World Footy News

In breaking news AFL club Essendon have international rookie listed Papua New Guinea's David Meli. The future AFL club, the Gold Coast, listed Amua Pirika and Stanis Susuve in firsts for the game, but the listing of Meli is perhaps an even more significant step forward.

We've followed the rise of Meli from being an emergency for the Mosquitoes 2008 International Cup squad through to his performances for the Queensland under 16s (see Meli to the fore for Scorpions) and the Southport Sharks, as one of the wave of PNG players on scholarships in the Sunshine state. High hopes were held that he would be drafted, and in fact it could be argued AFL clubs were slow to take what is almost a "free hit" outside the draft.

More on David Meli's recruitment soon.