As these Aussies have learnt making it to the NFL is tough — staying there is tougher

THE NFL season is officially under way and Australia will once again be represented on America’s grandest sporting stage. Here’s how our guys are shaping up.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 21: Brad Wing #9 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action against the Philadelphia Eagles during their Pre Season game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 21, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

THE NFL season is officially under way and Australia will once again be represented on America’s grandest sporting stage.

Brad Wing and David Yankey will become Australia’s ninth and tenth NFL representatives when they take the field on Monday for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings respectively.

And that contingent could swell further as the season progresses, with a handful of free agents — including veteran punters Sav Rocca and Mat McBriar — hopeful of late call-ups.

BRAD WING — Punter, Pittsburgh Steelers

The former Louisiana State University bad boy has achieved his first goal of making it into the NFL.

Now comes the harder part: staying there.

After a mixed pre-season, Wing won the Steelers’ punting job after veteran rival Adam Podlesh didn’t report to camp due to a family situation. Pittsburgh, however, have a recent history of discarding their opening day punters early in the season (which played into the hands of fellow Aussie Mat McBriar last season).

In other words, the real work starts now for Wing.

“Wing, at least for now, is the punter of record,” the Beaver County Times noted yesterday. “The Aussie had an uneven preseason but is capable. If not, don’t be surprised if the Steelers make a move as they did last season after the 53-man roster was released.”

Still, Wing has the support of coach Mike Tomlin and a booming leg that took him to the pinnacle of US college sports.

He also has a fan in veteran Australian punter Ben Graham, who tweeted his compatriot a message of support this week.

@bengraham7 Thanks Ben! I will do my best.

— Brad Wing (@bwing38) September 2, 2014

The Steelers open their season against the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field on Monday morning (Australian time).

David Yankey #66 of the Minnesota Vikings.

DAVID YANKEY — Offensive guard, Minnesota Vikings

End of debate.

David Yankey has taken to Twitter this week to silence once and for all those who doubt his claim to being an Australian NFL player.

@joshwye born in Australia, still have family there, love it there, and still an Australian citizen

— David Yankey (@papa_yank) September 3, 2014

Yankey was a star with Stanford in the US college system, having moved to the States from Sydney as a child.

“I moved when I was only eight,” Yankey told ESPN during the NFL Draft. “So I didn’t really get an Australian accent.

“But I didn’t get a southern accent, either. Missed out on both cool accents.”

Yankey — a behemoth at 198cm and 143kg — was regarded among the nation’s leading prospects at the draft, but experienced a few teething problems during the pre-season.

The Vikings open their season against the St Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on Monday morning (Australian time).

JESSE WILLIAMS, Defensive tackle, Seattle Seahawks

Seattle opened the season against the Green Bay Packers — and Jesse Williams was once again unable to take his pl; ace on the field.

A second successive season-ending knee injury has delayed Williams’ entry into the NFL after a stunning college career with Alabama’s Crimson Tide.

“And It Begins, Goodluck to all My Uso’s Ballin Today!” Williams posted on his Instagram page today.

Williams is already back in the gym and determined to make his NFL debut in 2015.

TOM HORNSEY, Punter, Free agent

Hornsey will start the season without a job — but there’s every chance he’ll have one before the season is out.

Hornsey led all punters in the NFL for average yards (50.2) during the pre-season, only to be cut by Dallas after the Cowboys opted to retain incumbent punter Chris Jones.

Grateful for the opportunity & experience @dallascowboys.Hopeful I showed everyone that I am NFL ready & will find a permanent NFL home soon

— Tom Hornsey (@tom_hornsey) August 26, 2014

The Geelong-born punter will be anxiously waiting for a phone call from a team looking to upgrade once the season kicks off.

“It’s just a matter of waiting to see what happens, particularly after this first round,” Hornsey told AAP last week from Tennessee. “Some teams may be looking for a new punter.”

SAV ROCCA, Punter, Free Agent

The veteran punter is approaching the age of 41, but still remains hopeful of one last shot at a Super Bowl.

Rocca, speaking to the NFL Thursdays podcast last week, confirmed he was still in Virginia and hopeful of landing an NFL job after being cut adrift by the Washington Redskins after last season.

“I’ve been waiting for a phone call for the past three or four months now,” Rocca said. “It’s getting down to the business end of the season so I’m hoping within the next week or two or three I might get a call up. Who knows? Maybe yes, maybe no. We’re not sure yet.

“They want guys who they know can do the job. Early on when they’re going through the off-season they want to find young kids who can eventually stick around for five to six years. Coming into the season if those young kids aren’t performing they’ll go back to the veterans who they know have been there and done the job before.”

Mat McBriar #1 punting for the Philadelphia Eagles.

MAT MCBRIAR, Punter, Free Agent

McBriar started last season without an NFL job, only to finish the year with the Pittsburgh after the Steelers cut Zoltan Mesko.

The veteran Australian is hopeful history will repeat itself this year.

“Teams are going through their pre-season games and I’m waiting on a call,” McBriar told NFL Thursdays last month. “I’m staying ready and hopeful someone is in need of an old Australian punter.

“You never know. The last two years I wasn’t with either Philadelphia or Pittsburgh for the first game. You stay ready. You never know if there’ll be injuries or guys falling out of form. As long as you stay ready and when you’re called up and put on a good show, that’s all I can hope for at the moment.”

McBriar, an 11-year veteran, was voted the Dallas Cowboys greatest ever punter.