World Footy News

Following on from our story several days ago International players invited to AFL Camp, we now present the complete list of players attending the AFL camp. The camp is run in conjunction with the Australian Institute of Sport which gives scholarships for talented juniors. The AIS targets the best players coming out of the AFL Under-16 National Schoolboys' Championship each year. As such the Australian players will generally be younger than the internationals invited this year, although countries such as PNG will be sending boys of similar age. It appears although invitations for 15 players were sent, only 7 are attending the camp.

AFLPNG Executive Director Scott Reid describes the camp as "a very important part of the AFL’s highly successful NAB Rising Star Program which leads directly to the AFL Draft for players over 18yo. 30 players are selected at the Under 16 National Championships to participate in the AIS Camp. From there they are expected to progress through the AFL’s player pathway, the TAC Cup and into the AFL Draft."

AFLPNG has two players attending and is covering the players' costs, with development officer Overa Gibson travelling with the boys. The two selected competed with over 20 other young men at Amini Park in Port Moresby, themselves all selected as the elite of PNG's booming junior program. Testing included 3 km time trials, beep and agility tests and vertical leap.

International players:

Alex Fakatoumafi (Manurewa Raiders, New Zealand) - pictured on right of photo
Andrew Lealofi (Wellington City Saints, New Zealand)
Michito Sakaki (Waseda University, Japan)
Tsuyoshi Kase (Senshu University, Japan)
John Vincent (Papua New Guinea)
Chris Supru (Papua New Guinea)
Michael Hayden (Great Britain)

Further stories on the international players can be found in Lealofi keen to break the rules and Seven International players attend academy camp

The list of Australian boys invited is:

2005/06 AIS-AFL Academy

NSW/ACT – Craig Bird (Nelson Bay), Tom Hawkins (Finley/Melbourne Grammar), Tim McIntyre (Corowa)

Queensland – David Armitage (Morningside), Gavin Urquart (Morningside), Ricky Petterd (Broadbeach), Albert Proud (Mt Gravatt), Brent Renouf (Southport)

South Australia – Mark Austin (Glenelg/Brighton HS), Bryce Gibbs (Glenelg/Brighton HS), Zac Millar (North/Rostrevor), Chris Schmidt (West/Eudunda), James Sellar (Glenelg/Brighton HS).

Tasmania -- Thomas Bellchambers (Launceston FC), Tom Collier (Lauderdale)

Vic Country -- Ben McEvoy (Murray/Dederang Mt Beauty), Tim Houlihan (Nth Ballarat/Harrow Balmoral) Ryan Normington (Murray/Shepparton United), Ben Reid Murray/Wanagratta Rovers).

Vic Metro - Andrejs Everitt (Dandenong/Somerville), Jarrad Grant (Dandenong/Frankston Dolphins), Matthew Kreuzer (Northern/St Mary’s), Alex Lee (Dandenong/Red Hill).

Western Australia - James Hawksley (Peel Thunder/Mandurah), Matthew Leunberger (East Perth/Hale), Chris Masten (East Fremantle), David Myers (Perth/Wesley), Brock O’Brien (Peel/Pinjarra), Kyle Reimers (Peel Thunder/Eaton)

Northern Territory – Cyril Rioli (St Mary’s/Scotch College)

The full scholarship Australian players will also represent their country on the annual International Rules Under 17s series against Ireland.