SYDNEY Swans ruckman Mike Pyke has been able to make a name for himself after switching from a rugby union career with his native Canada to a career in the AFL.

But even he has been surprised by what he has witnessed this week at the AFL International Cup.

There are 18 men's teams and five women's teams involved in this year's competition and Canada is represented in both.

Pyke addressed a number of teams during a clinic on Monday and then tossed the coin before the women's match between Canada and Papua New Guinea at Lakeside Oval in Sydney on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old didn't realise how far Australian Football had spread around the world.

"It's pretty amazing because you don't realise the competition is going on back home," Pyke said.

"There's a lot of passion with the players here and they're really enthusiastic about what's happening.

"I had a chance to speak to all the countries the other day and they're really passionate about the game, so it's encouraging the game is growing a bit internationally.

"To come to Australia is great in itself and then to be involved in international competition is even more exceptional.

"For all these people who get to come and play against countries like PNG and a peace team from Israel, that's pretty special stuff.

"There's no doubt the people involved in this tournament have done a great job and the players are enjoying it to the fullest."

Pyke was viewed as somewhat of a novelty when he first joined the Swans, but the club and the man himself answered any criticism by playing 18 games in 2010, including both finals.

However, he has been limited to just two games this season due to a recurring quad injury and admits running out for Canada this week had crossed his mind.

Pyke made a return with the reserves last week and is hopeful of pushing for a recall to the senior side in the closing weeks of the season.

"It would be pretty nice actually [to play for Canada]," Pyke said.

"I'm trying to get myself back into fitness as it is, so I could use a couple of games.

"It would be good to run around with them for sure.

"But when you're busy with the Swans and undergoing rehab as I have been, you don't really have that much time and have to just focus on yourself."

The International Cup has brought together people from all corners of the globe, including a family from Toronto, Canada, who have come to Australia to watch their daughter Caitlin compete.

"She started watching AFL while she was in Perth travelling after finishing high school," Caitlin's mother Marija Finney said.

"And the rest is history. She loves it and plays and actually manages teams back home."

Pyke has drawn a following and helped spark interest in the AFL back home in Canada, which he has found "humbling".

But he knows he still has a long way to go in his AFL education.

"The great thing about being new to a sport is your upside and your development prospects are really big," he said.

"I feel like I’m still improving every game and even every training session.

"It's positive and I'm looking forward to these next few weeks and hopefully getting a few more games under my belt."