Sydney Swans raid US Colleges in search for athletic talent

[Copernicus]

Not sure what to think of this. First of all, Bethune Cookman is NOT in the "top tier of amateur competition." BCU is barely on the radar screen in American college athletics. But that hardly matters. There are some excellent athletes walking around their campus.....as well as schools everywhere....that don't have the talent to play NFL/NBA. For every player that makes it to the major league level, there are a thousand that don't. And I'm talking about top flight players that would amaze you.....but they're just aren't good enough. So in theory, it's a overflowing recruiting ground for the AFL.

But Bluesman made a good point. None have these guys have ever played Aus Football.....or even heard of it for that matter. Sure, they've got great athletic skills and could pick up the basics of the game but they just wouldn't have the instincts of someone who has played it since they were a kid. A long way to go for talent....and likely expensive. And as cool as it'd be to see a couple of our boys over there, I gotta' think there's plenty of talent in Australia already.

Bethune-Cookman, eh? Going through the HBCUs may not be a bad place to start. Not a lot of NBA/NFL scouts would be scouring the SWAC and MEAC, but I am sure there would be a lot of potential there.

That said, you're right that these guys will lack the instincts of guys who grew up playing the game. The thing about Aussie rules is that you can go far with athleticism and reasonable skills (hell, plenty of guys running around in country leagues making a bit of coin who have no small amount of talent), but then there's a brick wall at AFL level where it all just goes up several notches. That is one hell of a learning curve for even the most elite athlete.

 

[Rakuten06]

Not many actually succeed though..not growing up playing Aussie rules is a huge handicap and the player has a lot of ground to make up....worth a shot probably. but i wouldn't be banking on many (if any) succeeding at AFL level .

Yeah, but it will be very interesting to see how Starling can manage through a career. If he played very well at his position, he could become the part of the Swans' list as an international rookie in 2013.

Perhaps ESPN in the US will pick up this story and maybe we can actually get games of him playing on a tape-delay basis or on live, which means more influence of Aussie rules football on the American viewers, but you're right, it's worth a gamble on it to "expand" the influence on Americans and other parts of the world without trying to put the clubs on it.

 

[Covertackle]

I'm pretty sure this is an Australia Day troll, but just in case.

Firstly is it too much to expect a post would have some semblance of proper grammar/spelling and that at the very least you get a person's name correct?

It's Folau.

Secondly it is not the AFL chasing "afro/americans" it is the Swans looking for talent in alternative markets, as they have done with Kennelly (Gaelic football) and Pyke (rugby union).

Both who, for the record, are white.

Why US college players now?
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...er-alex-starling/story-e6frf9jf-1226253617207
Roos;
Lastly I'm not sure what point you are trying to make.

You criticise the AFL for not having enough "coloured" players and then slate the AFL for embracing multiculturalism.

Hunt & Folau were identified by the AFL for their on and off field potential, not because of their skin colour.

The AFL doesn't reflect the "multicultural ideal", it merely reflects the people that play and support the game of Aussie Rules.

Secondly it is not the AFL chasing "afro/americans" it is the Swans looking for talent in alternative markets, as they have done with Kennelly (Gaelic football) and Pyke (rugby union).

fair enough. no pun. but the AFL has gone out of its way to recruit two island kids, in folau(cheers) and hunt. why inglis wasnt asked one will never know...(its because they already have aboriginal players)..

Hunt & Folau were identified by the AFL for their on and off field potential, not because of their skin colour.

rubbish. thereare many good NRL players that could have converted. why those two island kids? havent the AFL got a comp in one of those countries? they are really trying. and good luck to them. its a good game. i dont go in for all this parochialism. or dictionaries..

You criticise the AFL for not having enough "coloured" players and then slate the AFL for embracing multiculturalism.

no ididnt. and no i didnt. you just prefer to see it that way. feel good?

The AFL doesn't reflect the "multicultural ideal", it merely reflects the people that play and support the game of Aussie Rules.[/

it took time, but you got it.....

and no, im not trolling. ive a thread i want to start, and questions to ask, and i must wait 5 days and 25 posts to ask it..... so, here i am......building my total..

 

[Covertackle]

Not many actually succeed though..not growing up playing Aussie rules is a huge handicap and the player has a lot of ground to make up....worth a shot probably. but i wouldn't be banking on many (if any) succeeding at AFL level .

cant remember what the current player is named, but he played soccer till he was 16yo. he then went to AFL. he's now pretty good i think. i heard it mentioned in one game i was watching. someone here will know who he is..

just goes to show. we cant all be right..

 

[RiggoDiesel44]

Bethune-Cookman, eh? Going through the HBCUs may not be a bad place to start. Not a lot of NBA/NFL scouts would be scouring the SWAC and MEAC, but I am sure there would be a lot of potential there.

