World Footy News

AFL club Hawthorn recently played host to International Scholarship holder Rhys Panui-Leth and his parents Luke and Marion, as the youngster undertook testing and skills training with the Hawks. In other recent news Kurt Heatherley, another Hawthorn Scholarship holder, has been starring in Victoria and Shaun Johnson who has previously played AFL in NZ has debuted for the NRL’s Warriors.

Panui-Leth chronicles his training trip with Hawthorn here.

The Hawks' third scholarship player from New Zealand - Shem Tatupu from Auckland - will also be at Waverley Park to train with the Hawks in coming months.

Looking at other junior AFL talent from NZ football we can compare Kurt Heatherley, who was recently named best on ground for the top of the table Caulfield Grammarians in their win against Wesley College, with Shaun Johnson. Johnson has just debuted for the Warriors in the NRL and according to Rugby League legend Andrew Johns ''He's one of those players who don't come around too often. Johnson was a Junior Kiwi last year and a New Zealand representative in Aussie Rules." At the very least it acknowledges that AFL is a contributing factor to players making the top grade in other sports even if they don’t stick with footy.

For more on Shaun Johnson, see this article.