AFL taps into the Pacific Islands for new talent
Roar Guru
By Michael C, 7 Aug 2009 Michael C is a Roar Guru
Perhaps the most important game of football in Australia played over this last week happened in Cairns, far from the attention of most. It was attended by our PM (who tossed the coin), as well as at least five Pacific Nations leaders.
The game involved a North Queensland All Stars team taking on a Pacific Islands team. The Pacific Islands won 8.12.60 to 7.6.48.
The Islands side included born and bred players from PNG, New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Nauru and Samoa.
Recently, Roy Masters reported that the AFL was competing with the NRL for Polynesian players – with Israel Folau the main target.
Perhaps he’s right.
However, the AFL is also focused off-shore where increasingly there’s a better brand of footy being played.
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Redb said | August 7th 2009 @ 8:22am | Report comment
MC,
For far too long the AFL ignored the Pacific Islands . This may have been because it was outside of its geographical sphere of linfluence or the rugby codes particularly union was well entrenched from early days.
As Masters rightly points out the Polynesians are superb athletes and both the rugby codes have tapped into the talent pool for sometime.
The AFL has a handful at the moment with David Rodan (Fiji), Aaron Edwards (Samoa) and the ice breaker Nick Natinui (Fiji) These players were not recruited from the PI though, they were already living in Australia for sometime and came through the usual recruiting zones or other means in the case of Rodan.
The AFL Fiji was only started 2-3 years ago is an indictment of their tardiness. Thankfully times are a changin’.
Redb
Pippinu said | August 7th 2009 @ 8:47am | Report comment
This story also made the AM program yesterday morning, featuring an interview with Mal Michael, perhaps the most high profile AFL player to have come out of PNG (maybe even the only one).
That’s the sort of situation where a small investment can go a long away, also understanding that the rugby codes have been well entrenched for decades, and that the island nations have displayed a very natural inclination and aptitude towards the rugby codes.
It’s worth recalling that Nauru is the only other nation on Earth that has aussie rules as it’s national game.
Yet how much attention has the AFL given Nauru?
mitzter said | August 7th 2009 @ 9:43am | Report comment
wouldn’t that be the only nation on Earth that has aussie rules as it’s national game
Brian said | August 7th 2009 @ 11:26am | Report comment
Spot on!
Pippinu said | August 7th 2009 @ 11:36am | Report comment
By my reckoning, that makes two.
Pete said | August 7th 2009 @ 12:11pm | Report comment
So what’s the second Pip? Nauru and…….
Pippinu said | August 7th 2009 @ 4:24pm | Report comment
Pete
you’re standing in it (I presume)
Michael C said | August 7th 2009 @ 10:03am | Report comment
Mal Michael was born in PNG, James Gwilt is of PNG descent and his dad played footy in PNG.
Dave said | August 8th 2009 @ 3:23pm | Report comment
a list of some players with PNG conections
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_rules_football_in_Papua_New_Guinea#Notable_Players
Dave said | August 7th 2009 @ 6:55pm | Report comment
Nauru is 21km2 and has 10,000 people and the population is decreasing
Im sure the AFL has given it as much attention as it warrents
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Nauru
True Tah said | August 7th 2009 @ 8:55am | Report comment
Pip
Nauru has all of 10,000 residents, so its hardly surprising the AFL has focused on South Africa.
The AFL is right to focus on Papua New Guinea, RL might be king up there now, but AFL definitely has a presence up there. It has a population of over 6M, which is more than Samoa, Tonga and Fiji combined and doubled again. A big enough population for several sports, but the lack of infrastructure and geography make this difficult.
I know a few guys who are really pushing rugby union in PNG, and there are a few clubs in the Brisbane comp which get PNG-players. Im aware of two Papuans to have played for the Wallabies (Will Genia and Graeme Bond) plus Al Manning who played for the Tahs.
Michael C said | August 7th 2009 @ 10:14am | Report comment
And AUst Footy DOES have a reasonable history there – - after WWII in certain regions AUst Footy was perhaps the dominant code. That momentum was lost (and ignored) – - but, it does mean there’s a basis in certain regions of people who are well familiar with the game – and as I mentioned to Pip, James Gwilt is the son of a man who played footy in PNG (actually, James was born in Melbourne. His mother is from Rabaul in Papua New Guinea and his father is from Wales). Gwilt recalls that his dad and his dad’s mate were the only 2 ‘white fellas’ playing – and that was in Port Moresby – - so, even if AUst service men during WWII were responsible for starting the game – - obviously by the time of Gwilt’s dad – it was very much dominated by the locals.
Dave said | August 7th 2009 @ 6:59pm | Report comment
it seems like there would be visa problems to overcome ……looking at the problems Rugby league has had with visas for PNG players
Australian visas causing trouble for PNG rugby league players
http://www.visabureau.com/australia/news/16-04-2009/australian-visas-causing-trouble-for-png-rugby-league-players.aspx
however this may help the problem
Rudd flags PNG rugby league overhaul
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/28/2554943.htm
Michael C said | August 7th 2009 @ 8:09pm | Report comment
The Western Doggies have had issues with visas with Fiji and one of their international rookies whose family has military links.
I saw on the 2007 AFL PNG report that one of the recommendations related to sponsorship opportunities that were related to the poor state of the RL situation. I gather from several little things I’ve heard that RL in PNG could do with a ‘make over’.
btw – I look forward to Mr.Rudd backing a similar program in PNG with Aust Footy, they’d cover all bases then.