That said, you're right that these guys will lack the instincts of guys who grew up playing the game. The thing about Aussie rules is that you can go far with athleticism and reasonable skills (hell, plenty of guys running around in country leagues making a bit of coin who have no small amount of talent), but then there's a brick wall at AFL level where it all just goes up several notches. That is one hell of a learning curve for even the most elite athlete.

Just thought it was interesting to see "Bethune Cookman" and "top tier" mentioned in the same sentence. But these lower level college leagues have tons of talent. NFL/NBA rosters are littered with players from the small schools. It's actually a good way to go if you're not a superstar high school athlete. If you are lucky enough to get a scholarship to play football at Alabama or USC or some such, you gotta' compete with a roster full of high school studs. At Bethune, you have a better shot to get a lot of playing time. And that's the key. If you have some game, the NBA/NFL will find you.

Since I've gotten into AFL, sometimes I wonder what it'd be like if an Adrian Peterson or Reggie Bush or Ray Lewis or even a Kobe Bryant type would be immersed into Australian Football.

Also, major props on the avatar. French news chick.....is my #1 of all time, edging out Grace Kelly.

Back to subject at hand

Rakuten-Unfortunately, I don't see AFL gaining much ground here. There's already a ton of sports already. Which is too bad because it's got a lot of things Americans like: Plenty of scoring (unlike soccer), it's physical (though from what I've heard, not like it used to be), and chicks would dig it because it's fast and they can see the players' faces (no helmets).

 

[Ruse]

Hanley and McKeever are going great in brisbane can you imagine if more 213cm giant american basketballers played AFL?

 

[Partridge]

Again, I'm biased because I'm an American but here it goes:

I think it will help the growth of the Australian Rules Football if the college athletes can't pursue a successful professional career then they can move to Australia and try their hand at footy. Take a look at Tadhg Kennelly for example, he moved from Gaelic Football to AFL and he is a proficient defender in the Swans and if he didn't have any injuries that covers most of his AFL career, he would be the best International AFL player, and he's already the best Irishman to play footy anyway.

That's about as worthy as being the most courageous Frenchman in May 1940.

Not exactly a huge field for competition either. Kenneally at best is competent, but that's it.

 

[Partridge]

Good move by the Swans and if Roos is behind the recruit he will no doubt have talent.

To those above that push the local talent mantra, there may be no shortage of local talent but there is shortage of guys 195cm+ who can move like the wind.

Yeah, cause that's all you need to be a star. Actual ability to play the game isn't required.

 

[morebeer]

This is a massive market for potential ruckmen. Whoever cracks it will reap massive benefits. Hope the Bombers are looking into it.

 

[legend166]

That's about as worthy as being the most courageous Frenchman in May 1940.

Not exactly a huge field for competition either. Kenneally at best is competent, but that's it.

Kennelly at his best was one of the top HBFs in the league. How quickly people forget.

 

[Underdog]

cant remember what the current player is named, but he played soccer till he was 16yo. he then went to AFL. he's now pretty good i think. i heard it mentioned in one game i was watching. someone here will know who he is..

just goes to show. we cant all be right..

Sam Butler has been described as a "late convert" to Aussie Rules from Soccer.

He's a premiership player, still in our best 22 and one of our most highly skilled players.

Dean Brogan's the most obvious one having won an NBL Championship prior to switching to Aussie Rules.

EDIT: Sam was 14 when he switched (http://southgawlerlions.com.au/Hall_of_Fame/League_Footballers/homegrown/sam_butler.html), same as Garrick Ibbotson.

 

[Aucklander]

rubbish. thereare many good NRL players that could have converted. why those two island kids? havent the AFL got a comp in one of those countries?

Neither of them are Island kids. One's an Aussie and one's a Kiwi (well he was, not sure of current citizenship status). The AFL just picked one ex-Rugby league player and a current one as they expand in NSW and QLD.

 

[Underdog]

fair enough. no pun. but the AFL has gone out of its way to recruit two island kids, in folau(cheers) and hunt. why inglis wasnt asked one will never know...(its because they already have aboriginal players)..

Perhaps he simply didn't want to leave rugby...

Inglis has repeatedly said that he does not want to leave the NRL

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...al-drags-on-20101217-190ov.html#ixzz1kY4wPBGA

That didn't stop him being chased...

GREG Inglis - arguably rugby league's best current player - is seriously considering becoming the latest star to abandon the NRL, with his manager in talks with AFL powerhouse Essendon.

In another worrying sign for rugby league just days after the code was rocked by Israel Folau's defection, The Daily Telegraph can reveal Inglis wants to stay in Melbourne and is exploring a switch to AFL if he is forced out of the Storm due to the salary cap scandal.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...rget-greg-inglis/story-e6frexni-1225875669899

 

[Clint Bizkit]

For someone who has never played the game, his basic skills look decent. Certainly a lot better than the American guy Collingwood have.

