With a name like Seamus ‘Shae’ McNamara, you’d be forgiven for thinking this AFL rookie has been recruited from Gaelic football in the Emerald Isle. Wrong. Shae McNamara is actually a yank, and he might just be the key to promoting AFL in the USA.
Playing with the Magpies’ top side in Friday night’s NAB Cup quarter-final clash with the Sydney Swans, Shae McNamara caused quite a buzz among Collingwood fans, and has raised the profile of AFL back in the US.
So could this lanky yank be the key to achieving greater exposure of AFL in the States?
Every time McNamara (or ‘American Pie’ as they’re calling him) got his hands on the ball, “U.S.A, U.S.A” was the chant echoed across the field by Collingwood supporters on Friday night.
He may not be the first ever US-born AFL player, but McNamara is the first born and raised, full-blooded American to play for Collingwood Football Club.
After putting up a training video on YouTube and sending off applications to various AFL sides, the American was offered a two year international rookie contract in 2009, before being picked up by Collingwood as the #47 draft pick.
Watching McNamara’s AFL skills in the video linked above is rather amusing, as he tries to punt and handball with an American football.
But his agility, strength and overhead marks showed potential. With a little faith from Collingwood and a lot of hard work, he’s managed to bring his basic skills up to a competitive level and going by footage from a VFL match, against Williamstown, the kid’s definitely got game.
Standing at 6’8 and weighing 104kg, the 25-year-old certainly has some key physical qualities that make him perfect for the game.
Groomed to drift in the forwards and around the ruck he’s averaged about a goal a game in the VFL last year, and his appearance on Friday night continued this stat. Maxwell kicked it long, deep inside fifty, McNamara took the mark and slotted home the goal. He also managed 5 marks and 8 disposals.
Originally a professional basketball player with his most recent stint being for TSV Dachau Spurs in the German league, McNamara started as most aspiring athletes in the US do, going through the US college system playing for a Division 1 university.
While playing basketball in Munich, the Milwaukee native first learnt about AFL when he was contacted by ESPN commentator and basketball legend Digger Phelps who advised him of the opportunity to play our game.
But his basketball career was hardly floundering. He was actually quite sought after, with several European clubs vying for his signature. Nevertheless he made the move, and a couple of years later, here he is, playing for Collingwood with the number 50 on his back (symbolising the 50 States he represents).
Cramping and tightness set in after half time during Friday night’s match, and he definitely has room to improve before making it into an accomplished AFL side fresh off a Premiership flag.
But if having McNamara on board at Collingwood means just one thing – exposure of AFL in the US – it will be worth all the effort.
Since 2009 ESPN have been airing AFL matches in the USA and Canada. Just like One HD has done for NFL here in Australia, international broadcasting deals are an excellent way to tap into overseas markets, and in this case, make AFL more accessible to those curious about the sport in the States.
There is already an interest of AFL in the US thanks to Sav Rocca and Ben Graham who have both drawn attention to the game with their success in their respective NFL franchises. However, the AFL want to take this interest one step further and build on this curiosity by targeting the impressive talent pool in the home of the brave.
Earlier this month meetings were held in the US between a handful of AFL clubs, the NCAA (college sporting body), and the AFL, aiming to create legitimate pathways for American university athletes to make the move to the AFL.
The plan outlined by AFL Director Peter Schwab, is to create an alternate route for those elite athletes who narrowly miss out on being drafted in their chosen sport at the end of their college sporting career.
But don’t be fooled, in the highly competitive arena of US college athletics, those who miss out are not necessarily ‘the worst of the worst’ and in fact still have plenty to offer. Schwab particularly wants to focus on those who compete in college basketball and gridiron.
Who knows, before long Shae McNamara might not be the only American trying to make his mark in the AFL.
AllSports
Roar Rookie
Agree 100%!
