IT APPEARS Tadhg Kennelly will be calling Australia home for the foreseeable future after the Irishman accepted a role as an AFL Ambassador.

Since announcing his retirement from the Sydney Swans during the 2011 season, Kennelly had said he wasn't sure if he would return to his native homeland or remain in his adopted country.

But the 30-year-old has taken on a number of responsibilities with the AFL that will ensure he will stay in Australia and remain heavily involved in Australian football.

Among his roles, Kennelly will be an assistant coach and mentor for the AIS-AFL Academy level two squad, working under head coach and former Swans teammate Michael O'Loughlin.

Kennelly, the only man to win both an AFL and an All-Ireland competition, will also coach the Under-16 NSW/ACT team and assist the Under-18 NSW/ACT team.

And, in a seemingly tailor-made role, Kennelly will mentor players that come to Australia hoping to play at AFL level, including members of the Under-16 World XVIII and South Pacific teams.

"I know from my own experiences what it is like to learn new skills, understand a different language and overcome homesickness," Kennelly said.

"It is also appealing to work with the very best emerging talent in Australia with Michael O'Loughlin.

"I'm also looking forward to experiencing coaching for the first time and to work closely with the best talent in NSW and the ACT."

AFL international development manager Tony Woods said Kennelly has an enormous amount to offer the sport following his retirement.

"There are now more than 100,000 people playing our game throughout the world," Woods said.

"In the next 12 months the AFL will conduct international combines in Fiji, New Zealand, Europe, the United States and China.

"Tadhg's life experiences playing AFL at the highest level will be invaluable to young players."

Recruited from Ireland as a teenager, Kennelly played 197 games for the Swans, including the 2005 premiership.

He was also named Ireland's player of the series in his country's dominant victory over Australia in this year's International Rules Series.