think a guy like that, you can just see will pick up the sport a lot quicker.

"He certainly has that potential, I guess it's now down to him, and or us in the environment to bring that out of him."

Despite feeling the pressure, the 19-year-old says his dream is to debut in his first season on the Blues list.

https://twitter.com/CarltonFC/status/1737722568084242812

"(I am) ambitious enough to (want to) play, but I don't want to set my expectations too high," he said.

"I'm just going to go in head first and see what happens."

Carlton face Brisbane, their 2023 preliminary final opponents, at the Gabba in the AFL's inaugural Opening Round, to be played a week before round one of the 2024 season.