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Israel Folau of team GWS addresses the media at a press conference announcing the recruitment of Israel Falau to the GWS team at Blacktown Olympic Park in Sydney. Slattery Media
EXCLUSIVE: With the recent news of GWS signing Israel Folau, I must admit I am shocked and a bit angry at how much money he will be paid over the next four years. I think it is a fantastic move from the AFL hierarchy to lure another NRL star across to our code but the figures that have been thrown up in the media, if correct, are going to infuriate fellow players.
This is by no means Israel Folau’s fault. I reckon this guy is one of the most gifted athletes I have seen.
There is one play that no doubt sticks in everybody’s mind when talking about Folau, and that is the sensational mark he took in Origin and followed it up by placing it down for a try over his head.
He is blessed with an amazing leap, superior speed and the physical features that every player in the AFL would love to have.
That is the thing though, he has all of the physical attributes but I am most certainly sure he doesn’t have the technical attributes, at the moment, to make it as an AFL footballer.
Folau is going to struggle to switch codes and learn to kick an Australian Rules football, and from my understanding he has yet to try it.
The difference between him and Karmicahel Hunt is that Hunt played some form of AFL at an early age before turning to a career in the NRL.
Folau’s ability to hit pinpoint passes on the run when his fellow teammate has a metre on his opposition is going to be detrimental to his fellow teammates and his own confidence.
It is not an easy skill and one in which players struggle with today with the increased pressure in games now. It is going to take more than two years for him to be able to understand the mechanisms that go with playing Australian rules.
The other point I wanted to make is the financial position he is finding himself in.
I think it’s a joke the amount of money that he is going to be paid.
Most of it we understand is going to come from marketing appearances. He will earn an average salary but the AFL will fund his marketing appearances.
I can understand the AFL’s decision behind trying to use him as a marketing tool. But he is going to be trying to market a new team in an area that is riddled with NRL hungry supporters that will not give two hoots about AFL.
It is going to be a huge challenge for the AFL to pull this one off.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I am sure he also chose to play for Queensland over New South Wales as well which also makes it extremely hard. I respect the AFL’s decision entirely; it is the figure of money that is being speculated that hits a nerve with fellow players.
The general consensus amongst our playing group is that it is a fantastic idea to lure another sportsmen from a rival code. The money is the key issue at the moment.
We have guys on our list who have been playing football since they were seven years of age and who are earning $50,000 a year, which is still a significant amount of money for a 17 year old kid.
But that is ridiculed by what Folau will earn.
There are mature aged players who no doubt could make it AFL level who are running around in the VFL, SANFL and the WAFL that would dream to make that income.
It is an extremely tough situation that we are finding ourselves in at the moment.
The AFL has done a significant job in luring the stars across with maybe more to come. Now the challenge begins and one that I have no doubt everybody will cast a keen eye over.
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