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Israel Folau of the Giants chased by Justin Westhoff and Daniel Motlop of Port during the AFL NAB Challenge match between Port Adelaide Power and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Willaston Oval, Willaston. Slattery Images
Rugby League Week have released the results of their annual players poll. The most surprising result of the survey was that 25 of the 100 players polled would consider switching to AFL within the next five years. The major question this poll prompts is, who are the players considering taking up AFL?
Unfortunately, we won’t know, as the poll is conducted anonymously (much to the dismay of Michael Ennis).
Though twenty-five players may not seem like a lot, I can guarantee that number was a lot smaller, nay, it probably didn’t even come into the equation, before the Hunt and Folau code switches.
As much as the league purists and supporters would like to think that their favourite players will live and die with a Steeden in their hand, the reality is a lot different when there’s millions of dollars up for grabs.
Even the red leather of a Sherrin is worth more than the rubber of a Steeden. (Honestly, $170 per ball is ridiculous!)
The AFL’s newest franchise, Greater Western Sydney, knew exactly what they were doing when they signed Israel Folau in a record $4.2 million deal.
It was a coup that only the AFL could pull off, and so far it seems to be working.
We will never truly know the extent of this success until Israel Folau debuts in the AFL, but so far he’s proved his worth as a full forward playing for GWS in the NEAFL competition.
Folau and the club have been tirelessly making public appearances to bring more AFL interest in Sydney and add to their current total of 9817 members.
The fact that Folau has a Tongan background and is originally from Minto in Sydney’s west also makes him the poster child for Polynesian kids in the area to get into AFL – kids who would probably have otherwise played rugby league or rugby union.
How AFL has not fully taken advantage of the size and skill of Islander kids in the same way the NRL has is surprising to say the least.
But I’ve no doubt Folau will be what changes that.
Another question the Rugby League Week poll raises is, will those players who switch remain in AFL for the remainder of their sporting career? Or will they switch right back after a year or two with big bags of cash?
If not, can that really be good for AFL?
Gold Coast Suns coach Guy McKenna yesterday questioned Hunt’s loyalty, speculating that he may return to NRL at the end of his contract.
However, teammate, Gary Ablett is confident Hunt will stay in AFL and the Gold Coast Suns for a while yet.
You’d think that whether or not Hunt stays or goes will play some part in determining whether the AFL consider going down this path of nabbing NRL stars in the future. I’m not saying Hunt comes into this category, but if the AFL big wigs start to believe that players are simply in it for a quick buck (shocking, I know), there’s no way they’ll continue pursuing code-hoppers.
Nevertheless, the leaguies are lining up, so to speak.
Twenty-five of them in the next five years, ready to forget everything they once knew and adapt to a completely different way of playing with a football.
But what are your thoughts, Roarers? Do the results of this poll surprise you?
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