Gilhooligan
Guest
Waste of time if you ask me. Shae will never pull on the black and white, ever - in the home and away season. Dunno if we are trying to hard to spread the word of afl. But the kids we have in Australia are already years ahead of the yanks -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
MyLeftFoot
Guest
A further article on this story: http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=108774 The American experiment might do no more than replicate the low success rate of Gaelic footballers who have made the switch. Learning a new game in a new culture a long, long way from home is clearly a tough ask...for every Irish success story there have been a dozen failures. The whole exercise is risky, time-consuming and expensive.
Jake
Guest
Kepp up Fussball ist unser leben. They signed up the American so they could get a few AFL friendly media to spin some local stories about him and the potential for AFL and USA. Nought to do with his prospect of ever playing AFL at the top.
NashRambler
Guest
I'm an American fan of Australian sport and the true key to "greater exposure of AFL in the States" is to get games broadcast on a regular weekly schedule in a viewer friendly time slot on a mainstream channel. The AFL has the mainstream channel part down with ESPN, the problem is that only 4 regular season games plus the Grand Final are broadcast on ESPN2. Last year the regular season games showed up randomly on the schedule and were live broadcasts of the Channel 7 Sunday afternoon game which meant the games began at midnight Saturday night/Sunday morning eastern time. These games received zero mention as far as I could tell from ESPN: no mention on "SportsCenter" of an upcoming AFL game broadcast and no promo spots for the AFL games on any other ESPN programming during ad-breaks. I believe it is a realistic goal for the AFL to develop a niche audience in America. English Premier League soccer games are regularly broadcast on ESPN2 on Saturday mornings and according to the reports of ratings I've seen these games average 300,000 viewers. If soccer games can attract 300,000 viewers in America I certainly believe a tackle-football game like Aussie Rules could rate better than 300,000 if the games were run in a comparable Saturday morning time slot even if this means a delayed broadcast of a game from Friday night or Saturday night Australia time. If the AFL can't work out a better deal with ESPN there are other cable channels that reach as many homes as ESPN2 such as Versus, Spike, or G4.
OzFootballSherrin
Roar Pro
the irony of this is that Flanagan has ignored that so many of AFL's recruits get cut after just 2 years or so, quite often, becuase the clubs ARE forced to by the AFL's draft system. One of the greatest impacts of the Suns and Giants so far, is the 'mature age recruit' returning to some degree of favour. Guys who just were not ready or who had a shocking run with injuries (often because they just were not ready) around the age of 19-20. There is talent there - - Michael Barlow more than any proved that. The AFL competition is often characterised by a heap of 'sepculative' players running around who might struggle to get a game in a more 'adult' footy environment, when you see a team with an average aged of 23. Where are the experienced campaigners? Already sent to the scrap heap. So, unlike Flanagan - I celebrate that the 2 new clubs will actually provide, for a time, greater value to players careers (alas though, some clubs, such as Melbourne, completely butchered their list a couple of years back so as to bottom out and load up on kids before the Suns/Giants compromised drafts - and so solid performers like Robbo, Whelan, Brown all got cut perhaps prematurely). Anyway - I'll be cheering on Daniel Harris when he plays his 150th and celebrate that he's been able to have that opportunity. (and keeping an eye on the talent pool building up across PNG, Fiji, Tonga, Sth Africa and the AFL's speculative move into the US 'athletic reject' market!!).
OzFootballSherrin
Roar Pro
and it also illustrates that the wealthiest club in the land is the one that can most afford to take on such a project player. It's the sort of experimentation that most clubs can't really afford. There's still a long, long way from a NAB cup game doing half okay to actually making and doing well in a regular season game. So, a long way from the 'elite level'. Let alone, performing TO an 'elite level'. Basically McNamara is presently fling a Tiger Moth trainer, he's a long, long way from SuperHornets, but, he's handling his Tiger Moth better than expected.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
As many have already mentioned, it's not about cracking markets (at least, not initially), it's about talent identification and opening up new sources of players to keep our player stocks healthy given there are two new professional teams coming in over the next 13 months (an additional 88 players required at the elite level). PNG is doing its bit: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110301095144153 The PNG team competing at this year's IC is going to be very exciting. So bursting wth talent, that it will not use any of its AFL listed players. A feature of their team will be a handful from the PNG AFL Academy, aged 16, getting some game time - very exciting indeed. For the first time ever, AFL scouts will take this IC seriouisly, if nothing else, to check out these 16 year olds. The PNG coaching staff see Nauru, NZ and Ireland as their main rivals. Hawthorn have signed two NZ players on international scholarships, not sure if they are allowed to compete in the IC: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110228170214211 Ireland already has a plan to travel with only half a squad, with the aim of filling the other half of their squad with Irish nationals already living and playing in Australia - expect them to offer PNG a very stern test. Shae's success, making news in the US as well, will ensure that the US come here with a strong squad also with some young talent with plenty of potential. The 4th IC is clearly going to be the very best ever.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
If there are more 200+ cm blokes in the American college system, many not getting pro contracts - then we definitely want some of these guys trying our game!! Shae has been fantastic. In fact, I'd love to see him playing with GWS this year - they really could do with his height!
