HAWTHORN'S Irish recruit Conor Glass says he doesn't have issues kicking an AFL football but predicts it will be some time before he debuts. 

As reported by AFL.com.au in August last year, the Hawks were long interested in bringing Glass to the club as an international category B rookie.

Category B rookies can be signed directly, with the player not having to be drafted.

Glass,18, told the Derry Journal that Gaelic football does not share many similarities with Australian football.

"It is quite different to be fair. The kicking style is fine. People talk about the shape of the ball but once you get used to it, there is no problem," he said.

"The stop-start nature of AFL is a change, though. Gaelic football is very free-flowing, so that will be different."

It won't be a completely new experience for Glass though.

"It’s not as much of a physical difference. They are both very physical games," he said.

"Strength and conditioning in Gaelic football has come on leaps and bounds in recent years and it is now almost as professional as the AFL."

Glass is at school in Ireland but will arrive at Hawthorn when his exams are finished.

 “I’m not going to be pushing into the first team for a couple of years," Glass said.

"The AFL is very tough to get into, especially the Hawthorn first team. My target will be to keep improving … get a contract extension and then, hopefully, I can go on to make my mark as a Hawthorn player."