Dave said | August 17th 2009 @ 5:41pm | Report comment
In america it looks like they have the
the Creating Opportunities for Minor League Professionals, Entertainers and Teams Act, known as the Compete Act
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124966930911615069.html
which allows teams to bring in recruits form overseas to minor leagues. Maybe be its something Australia can look into for RL and AFL
Redb said | August 7th 2009 @ 9:01am | Report comment
Good point TT. Nauru is a literally a drop in the ocean compared to PNG.
Redb
Pippinu said | August 7th 2009 @ 9:12am | Report comment
Yes – agreed that Nauru has a tiny population, and that PNG and South Africa deserve the lion share of assistance – but I’m thinking we owe it to Nauru to give them a bit as well (IMHO).
Redb said | August 7th 2009 @ 9:54am | Report comment
There has always been a connection with Melbourne and Nauru over the years with Nauru House,etc.
If you have to fly to Sydney or Brisbane to visit most of the Pacific Isles it has been off the radar geographically in the past.
Redb
Michael C said | August 7th 2009 @ 10:00am | Report comment
And Nauru were ‘owners’ of Fitzroy Footy Club at one point – - that was a good investment….NOT!
Tom said | August 7th 2009 @ 9:26am | Report comment
The AFL has given quite a bit of assistance to Nauru over the years, Pip.
Pippinu said | August 7th 2009 @ 10:04am | Report comment
Tom
is that right? Do you know the details?
I know at one point, with island-nation on the verge of bankruptcy – they became the major sponsor of Fitzroy in their final year!!
Norm said | August 7th 2009 @ 1:58pm | Report comment
I have long believed Michael C that an important barometer of AFL’s growth in the eastern states is the number of footballers of Pacific Islander heritage that take up the game. For obvious geographic reasons their settlement in Australia is highly concentrated in these states. They currently make up about 30% of NRL clubs and less than 1% for AFL. A lot of work to be done.
Redb said | August 7th 2009 @ 2:08pm | Report comment
Norm,
Agree that the AFL has a lot of work to do. But really it is only just starting to realise it’s opportunities – ie: too inward thinking in the past.
It’s an interesting perspective to suggest it is an important barmoeter given that the AFL is being seen as a alternative for white anglo/european kids (for want of a better description) in rugby league strongholds such as Western Sydney where big Polynesians kids are stream rolling the others at various age levels. I understand RL is looking a weight divisions to counter this.
However, I guess there is enough of a market in WS for tall lanky althletic kids as well as those of Polynesian descent who up until now have rugby in their blood. So the barometer would need to factor in both.
The other opportuntity for targetting Polynesians is on the islands itself, by creating pathways,etc.
Redb
Norm said | August 7th 2009 @ 6:03pm | Report comment
Redb
a long time ago I played in the 6 stone 7 lbs comp (no idea what that is in kgs). Today my evening meal approaches those dimensions!
Michael C said | August 7th 2009 @ 2:46pm | Report comment
Interesting comment.
Obviously ‘Islanders’ don’t make up 30% of the population of either Sydney or Melbourne – so, we’re talking about an over representation in the NRL.
We know that the Rugby codes have had a greater spread through the Pacific and especially via NZ itself and those ‘nations’ most under the influence culturally of the Nrth Island of NZ and Australia via Sydney and Brisbane airports!!
We also know that junior RL is struggling presently to cater for age groups vs weight groups because of the ‘bigness’ of many of the islander lads – so, attracting a lot of a certain body type which appears prevalent amongst the islanders seems double edged sword.
That the AFL is less represented by islanders is now surprise.
Whether the AFL can A. win over, and B. be suitable for the body type of many islanders is another question. After all, no point spreading basketball to the pygmies and then whinge that no draftable NBA talent is coming thru the system because they’re all too short.
Perhaps as a barometer – it’s never been relevant previously – - but, Norm – perhaps if we use 1% and 30% as our starting point and check back in 10 years hence – - then we can test your theory.
Pippinu said | August 7th 2009 @ 2:06pm | Report comment
But I would expect those percentages – the Pacific Islanders come from a very strong rugby culture.
Republican said | August 7th 2009 @ 4:07pm | Report comment
I believe ‘body type’ is important. I see alot P.I.’s playing both Union and League in this country and in Melbourne the bulk of the Storms support base is apparently Islander.
On a recent flight back home from Townsville, I was sandwiched between two hulking ‘NQ Cowboys’ players on their way to Sydney to play that weekends round. The plane was carrying the whole Cowboys sqaud and a large proportion of these fellas looked like they were of Polynesian stock and some PNG’s perhaps and quite frankly, just looking at them, they were far to blocky to ever see them going the distance in our game.
The Polynesians are not to be confused with Malynesians who populated our northern regions and who our indigenous originally hailed from, including T.I’s who also inherited a mix of P.i.’s along the way.
PNG and Fiji are in fact Malynesian and not Polynesian, so when we speak of P.I’s we should probably be refering specifically to Tonga, Samoa and the like.
It is obvious to me that the Rugby codes fit that islander build far better however this is not so of the Malynesian body type which I believe lend themselves more to our game. Of course there will always be exceptions to the rule and I would not wish to sound overly prescriptive by ruling out the odd Samoan playing our game with some aplomb.
I do however believe our focus should be PNG, Tiwis, T.I. and even Fiji in the recruiting stakes, along with Saffa rather than those Polynesian countries or NZ, the latter of course heavily influenced by the Polynesian migration and collectively obsessed with Union; lets don’ t even begin to entertain expending our recources on them please.