Nathan
Guest
Oh that isn't an obstacle. We'll just tell them we're the secret 51st state. They'll believe it.
Koops
Roar Rookie
Surely it does not need to be explained to you that the height factor and his athleticism is the big factor, ...... just as in soccer, with a goal keeper, height is a big factor. Lachlan Keefe, ex soccer player and QLDer is another, a 6'6/7" athletic big man, great to see AFL clubs finding and developing these big guys. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/keefe-rises-to-stardom/story-e6frf9jf-1111116331970
seanoroo
Roar Rookie
Nice aticle, great to see AFL looking abroad for new talent and if im not mistaken in that swans/pies game there were players from USA, Canada, Brazil, Burma, Ireland (thats just off the top of my head might be more) but it goes to show how the games evolved over the last 10 years and these players all bring there own style and technique which is great for the sport, Im excited for the future of the game.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I'm still shaking my head with disbelief after seeing that video clip. I cannot believe that video enables a person to get a trial and contract at the best Aussie Rules team in the world! What message does this send to junior Aussie Rules players, who actually have good kicking & handball technique and have years of tactical experience in the sport? Surely, no Aussie Rules fan can tell us that video showcase a person, who can play Aussie Rules at the elite level?
OzFootballSherrin
Roar Pro
McNamara also very much enjoyed soccer and was good at that - so, a combo of soccer & basketball helps immensely,......yet again. Being 203 or so cm's tall don't hurt either. The AFL and America - I'm not sure what the 'chucklers' are chuckling about. The AFL has a very specific strategic interest, unlike soccer which still thinks it can knock off the NFL and NBA and NHL and MLB.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Hk47, You dont want to hire college punters - you want to hire and the re-train college athletes with the right physical tools and the right attitude to training. Ideally, you want to hire College American Football players, as there are effectively no lower grade leagues (the VFL or WAFL has about as many full-time professionals as the CFL and whatever they are calling the inddor American footy league these days). Just like NZ, I dont see the USA as a source of fans, I see it as a source of athletes for the AFL. Mike Pyke is, in short, the future.
Hk47
Guest
I'ld argue it as an alternative talent pathway. For those that won't make it in their respective fields, basketball or NFL punting, encourage them to come and try AFL, instead of plying their trade in lower grade leagues across the globe. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
The AFL isnt really trying to crack the US sporting market - even if that may be some long distant consideration, its doing the same thing it did in ireland. searching for new talent. A talent by all accounts is wasted by the number of athletes who fail to turn pro. These guys may still want to make money you know.
chris petes
Guest
lol Americans are more insular than Australians (if thats possible) and wouldn't dream of paying a sport played in other countries.
The Answer
Guest
Do we chalk this down as the first Roar article where a code talks about their desire to crack the American sporting market. The AFL has enough trouble cracking Sydney. The Yanks will have to wait.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Cracker, No, but look at this guy (Tejay Johnson, TCU safety, projected 7th round/UFA), http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=69276&draftyear=2011&genpos=FS Odds are, if he gets drafted, he gets cut after training camp. He's six foot tall, runs 40 yards in four and a half seconds and can tackle and catch a footy. If you can turn him into a useful defender, then I can probably find you a dozen guys like him every year.