The AFL’s pursuit of former American college basketball players may seem like a gamble, but so long as clubs are choosing wisely and know what they’re looking for, it’s a wise investment.
Ten players were flown in for the AFL’s recent draft combine and one of those, Eric Wallace, has been given a 10-day trial at North Melbourne.
Is it crazy? I don’t think so.
The AFL were reportedly paying Israel Folau $1.5 million a year which, despite admittedly bringing off-field benefits in terms of marketing and profile, was not a gamble that generated long-term benefits on the field.
For that same $1.5 million, the AFL could get at least 15 American basketball players out here and, so long as they got the selection process right, at least one of them would become a star.
The stats say only around one percent of Division 1 college players make it to the NBA. Outside of that, you’ve got Europe and the D-League.
It leaves a massive number of quality athletes wanting a professional career and with the right physical attributes with nowhere to go.
Since taking over as coach of the Sydney Kings in February, I’ve literally received hundreds of emails from agents and players looking for an opportunity to play basketball in Australia.
There could be some real finds for the AFL in this group because physically, a lot of these players have the right body type.
Obviously, the transition would not be automatic. Not all of them would make it as AFL is a tough sport.
Once a player is recruited, it’s going to take time for him to learn a new sport and adapt enough to play it at a high level. He’ll have to master foreign skills like kicking, handballing and marking. Persistence will be very important.
Also, it won’t work if the clubs involved aren’t serious. They would have to treat their recruit as an investment and be prepared to wait a couple of years to see a return.
However, with patience, that return could be very significant.
While Nic Naitanui is considered tall and unbelievably athletic by AFL standards, if he were to play basketball these attributes would not stand out. They’d be considered normal.
Body type isn’t the only factor that makes basketballers appealing these days, either. Perhaps more than ever, the game style is conducive to players making the transition.
The AFL is so much faster today than it was 10-15 years ago, the players are so much fitter and more athletic. With less one-on-one situations, players also need quick hands and quick peripheral vision. These qualities, which are prerequisites for basketball players, are very much in demand from modern day AFL coaches.
The terminology is also starting to overlap more. Zones and pressing are topics now covered in both sports.
Similar traits have always existed, but with the innovation that has taken place in the last decade or so in the AFL, now is a particularly good time to look at what’s out there.
The concern some would raise is that it’s a waste of time and money. They might say that the possibility of finding a star is so minimal that it’s not worth it.
Just look at the Israel Folau deal.
Realistically, there’s more chance that a 6’7″ athlete from the States is going to be successful long-term than Folau, and for a significantly smaller investment.
There are guys I’ve played with in the States that if you played them at full forward, they are that big and that strong that after kicking it to them it’d be almost impossible to stop them, especially now that you can’t hack the forward’s arm or anything like that.
The beauty of it is that it’s only going to take one player to come over and be a star. Once that happens, it could open an entirely new talent pool for the sport.
I’m not saying it would be easy. I’m not saying every college basketball player that doesn’t go pro is a suitable candidate. I’m not saying clubs wouldn’t require patience.
But there’s a lot of great talent out there and the AFL would be crazy not to explore it.
Jaredsbro
Roar Guru
You're selling the game short fadida. If you genuinely want to democratise the code the way to go about is not to allow more people to play the game, but to give more people access to understanding the culture and the idioscyncratic morality involved in playing a given code of football. There's something special about the footballs, which seem to require teaching people the right way to do things (grasping the motivation of doing what you're doing e.g. kicking for the sideline vs kicking for goal), which an expert of any of the football codes would be better at than a basketballer however talented) not merely looking like doing the right thing (fitting in, which many basketballers have shown they are geniuses at)
Jaredsbro
Roar Guru
Another issue is the chance of success. Surely even given the sheer number of College basketballers there's a very high risk of low-strike rates. By all means try this avenue but also stop thinking inside the box assuming that the novelty factor of the code is the best asset in selling Australian Football. EDIT: Just read your comment above Redb...I actually think Australian Football has well and truly won the capture the flag battle...your youngsters probably won't try any other option out there, but you still haven't won the king of the hill game yet...you're right! And on Bob Anderson's point: actually baseball is still the most culturally relevant sport in the states, and it still wins in terms of over viewership stats which is a non-contest as baseball as a much larger advertising space/reach due to being played in series!
