Collingwood boasts two international rookies this year with Shae McNamara and Paul Cribbin playing footy for the Magpies in season 2011. McNamara, who hails from the US and Cribbin from Ireland, will be keeping supporters up-to-date on their experiences playing for the Magpies.  This is McNamara's first entry on the differences between his first season and 2011.

What a difference a year makes!

Last year at this time I thought I had a well-rounded idea of the game as a whole, but looking back now I realise I had no idea.

I was a man that was trying to learn the best way to kick with both my feet at will, knowing which form would be best in each specific situation. I was trying to transform my body from a basketball to a footy one; going through two weeks on and two weeks off the entire preseason it seemed, due to strains from kicking and running.

Everything felt new to me. The general IQ of the game- our team structures, smart running, body positioning are all so different to basketball. The list could go on and on. Not to mention, everything I heard, saw and did was the first time in my life.

Without a question I was out of my depth, but hey, "I was having a crack" wasn't I? All joking aside, I was spending countless hours alone and with coaches doing extra touch, vision, gym and anything else that could and would help my development.

Yes, there were many highs and lows and at times I questioned whether I really wanted to do this but I hung in there and stayed positive. I had and have the best coaches and teammates that they have helped me in every way. It really was "side by side!"

After my 2010 season, which ended the first week in September, I decided to stay here in Melbourne and support my Collinwood brothers and family as they triumphed in their victories. I took a week and a half off to rest my body and mind, to relax and gather my thoughts about what was a wonderful year.

That week, I asked to train with one of the trainers and with coach Lica (Paul Licuria) and coach Rocca (Anthony Rocca) to try and enhance my abilities in every facet of the game. We worked together for about three weeks before I went home to America.  Working with those two former champions improved my game another 20 percent.

When I got back three weeks later for my pre-preseason I was ready to rock! All the boys that were not part of the finals run had to report three weeks before the rest. During that time, we worked our tails off to try and get that extra step ahead of them and to give us a better chance in competing and hopefully taking their spots from last year.

The rest of the preseason was excellent! I could feel a sense of belonging on and off the field, and let me tell you, that was an amazing feeling! Having the respect and trust from my teammates to kick to me and not think twice anymore felt like a victory. It's funny because once you’re in, you’re in. You still have to make plays and stay as consistent as possible to continue to build their trust, but coming from ground zero, just means it's that much more important to stay on the up and up!

Going into the NAB Cup game against the Swans was a real highlight. I was very under done however and was coming off a tweaked hammy that had me out of action for three plus weeks. I was not physically in shape enough to compete for all four quarters and it showed when I was cramping at halftime.

That game was also very special to me for another reason. It was obviously the first time I got to wear the black and white stripes and to play on the big stage, but it was against Sydney! How much crazier can my story get? To go against the team that recruited me and introduced me to the game, and then to play them in my first AFL competition? Wild, just wild! Needless to say, I was pretty fired up to take the Swans on and to show them what they were missing and I still am.

Today, I continue to work my tail off and try to put in all the hard yards to get me where I want and need to be. This entire chapter in my life has been amazing! I am learning and developing as a player and more importantly, as a person. It hasn't been easy but like I said before, "I'm having a crack!"

The only way to have "a crack," is to go all out and fail! Fail miserably, because that is the only way to get stronger and develop in my opinion. I also believe that staying positive and believing in yourself is the only route to go no matter what gets in your way. As my man, the great Shane O'Bree once told me, "Before others believe in you, you must believe in yourself first!"

All the best and Go Pies!

Shae McNamara