World Footy News

The New Zealand AFL website is reporting that several footballers from around Oceania have been invited to the AFL and Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) annual week long talent camp held in Canberra for some of the most promising (usually Australian) young footballers.

Not to be confused with the AFL-AIS draft camp that puts on show the best young players that are of draftable age, this camp targets exciting prospects around 16 years of age. As explained in the NZAFL article:

The camp is 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.

A confirmed starter is New Zealand's Liam Ackland, who has already represented his country at the International Cup, despite being just 16 at the time (he's pictured in action against Japan). Ackland is in only his second season of Aussie Rules, playing for Mt Roskill in the Auckland AFL. The forward has kicked bags of 6 and 5 goals in his last two outings.

The report says several Papua New Guinean and Fijian players have also been invited. WFN has confirmed that there is one PNG rep, Tiernan Carby, and possibly two Fijians. We hope to find out more details soon.