The thing about US athletes is that once they leave the College system, if they don't go on to play in the professional leagues then there aren't many casual or social leagues so there are hundreds of talented athletes who don't make it and potentially could do well at Australian Rules.

 

[Del80659]

can't see how this is a bad thing. poaching players from NRL to NBA or college basketball or football or where ever is good for AFL in every way except possibly Aussies.. but the comp may keep expanding. In Roos case you can't say he doesn't know what he's doing so he must see something in this kid. I automatically assumed he was a ruck but he could be anything.

 

[ClintEastwood]

The guys looks like an incredible mover, and a very exciting prospect.

Looks like he's already pretty much adjusted to the main skills.

 

[Blues_Man]

cant remember what the current player is named, but he played soccer till he was 16yo. he then went to AFL. he's now pretty good i think. i heard it mentioned in one game i was watching. someone here will know who he is..

just goes to show. we cant all be right..

If he grew up in Australia then he would be familiar with kicking a footy of some kind i would imagine .....coming from a different country most would have no idea of how to kick a ball or the natural instincts of the game that evolves from kicking a ball around at school .

Irish players can sometimes make it because they play a kicking style game in Ireland ..even if it is a round ball.

I don't imagine a Basketballer would have any kicking skills, so would have to learn everything from scratch.

 

[Unfinished]

Get heaps and get a professional league there soon, **** i love dreaming.

 

[BABYBOMBERS2007]

If it works, good on them.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Aussie club goes to recruit a 22 yr old professional (college athletes have as tough a training schedual as afl footballers)

so they can't play, most the recruits these days can't either

 

[Rakuten06]

Rakuten - Unfortunately, I don't see AFL gaining much ground here. There's already a ton of sports already. Which is too bad because it's got a lot of things Americans like: Plenty of scoring (unlike soccer), it's physical (though from what I've heard, not like it used to be), and chicks would dig it because it's fast and they can see the players' faces (no helmets).

Yeah, I know United States already has many sports that is popular with audience like American football, soccer, basketball, baseball, and hockey which considered to be "Top 5" professional leagues.

I'm sure the chicks would dig the men in short shorts playing with a ball and it's a very rough sport because it almost like the mixture of soccer, basketball (bouncing the ball), and rugby into one sport that is considered as a national sport in Australia and Nauru.

It will be interesting to see what happens anyway in the short-term and long-term future.

 

[.Shotties.]

Since I've gotten into AFL, sometimes I wonder what it'd be like if an Adrian Peterson or Reggie Bush or Ray Lewis or even a Kobe Bryant type would be immersed into Australian Football.

As I mentioned on the Swans board when the news first broke, it's been a pretty frequent topic of discussion which athletes from other sports people would like to see play footy and the discussion usually features what happens with US athletes who don't make the grade in their comps.

I'd wager this Starling isn't just an athlete but also probably a sports all-rounder. Pretty much every pro athlete profile I read in the US states that the person in question was also a first string (pick multiple) track / baseball / football / wrestling/ basketball/ swimming / ping pong participant so I don't think adjusting to the skills would be that hard.

What I am interested to see is how he performs under the constant, harassing physical pressure that occurs in footy whenever someone takes posession of the ball.

 

[Copernicus]

cant remember what the current player is named, but he played soccer till he was 16yo. he then went to AFL. he's now pretty good i think. i heard it mentioned in one game i was watching. someone here will know who he is..

just goes to show. we cant all be right..

Brad Green?

 

[CAS79]

Brad Green?

Brad Green played just about every sport growing up. Soccer, Football, Tennis and was a good cricketer as well.

Zac Smith is another who was playing soccer until a couple of years before his conversion.

 

[The_Reaper]

from an outsiders perspective.....

AFL is a very 'white' game. compare the cultural mix of the NSL and NRL. on the otherhand, the AFL, despite having a wide cultural mix, is short on darker players.

there is absolutely no suggestion it has anything to do with racism. more likely to do with demographics. the reason the NRL is so multicultural is because overseas players come here. they happen to be obviously not white anglo saxons. not always evident of any other european peoples that play AFL or NRL.

i recon its part of the reason the AFL is desperate to get more pacific island players into AFL, and the purchase of islanders hunt and fulau. now its evident they are chasing afro/americans.

im not sure whats more embarrasing. the shortage of couloured AFL players, or the AFLs determination in recruiting them at any cost.

im not sure why sport must reflect the multicultural ideal. but the AFL have got it bad...

What about the extremely high proportion of aboriginal players?

Australia does not have a single sizeable coloured minority like the States which is why the AFL appears to be largely white.
For most of Australian history the ethnic minorites were Italians, Greeks and former Yugoslavians, who are all represented in the AFL and in the state leagues.