The antipodean music had been specially chosen by team coach Eric Mangini to help the kicker feel at home.

Less than 18 months after calling time on a 12-year Aussie Rules career in order to see if he could cut it in the NFL, Graham has a contract extension that runs until 2011 and the inevitable nickname of 'Crocodile Punter'. What else were they going to call him?

Although some local commentators still betray their own ignorance by describing the way he kicks as "rugby style", his background is pure footie. A veteran of 219 starts with Geelong, Graham even partnered Nathan Buckley in the Australian midfield for the second international rules test against Ireland in Adelaide seven years ago. Bizarrely enough, he was already on the radar of vigilant gridiron scouts back then. Having heard about his reputation as one of the longest kickers of the Australian Sherrin, Mangini had videotaped the 6'5" full-back in action while visiting his own brother in Melbourne in 1997.

A lowly assistant coach at that point, Mangini wasn't in a position to persuade Graham to rip up his AFL contract and gamble everything on a new sport. In the end, that decision was made by the player himself. At the age of 31, he put together a highlights reel of his kicks and beseeched his agent to get him try-outs with NFL clubs.

After auditioning for four, the Jets (where Mangini no longer worked) offered a short-term contract. Unlike what Geelong put in front of him to persuade him to stay home, there were no guarantees. Just an opportunity to go to training camp to see if he could win the starting job from incumbent Micah Knorr. A chance was all he needed.

On the opening day of the 2005 season, Graham became the oldest rookie in the history of the NFL. By the end of a disastrous campaign for the Jets, the debutant was ranked sixth-best punter in the league and in a neat twist of fate, Mangini became the new head coach. In a sport where kickers are usually the pariahs of the squad (peers resent them not putting their bodies on the line), his elevation to co-captain is perhaps the truest measure of the impact he's had.

Initially signed because of the size of his kicks, his unorthodox style also makes the ball wobble in a manner that opponents have found difficult to catch.

"It only happens about four times a game, " said Graham. "What I love about this game is that something is riding on every play. The AFL is challenging because it's exhausting. In the NFL, the challenging part comes from the size, speed and power of the players who are trying to prevent you from doing what you do. The risk of damage is considerable. American footballers are quick, skilful, tough, strong and smart, and it's alarming to see the rushers coming at you when you have less than two seconds to get your kick away."

Despite the similar shape, the NFL ball is more pointed at the end than its flatter Australian counterpart and making the transition from kicking one to the other required serious work. Graham's cause was helped by the fact some of his compatriots have made the switch in recent decades.

Long before his own formal auditions, he had sought advice and help from Darren Bennett, an AFL veteran turned successful NFL kicker with the Minnesota Vikings and San Diego Chargers in the '90s. He cadged a bag of American footballs from Bennett and put in time mastering those before trying to kick in front of an audience of scouts.

Brought in on fourth downs with the task of pinning the opponents back down the field, the punter must offload while 23stone behemoths are charging towards him trying to block the ball and/or his leg. Apart from distance, he's required to make sure the kick hangs in the air for at least five seconds to allow sprinting teammates to get in position to harass the opposing receiver. For a long kicker coming to the end of an Aussie rules career, it can be a lucrative calling. Graham's current deal is worth an estimated $800,000 per season.

Back in Australia, others have taken note of the money on offer for less than a minute's action per week. His exploits have had a similar ripple effect to those caused in Ireland by Tadgh Kennelly's accomplishments with the Sydney Swans. The Buffalo Bills have signed former Collingwood star Sav Rocca to kick for their NFL Europe affiliate this coming season, and speculation abounds that of the international rules squad arriving in Ireland this week, Essendon's Dustin Fletcher and Carlton's Brendan Fevola will be next to head Stateside.

"Sav Rocca and Brendan Fevola contacted me for some advice on my path and what I did to help my preparation into the NFL, " said Graham. "I can give them advice, like Darren Bennett did for me. Then it's up to the individual player to put themselves in the best position to win a job because it's not as easy as a lot of people think it is. But there's no doubt that there's ability in Australia to make that transition."