Jaredsbro
Roar Guru
It won't be genuinely international until there's another fully professional comp o/s. Having more nationalities play is a noble goal, but being megalomaniacal is not something to be proud of! I think what the code really needs is to encourage more people who would usually not consider Australian Football as an option to have a go. Americans do fall into this category but then again so do many MANY others closer to home. For example why waste the talent in your backyard: NZ's got a lot of talent who are already (virtually) conditioned to think Ozzies worth a try in terms of finding employment ;)
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
What?
Doghouse
Guest
Dozens of New Zealanders play in the NRL and lower Leagues - dont see anyone complaining????
Bob Anderson
Guest
Regarding the EPL, there is in fact there is a lot of resentment among its traditional working class English fans that there are so few English players anymore. It also harms the national team in terms of player development. I'd also point out that in the US, major league baseball has lost popularity almost in parallel with the ever increasing number of foreign players, while the NFL which has few foreign players has increased in popularity and replaced baseball as the most popular sport.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
I'm assuming Brogan never played Aussie Rules as a kid?! Knew nothing of the culture? I doubt that very much. I'm sure lots of tall kids in AFL states played both sports growing up. Slightly different case picking someone from Detroit or wherever, no matter how tall or keen they might be. Still, never say never.
Redb
Roar Guru
Strummer, A rookie is not going to take an established player's position. To you use your analogy I would not have even got the job in the first place it would have gone to better person for the job. cheers
Strummer Jones
Guest
As I said, so long as you're happy when your boss says that to you as an excuse for firing/not hiring/not promoting you. I am still curious about comments such as 'optimum contest' and 'the best' and "showcasing the game". That is, I don't understand what people are trying to achieve here exactly. I recommend a good read entitled "Supercapitalism" by Rob Reich. It outlines the problems in setting these very goals and what in fact they end up achieving. Each to their own of course and I respect your comments ;-)
Paul
Guest
The skills have become worse. To see players missing goals from 10m out is appalling. Dropped sitter marks and handpasses to nowhere. If ARF was a global sport, we'd be beaten soudly at it by nations that valued skill over simple athleticism.
mds1970
Roar Guru
With 18 clubs, there are more players in the AFL than ever before. More opportunities, but plenty of competition in the draft for talented players. After a successful year, you can be waiting a long time before you get to draft players to top up the list. Nothing wrong with looking outside the square as to where future players can come from. Port Adelaide found a premiership ruckman in the NBL.
Australian Rules
Guest
Well...there it is. However, I'll see your "ridiculous and fanciful" and then raise you a Brogan and Pyke.
Redb
Roar Guru
Strummer, You need the pyramid to keep growing for the best reach the top, the greater the base the more likely the top will showcase the game and provide the optimum contest. Our game cant stand still, other codes are looking at raiding our juniors. Have to keep up and spread the net wide.
Strummer Jones
Guest
Henry and Redb, I think you've missed my point. Lets say you are sitting at work and your boss comes in and says 'sorry Mr Redb, but we've recruited this bloke from the US who is smarter, faster and better looking than you and therefore is going to take your job". You'd be pretty peeved off. Or alternatively, lets say there is a 10% unemployment rate where supply is far outstripping demand, but the government decides to grant work visa to thousands of highly skilled Americans. Do you still think my view is a narrow view? As I said, I'd prefer the Aussie kids that have spent their teenage years busting a gut to get a game rather than some American basketballer that had never heard of the sport 5 minutes before he started playing. As for "I want to see the best", well I reckon the quality of the game is already looking pretty good. How much "better" do you want it? How much more "better can it really get?
Bob Anderson
Guest
I for one am also mortified by this outrageous waste of bandwidth masquerading as a sports article. Nothing more than a scandalous abomination that defies all boundaries of good taste and fundamental common sense. Shameful and deplorable. Lol
Titus
Guest
Lololol.................First they take our jobs, then they take our women.
Redb
Roar Guru
That's a bit insular Strummer. We may as well bring the game back so that only students from Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar play the game and not allow anyone else.
Redb
Roar Guru
Exactly Fonzie.
arthur fonzarelli
Guest
So do you think the English Premier League would be a better competition with less foreign players ? Or is that what makes it such a great standard ?
josh
Guest
It has happened in the past champ. You aren't a sports fan.