AFL plans to develop PNG talent
Wednesday 25 December 2002
Cairns could become the host city for dozens of aspiring AFL players from Papua New Guinea.
The code’s administrators and development staff are working on a strategy to tap into the talent pool of Australia’s closest neighbour. They believe the experience gained over the past six years of work on Cape York Peninsula will prove invaluable in helping PNG players fulfil their potential. After holding talks with PNG contacts last week, AFL Queensland Development Manager for Far North Queensland Rick Hanlon is keen to bring young PNG sides to the U14 and U16 Queensland Country Championships next year. There are also plans to include six PNG players in an U18 Summer Camp in Cairns early next year and to host PNG administrators and development staff in Cairns and Brisbane to improve their skill level.
Another idea being pursued is taking an AFL Cairns side to Papua New Guinea. Hanlon said AFL was surprisingly popular in PNG. “In one of the divisions they have 68 teams up there,” Hanlon said. “And it’s not just in Port Moresby, it’s all throughout the country.”
PNG, home of Brisbane Lions defender Mal Michael, is considered the top football side of the Pacific and made the Grand Final of the inaugural AFL International Cup in Melbourne in August. Hanlon believes Cairns could play a key role in developing the country’s AFL potential. “We should be using it as a recruiting base rather than going to Victoria and paying outlandish prices.” Hanlon said. “We have a fairly strong PNG community here and that could develop into more people coming to watch local product here.”
Like the AFL’s ongoing work on Cape York, Hanlon said PNG could benefit from the development of football as a way of promoting healthy lifestyles. “Both regions face similar problems with logistics and social issues – that experience we’ve had on the Cape and the way we set up our program is something they (PNG) are keen to follow,” said Hanlon, who has worked with Cape York communities for five years. “We have pathways for Cape kids that are equal to any regional or metropolitan area in Queensland. They can participate in everything from the Kickstart program to (Queensland Country) Kookaburras selection.”
Wednesday 25 December 2002
Cairns could become the host city for dozens of aspiring AFL players from Papua New Guinea.
The code’s administrators and development staff are working on a strategy to tap into the talent pool of Australia’s closest neighbour. They believe the experience gained over the past six years of work on Cape York Peninsula will prove invaluable in helping PNG players fulfil their potential. After holding talks with PNG contacts last week, AFL Queensland Development Manager for Far North Queensland Rick Hanlon is keen to bring young PNG sides to the U14 and U16 Queensland Country Championships next year. There are also plans to include six PNG players in an U18 Summer Camp in Cairns early next year and to host PNG administrators and development staff in Cairns and Brisbane to improve their skill level.
Another idea being pursued is taking an AFL Cairns side to Papua New Guinea. Hanlon said AFL was surprisingly popular in PNG. “In one of the divisions they have 68 teams up there,” Hanlon said. “And it’s not just in Port Moresby, it’s all throughout the country.”
PNG, home of Brisbane Lions defender Mal Michael, is considered the top football side of the Pacific and made the Grand Final of the inaugural AFL International Cup in Melbourne in August. Hanlon believes Cairns could play a key role in developing the country’s AFL potential. “We should be using it as a recruiting base rather than going to Victoria and paying outlandish prices.” Hanlon said. “We have a fairly strong PNG community here and that could develop into more people coming to watch local product here.”
Like the AFL’s ongoing work on Cape York, Hanlon said PNG could benefit from the development of football as a way of promoting healthy lifestyles. “Both regions face similar problems with logistics and social issues – that experience we’ve had on the Cape and the way we set up our program is something they (PNG) are keen to follow,” said Hanlon, who has worked with Cape York communities for five years. “We have pathways for Cape kids that are equal to any regional or metropolitan area in Queensland. They can participate in everything from the Kickstart program to (Queensland Country) Kookaburras selection.”
