Arryn Siposs’ AFL dream was snuffed out before his 23rd birthday.
He showed glimpses of his potential in his five years with St Kilda; he won a Rising Star nomination in 2012. But by 2015, after just 28 games, Siposs was delisted.
The Melburnian’s professional sporting journey was only just beginning.
On the verge of a dream: Arryn Siposs.Credit:Getty Images
On Monday morning at 10.30 (AEDT), Siposs’ Philadelphia Eagles will meet the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl in Arizona. It will give 30-year-old Siposs the chance, alongside teammate Jordan Mailata, to become the first Australian to take part in a Super Bowl win.
“It’s been quite a journey,” Siposs told SEN last week. “It’s spanned over 12 years from being in the AFL as a 17-year-old to being delisted at 22 and not sure how it will pan out.
“You try and work your way back into the AFL system and an opportunity comes up to make a life over here [in America] potentially.
“Did I expect this to happen? Absolutely not. Was my dream to make the NFL? Absolutely. After that, everything else is a bonus. This is something I will treasure for the rest of my life.”
When Siposs’ Australian rules career came to a close, it was another former footy player who helped him on his way to a new, international career.
Nathan Chapman, who became a punter in 2004 with the Green Bay Packers, is the founder of ProKick Australia. It was at the local American football punting academy, which has produced 15 players who have earned contracts with either the NFL or the Canadian Football League, where Siposs fine-tuned his punting skills, so much so that in late 2017 an offer came from American college Auburn University, which he duly accepted a few weeks after he turned 25.
Siposs eventually became the Tigers’ starting punter and in April 2020 he earned his first NFL contract when he was signed by the Detroit Lions. While he failed to play a game for the Lions, he was signed by Philadelphia two years ago – and now has the chance to make history when he and Mailata become the first Australian duo to participate in a Super Bowl together.
But even the most recent stage of his career has been rocky. Siposs played every game for the Eagles in the 2022 season, including a wildcard play-off loss against Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and featured in every match again this season – until December.
It was then, in week 14 of the NFL season, that Siposs suffered what appeared to be a season-ending injury. But two months after sustaining the ankle injury, Siposs has edged himself back into contention.
First, he was moved from the injured reserve – for injured players who are ineligible to play while on the list – to a “21-day practice window”. That move, joyously received by Philly fans, opened the way for the Eagles to play Siposs in the Super Bowl.
And on Sunday, Siposs was elevated to the active roster – from which the team is picked – meaning his is eligible to play in Monday’s game.
The former Saint, who has 99 career punts at an average of 44.7 yards to his credit, got himself fit in the nick of time for the biggest game of the year, where he will almost certainly replace fill-in punter Brett Kern at Super Bowl LVII against the Kansas City Chiefs in Glendale, Arizona.
There’s more than just the chance to live out his NFL dream on the line for Siposs on Monday. If the Eagles beat the Chiefs, Siposs will pocket a reported $210,000 bonus – which would push his yearly salary with Philadelphia to more than $1.4 million.
It’s a handy pay day for a short game-day appearance – punters don’t spend long on the field in an NFL game. The role of a punter is to move the ball as far as possible towards the opposing team’s end zone and increase the distance the opponents have to move the ball in order to score.
Neither Siposs nor Mailata will be the first Australians to take the field in a Super Bowl; they will bring the total to four, following on from punters Ben Graham and Mitch Wishnowsky. Another Australian, Jesse Williams, did earn a Super Bowl ring back in 2013 with the Seattle Seahawks, but he was injured the entire season.And Australian Matt Leo is in line to win a ring on Monday. Leo is a member of the Eagles’ practice squad.
Mailata and Siposs have sparked special Australian interest in the NFL’s blockbuster game, though the competition is keenly followed by many, even without a local connection. According to TV Tonight, the Super Bowl averaged 391,000 metropolitan viewers on the Seven Network last year. Many others stream the game to their mobile devices and computers.
With an increase on viewing figures of 33 per cent from 2021, this year’s game will likely draw a bigger number.
It’s a good excuse for 24-year-old doctor Lachlan Berry to invite his friends over to his share house for chicken wings and pale ales.
“It’s always fun to share the moment with friends,” he said. “It’s a big spectacle. Even though I prefer AFL over NFL, I watch the Super Bowl because I appreciate how important it is to so many people.”
Friends and NFL fans Oscar Allen, Matt Sterling, Eloise Berry, Harry Norman and Lachlan Berry will be watching the Super Bowl on Monday.Credit:Chris Hopkins
The share house is divided on which team they want to take home the title.
“I’m hoping Kansas wins, Eloise is a Eagles fan but Harry is only rooting for Australian Arryn Siposs,” Berry said.
As well as support back home in Australia, Siposs will have some of his nearest and dearest in Arizona for the big game.
Siposs’ brother, parents-in-law, his wife’s sister and her boyfriend will travel to America for the match. His wife and daughter will be there as well.
He also said some of his former St Kilda teammates have wished him luck ahead of the championship decider.
“I’ve had contact from [former Saints] Tommy Lee and Sam Dunell, and ‘Rooey’ [Nick Riewoldt] has reached out, which means a lot to me. Rooey is a big NFL fan, too, which is nice,” Siposs told News Corp.
A St Kilda spokesperson told The Age that there wouldn’t be a special event for current players to watch Siposs on Monday morning, but they might catch part of the game after training.
with Abbi Dib
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