"I'm not going to lie, it's great."
As an opening reply about life in Australia ahead of her debut campaign in the AFLW, it's pretty clear that Lauren Magee couldn't be more delighted.
The All-Ireland winner has followed in the footsteps of fellow inter-county team-mates by heading Down Under to sample sporting life in Australia and becomes the third player from the Dublin Ladies football panel to join Melbourne FC.
"I'm kind of feel a bit guilty over here, I'm watching friends and family back home," she told RTÉ's Game On, adding that once emerging from quarantine, there has been a level of normality in the part of Australia that she is in alongside Sinead Goldrick and Niamh McEvoy.
But unlike the aforementioned Dubs duo, Magee is at a disadvantage as a relative newcomer to Aussie Rules football when it comes to adapting to the core skills of the game.
"I found it difficult coming over because I already had lost a few months pre-season that other Irish players in previous years would have had to master the skills," she admitted.
Always a special part of proceedings. 💫
— Melbourne AFLW (@MelbourneAFLW) January 20, 2021
Our six draftees are presented with their rings, and welcomed into the Melbourne family.
Your ring is waiting for you, @Lauren_MageeR! pic.twitter.com/bFMY1L69wu
"So I was already nervous about that but before I had gone, I did a few sessions back home with an AFLW Irish coach. So I was happy with that but then in the [quarantine hotel] room, it was a bit difficult but our manager Mick [Stinear] with Melbourne was great.
"He was on FaceTime twice a week and he gave us really creative skills sessions. We got balls to the room so were trying to keep it to not breaking anything. We were able to put up our mattresses and kick off that."
Having been introduced to her new Melbourne team-mates, with Goldrick and McEvoy providing a helping hand, Magee is starting to hit the ground running.
"On Sunday, I was thrown into the deep end. I did a few skills and they were like, 'Right, you're on the second team.'"
After overcoming initial confusion over positioning on the field, she adds that "it was only in the third and fourth quarter, that I kind of got into it."
"It was confusing but by the end of it, I'm copping onto things but I think I'll be around the centre - so midfield or similar kind of role - and just hopefully by the end after a few weeks get a few games in."
And while it's early days, she does not expect homesickness to be an issue given the Dublin cohort she will have around her.
"I should be fine. I think if I'd come over on my own and set up, it would be a lot different but having the girls here definitely helped me with that situation," said Magee.
