TWO WEEKS in Antarctica convinced Malcolm Lynch to pursue a second chance in the AFL.

Lynch and AFL indigenous programs coordinator Narelle Long became the first indigenous Australians to set foot on Antarctica in March 2010 when they represented Australia in an international youth summit on the environment.

Before the trip, Lynch was wrestling with what he wanted to do with his life. The North Melbourne rookie had been delisted by the Western Bulldogs at the end of 2009 after playing two games as a small forward in three injury-plagued seasons. He had since commenced an AFL SportsReady apprenticeship working on indigenous programs.

At that stage, Lynch was not sure he wanted to play football again. But in Antarctica he learned about the effects of global warming on the southern-most continent's landscape and wildlife, and shared his life experiences with the summit's other attendees. It gave him the clarity he had been searching for.

"It was definitely a left-field experience going to Antarctica," Lynch told AFL.com.au at Aegis Park.

"It was a big eye-opener just seeing the effect global warming is having and listening to people from other countries and hearing what it means to them. It made me reflect on what I wanted to do when I got back home and where I wanted to be.

"Obviously I'd seen working in the AFL that there was life after football, but in Antarctica I discovered I did had a fire burning inside me. I wanted to at least offer something back to footy and get back to what I enjoyed most - and that's playing."

Making his mind up to pursue a second chance in the AFL was one thing - getting back onto a club list another thing altogether.

But after playing a key part in Port Melbourne's 2011 VFL premiership, Lynch was taken by North Melbourne at pick No. 46 in last December's Rookie Draft.

Lynch admits he had harboured some doubts that he would make it back into the AFL and says the support of Port Melbourne coach Gary Ayres and club assistant Bernie Quinlan, the joint 1981 Brownlow Medal winner, was crucial to him doing so.

"When I first met Gary Ayres I basically said 'I'm just looking for an opportunity to get back to playing my best footy'," Lynch said.

"He said, 'there's definitely an opportunity here' and it all stemmed from there.

"Gary has been a big influence on me. He helped me add other strings to my bow, pushing me up the ground to high half-forward and even into the midfield at times.

"But mostly he, along with Bernie Quinlan, was basically someone I could talk to, who could give me a bit of support. Their belief in me and what I could do was the best thing for me in 2011.

"Together with [AFL Foundation CEO] Jason Mifsud, they gave me that support network that I didn't have previously."
 
Lynch carried a hip complaint through the second half of last season with Port Melbourne. Subsequent minor surgery has meant he has not yet joined North's main training group.

However, Lynch says he is now back to 60-70 per cent running capacity and has been able to fast-track his recovery with the use of an Alter-G treadmill, which has a harness that allows North's fitness staff to adjust the load being put on a player's legs.

Lynch is confident he will be ready to press for selection when North plays its round one NAB Cup games against Richmond and Hawthorn on February 17. From there, his aims are obvious - to win elevation to North's senior list and play as many games as he can.

Although disappointed he has not been able to join his new teammates in the main training group, Lynch says he has been made to feel extremely welcome at North.

One incident during our interview made it clear why. On seeing Lynch speaking with me, key defender Nathan Grima jokingly called out from the changerooms: "We didn't think you were like that when we picked you up."

Lynch just smiled. He would have known at a football club a bit of friendly 'stick' is a sure sign you've been accepted as one of the boys.  

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs