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.
Recommend this story.
- Explore:
- AFL, Israel Folau, North Queensland All Stars, Pacific nations afl, Roy Masters, Tonga
August 7th 2009 @ 4:31pm
Art Sapphire said | August 7th 2009 @ 4:31pm | Report comment
Here is one Pacific Isalnd that the AFL won’t be expanding to
NEWSFLASH – 15 hours ago
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8187802.stm
Easter Island has football debut
Easter Island, the tiny South Pacific territory administered by Chile, has staged its first ever officially sanctioned football match. The islanders played their first competitive fixture in the Chilean Cup.
The game ended in a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Colo Colo, the 28-time national champions dubbed the Manchester United of Chilean football. Fifa – the sport’s governing body – had described the clash as the island’s “match of the century”.
It had always promised to be a tough challenge, and sure enough, Colo Colo won with two goals in each half.
But this was about more than just football. There was a carnival atmosphere throughout.
The game was played on an atrocious, bumpy pitch just yards from the beach.
Virtually the entire population of 4,000 islanders turned out to watch.
Many wore traditional Polynesian dress and face paint, and held aloft the island’s distinctive red and white flag.
The match was broadcast live on Chilean TV to viewers over 3,700 km (2,300 miles) away on the mainland.
Before kick-off, the Easter islanders staged a war dance – a native show of bravado designed to intimidate their opponents.
But if Colo Colo were frightened, they did not show it, and it was they who went through to the second round of the Chilean Cup. For the players of Easter Island – which is famous for its mysterious stone statues – the cup run is over, at least for another year.
Have a good weekend everybody and Go Bombers!!
August 7th 2009 @ 4:34pm
Pippinu said | August 7th 2009 @ 4:34pm | Report comment
They had to play Colo Colo in their first ever game – that’s a bloody big ask!!!
August 7th 2009 @ 4:45pm
Art Sapphire said | August 7th 2009 @ 4:45pm | Report comment
If you check out the link you can see a massive Easter Island Statue watching the game.
August 7th 2009 @ 6:43pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | August 7th 2009 @ 6:43pm | Report comment
Good stuff, Michael C. It would be great to see more Pacific Islanders running around in the AFL.
A good day for the AFL overseas, too, with the new North American TV deal. I think having the grand final on ESPN2 is the perfect way to showcase our game to Americans.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/82199/default.aspx
August 10th 2009 @ 3:12pm
Michael C said | August 10th 2009 @ 3:12pm | Report comment
Good to see too – regarding North America, the very positive reports of the latest Revolution vs Northwind match up (the Canadians playing a new generation of international reps in their team), and the Canadians very impressed with the US organisational efforts.
Also, the USA Freedom womens team kicked off their Australian tour in Sydney over the weekend. This is a nice story that SHOULD hit the presses and AM tv programs – - – the first tour of Australia by an international womens footy team. Pretty cool.
August 7th 2009 @ 8:31pm
ruckrover said | August 7th 2009 @ 8:31pm | Report comment
The Pacific Islander u23 team beat the NQ u23 team. Given the early days but the trajectory of P.I. growth of Aussie Rules there is a pathway for a representative Pacific Island side to start playing in State Aussie Rules carnivals, perhaps in the U18 Championships in a few years. Aussie Rules would seem to have a good future in Oceania and expect several to make the AFL draft in the next decade which will further boost interest and growth in the region.
In a way this is back to the future as Aussie Rules had a strong presence in NZ at the turn of the 19th/20th century and NZ competed in state football carnivals and the game was for a short time called “Australasian Football”.
August 7th 2009 @ 8:54pm
lauboy said | August 7th 2009 @ 8:54pm | Report comment
I’m from Fiji myself. When I see my fellow Islanders running around in the AFL, the first questions that springs to my mind is: what’s wrong with them?
AFL is not an Island-raised Islander’s game. Never will be. They’ll play it for the money until they can get a better offer elsewhere in a code closer to their hearts (ie one of the rugby codes).
Interesting to note that the AFL is willing to play ball with Fiji’s illegal military regime.
AFL would be far better advised to look after its own backyard first!!
There seems to be a lot of assumptions here that the AFL’s western Sydney experiment is going to pay off. The recent NSWRL All Schools tournament held in western Sydney at the same time and place as a Aussie Rules tournament should shave served notice to AFL just how difficult their job is
August 8th 2009 @ 1:24pm
Dave said | August 8th 2009 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
I dont care what their motvations for playing it is.
Thats for the individual to wrok out.If they get paid and earn their money then its all good.
August 7th 2009 @ 10:31pm
Pippinu said | August 7th 2009 @ 10:31pm | Report comment
Lauboy
if you see a fellow Islander playing tennis, or squash, or golf, or korfball – do you wonder if something is wrong with them??
So why on Earth would you worry about a fellow Islander playing aussie rules or soccer??
A bit of a silly and prejudiced view to be honest.
Also, what do you man they do it for the money?? What money??!!
August 7th 2009 @ 10:56pm
Norm said | August 7th 2009 @ 10:56pm | Report comment
pippy boy lauboy has given you his honest opnion & you don’t like it so you shoot the messenger. He is far more astute then you will ever be.
August 8th 2009 @ 2:27pm
Pippinu said | August 8th 2009 @ 2:27pm | Report comment
Look – Norm – in Melbourne, if I had seen a kid with a rugby ball (which I only ever saw once in my life), I would’ve thought that’s an oddity or that’s rare, etc – but not: there’s something wrong with him.
And it’s not as if nothing else apart from the rugby codes is played in Fiji – let us all not forget that a Fijian NT defeated the Socceroos in a WC qualifier some 15 or so years ago.
So yes, it’s a silly and prejudiced comment to make.
Also – just as all Nauruans have understood for a very long time – kicking a footy is fun – why should Fijians be denied such a fun activity??
August 8th 2009 @ 7:26am
Tipota said | August 8th 2009 @ 7:26am | Report comment
I myself am a nauruan and very proud that we embraced the sport ‘aussie rules’. I think the game now has developed to a point where it should look at promoting and advancing it everywhere in the world, but in terms of afl development in Nauru for the last 10 years before this year is virtually zilch, this year however after the International Cup, a lot of positive changes have taken place and we now have a new competition, helped developed by the AFL.
In terms of physique, i think the pacific islanders including nauruans can and will adopt to the sport, the great expolisve running by David Rodan and freakish ability of Naitanui can attest to that, so i dont think we should shut off a aprticular group of people because of their race.
I think like aussies always say, fair go. FAIR go for all even us Nauruans.
other than that, Go the MIGHTY MAGPIES.
August 8th 2009 @ 2:28pm
Pippinu said | August 8th 2009 @ 2:28pm | Report comment
Well said Tipota – all strength to Nauruans!! (we Australians owe you big time anyway)
August 8th 2009 @ 10:13am
Republican said | August 8th 2009 @ 10:13am | Report comment
I agree with Lauboys sentiment that we should get our priorities in order by looking after our own backyard first and foremost. I also believe he is just a little bit concerned that there seems to be a cultural changing of the sporting status quo in the offing in places i.e. Fiji.
There are many loyal demographics that require our attention rather than contemplating any off shore exploits. NZ is a case in point and a country that quite frankly should never be considered in any expansion plans, this would be a great folly on the AFL part.
I would very much like to see the AFL work at establishing an elite presence in Tassie, the top end and Canberra, the latter being symbolically important to the ‘national code’ as well as sporting a very good standard of footy, certainly well and beyond that of any Oceana country, Western Sydney or the GC; In fact it is on a par with Tassie at the grass roots at least, these days.