Sydney ruckman Mike Pyke might not know it but St Kilda's Jason Holmes, who last week became the first born-and-raised American to play in the AFL, has paid close attention to his career for several years now – and not because of their unusual path to the AFL.

The former US college footballer was at the inaugural AFL USA combine. Prospective recruits were shown a video of the final quarter of the 2012 grand final. Not only would they have seen one of the best finals of the modern era, but also Pyke's coming of age as a player.

"I saw Pyke take those contested marks late when they needed it ... I really took an interest in the Swans," Holmes says.

But as Holmes studied tapes of Pyke this week, he needed prompting before realising the North American connection.

"Because you get caught in the whirlwind of what's happened in the last couple of weeks and your main focus is just to footy, it didn't really hit home until you guys [the media] wanted to have a chat," Holmes says.

"We have two North Americans playing a different sport, it is pretty amazing."

Holmes, like many who follow the game, no longer sees Pyke as a Canadian novelty for that would not be doing the Swan justice. There is much more to him than that.

Pyke, who rarely gives interviews these days, not least so he can avoid answering questions about being a Canadian, has since 2010 not just been a regular player in one of the most successful teams in the competition, but an important contributor. It's no coincidence the Swans' return to form in the past fortnight has come with a spike in Pyke's output.

"I look at him like one of the best ruckmen in the game, it's the reason why he won a premiership with a great squad," Holmes says.

"So I definitely don't look at it like he's another North American who is as unknown to the game as I am because he knows what he's doing."

When Holmes first met Pyke after a game in 2013 he was struck by how big the premiership ruckman was, even though Holmes is listed as having a slight edge in height and weight.

"He's just solid muscle, he's a massive man, I couldn't believe how big he was and how he, or any ruckman, managed to run around the ground," Holmes says.

The pair could easily have been teammates. Holmes was part of a trio who tried out for the Swans in 2013, but the club opted for another former college basketballer Patrick Mitchell.

"Patty showed a lot of skill early," Holmes says. "He definitely had a much better tank than I do and he's a pretty good mark overhead.

"He was also a better, from what I recall, key position player – a key defender as well.

"The Swans are very loaded up forward, he could have played as a chop out backman as well.

"I just didn't have the attributes, but I was pretty close. It would have been pretty tough competition to pick a player."

The Swans may have pulled the wrong rein. Mitchell packed his bags at the end of last year without playing a senior game, but Holmes found his way to St Kilda via the rookie draft in 2013.

Despite impressing in the VFL, nothing could prepare him for the faster pace at AFL level.

"The first five minutes was the fastest thing I've ever been a part of," Holmes says. "Wait until AFL finals, it's that much faster. I barely remember much from the game, I had to react on instinct because it was that quick."

The taste of senior football has not sated Holmes, but made him hungrier.

"The effort to put in to get to this level for any player it's hard to say, 'I've done it once I'm here'," Holmes says.

"There's a complete understanding this is what I want to do, the life I want to live.

"To be where I am today is completely amazing; I'm still trying to wrap my head around it."