Four years ago, AFL was just a strange sport in a faraway land for Mike Pyke.

Fast forward to 2012, and the 28-year-old is set to become the first Canadian to play in an AFL Grand Final when he lines up for the Sydney Swans this weekend at the MCG.

The rugby union convert, whose length-of-the-field try against New Zealand went viral on YouTube following his arrival at the Swans, said his journey has been surreal.

“It’s pretty incredible,” Pyke told SwansTV.

“Obviously four years ago I wouldn’t have dreamt of this, but now that it’s becoming a reality it’s exceptional.”

While Pyke has been involved in the Australian game since 2009, the 201cm ruckman said only now is his homeland starting to take notice.

Not only was Pyke fielding interviews from various Sydney and Melbourne media at this week’s open session, the ruckman was also taking calls from Canadian media for the first time since he began his AFL career.

“I actually had my first media interview back home in about three years about an hour ago, so I think they are starting to take notice hopefully,” Pyke said.

“They don’t know much (about the game) in Canada.

“Obviously family and friends know a decent amount about it now, and one of the sports stations back at home has started to broadcast the games live, so I think all of our finals games have been live and the games before have been on TV as well, so I think they are learning more and more as the weeks go on.”

Pyke’s Canadian heritage will be well-represented at this Saturday’s Grand Final, with Pyke’s mother and in-laws set to attend the match.

Pyke said while his mother Christine has experienced AFL live, it’s been a very new experience for other family members.

“(My mum) had a big flight (earlier this week) and my mother-in-law has been here for a week now and my father-in-law is coming on Thursday, so they will all be there cheering me along, along with a pretty big contingent of Canadians at the MCG, which will be good,” he said.

“My mum has (watched me live) a few times and has come down here a fair bit, which has been nice for her.

“My mother-in-law, it was actually her first ever major sporting event on the weekend against Collingwood, so it was a decent start.”

Media at home and abroad have not been the only ones impressed with Pyke’s rise this season.

Swans team mate Rhyce Shaw said what Pyke has been able to achieve in such little time is inspirational.

“It’s unbelievable,” Shaw said.

“Along with a lot of us at Sydney, we go under the radar a little bit, but that effort of his to come from where he’s come from, I know he played maybe a year before I got up here in the two’s and now he’s second ruck in a Grand Final side.

“It’s astronomical what he’s been through and I just think it’s a great effort and people should really take confidence out of that, because you can do it if you stick at it and you’re persistent.

“(Pyke) has done that and he’s worked hard and it’s all paid off for him.”

Swans midfielder Josh Kennedy agreed with Shaw’s sentiments and said he expected Saturday’s Grand Final would be a very ‘special’ moment for Pyke.

“For everyone in this situation we know how hard it is to get here and for Mike it has probably been even harder,” he said.

“The hurdles he’s had to overcome and the people that he’s had to leave behind in Canada to try and achieve something special over here, he’s on the verge of it now. So it would be extremely special for him I would have thought.”