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Three years after taking up punting, former AFL player Arryn Siposs will play for the Philadelphia Eagles

Russell GouldNCA NewsWire
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The “brutal” business that is the NFL has made Arryn Siposs’ success that much more significant as he prepares for a stunning debut for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Three years after he ended a short, 28-game AFL career with St Kilda, the now 28-year-old won the punting spot on the Eagles’ 53-man roster, replacing former Melbourne rookie Cam Johnston who moved to the Houston Texans.

Siposs only started punting when he was 25, but his “big leg” got him a scholarship to the University of Auburn and then a tryout with the Detroit Lions when his college career ended.

The Lions didn’t sign him but kept him on their practice squad last season, which proved an invaluable learning tool as he looked for a roster spot somewhere in the NFL this season.

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Siposs signed a futures deal with the Eagles in January and moved to the pre-season camp in May as the only punter, impressing coaching staff with his skills that included making tackles in practice games, a rarity for punters.

Then this week the Victorian received the news that could change his life.

“It’s been a bit of a ride. I played five years at the Saints and that was a genuine dream come true and would have love to have played a little bit longer,” Siposs told NRL 360 from Philadelphia on Wednesday night.

“I was running around at (VFL club) Williamstown and not really sure what I wanted to do. I took the plunge and thought if I was going to have a shot at it I might as well go.

“I left Australia in 2018 and started my college journey and was very fortunate to play in such a strong competition with Auburn. The SEC is pretty crazy.

“I had the opportunity to try and make the roster at Detroit, it didn’t quite work out. I stayed on their practice squad to learn for the year. I got another opportunity at Philadelphia. It’s super exciting and I’m super excited to continue the journey.”

Punting spots are limited on all NFL teams, and Australians have made a habit of filling them of late.

This season alone there are five, including Siposs and Johnston, with Jordan Berry at Pittsburgh, pro-bowler Michael Dickson at Seattle, and Mitch Wishnowsky at San Francisco.

Siposs will have an Australian teammate too in left tackle Jordan Mailata, while Adam Gotsis is also playing at Jacksonville.

The merits of just making a roster are not lost on Siposs, who will take the field against the Atlanta Falcons in week one of the NFL season.

“Truly amazing. It is quite a brutal business over here,” he said.

“When you get the tick of approval there are lots of emotions running through. You are super excited, a bit of relief at the same time as well because you worked so hard to get on the roster.

“Now I am really looking forward to getting on with it and playing in Atlanta in week one.”

Siposs will wear the number eight jersey, with requests from family and friends already locked in.

He also knows how crucial his role is, and while punters may perform a “thankless task”, he knows executing is the only way to keep his NFL journey going.

“It is a different beast going out there and executing, and I feel like I have prepared for it really well,” he told the local press recently.

“It’s always a learning curve, I’ve never played an NFL game.

“But I have been practising for a long time to make sure I am ready to go.”

VFL footy: Werribee V Williamstown
Camera IconArryn Siposs kicks a goal for Williamstown. Mark Wilson Credit: News Corp Australia

Originally published as Three years after taking up punting, former AFL player Arryn Siposs will play for the Philadelphia Eagles

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