World Footy News

In October 2008, the Western Bulldogs announced that they had signed two Fijian teenagers to the International Scholarship scheme. Inoke Ratu then 19, and Solomon Loki then 16 had impressed at trials conducted in Lavaca and Suva. Alas, Fijitimes reported recently that after 2 years, that the Bulldogs have declined to extend their ‘contracts’.

Under the scheme, the two players were to remain in Fiji, with a $1000-a-year ‘scholarship’ income paid by the Bulldogs. They would follow a planned development program and were intended to visit Melbourne and train with the Doggies.

However, for Inoke Ratu, this was never to be easy as the Australian Government refused visa applications because of Australia's sanctions against Fiji's Interim Government, following the Deceember 2006 Coup. This was due to his father being in the Fijian military. It’s highly likely that Ratu was never going to be able to progress satisfactorily under those circumstances.

For Loki, he managed to make it out to Australia by January the following year, 2009, and trained with the Bulldogs. At the time he told ABC.com.au “I saw them; they've got big muscle, bigger than me, so we train together. It's kind of fun,”.

Loki went on, with Dylan Wolfgramm, to represent Fiji in this years AFL National Under16 Championships in which the World and Pacific squads participated. Whilst compatriot Wolfgramm was adjudged the Pacific’s stand out player for the tournament, Loki’s name was rarely sighted in the best players or goal kickers lists.

The Fijitimes online reports that the players received a letter from the Bulldogs indicating that the contracts had ceased and they were free to look for offers from other AFL clubs.

The letter from Western Bulldogs recruitment manager Simon Dalrymple states :

"After the completion of the contracts we will not be continuing in Fiji or other international markets due to a number of reasons (financial, resources, development levels and compliance to the program)."

Given that the Bulldogs have set out on a “Bulldoze the Debt” campaign, the following quote from the letter is of interest given the two players in question, we would assume, were requiring only $1000 each per year. "I am following up with our accounts department re payment details. Will get (sic) let you know asap of where it is at,".

And so, it appears as though the Western Bulldogs have tightened their belts, and are unlikely to pull off any ‘out of the box’ international recruiting coups. However, back in 2008 it was reported that businessman Shaun Bassett was financially backing the program. One would hope that there will be no hold up in getting accounts finalised.

Presently, with a lot of positives in Fiji and momentum building – it must be hoped that the Bulldogs handle this situation well, so as not to reflect badly upon the AFL and Australian Football.