World Footy News

After announcing in late 2012 that they would draft Kurt Heatherley as an international rookie at the end of 2012, AFL club Hawthorn this week have said they will also draft NZ international scholarship holder Shem Tatupu at the end of 2013. Both players would then be contracted to the club until the end of 2016.

Tatupu is currently training with the Hawks in Melbourne. He will continue to train with the club during school holidays for 2013 but will finiish his schooling in NZ, unlike Heatherley who has been at school in Melbourne the last two years.

AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan told hawthornfc.com.au "We congratulate Hawthorn on having the initiative to do it, to be the first club to move on this"

"When we introduced the South Pacific into the under-16s championships three years ago we could see there's going to be potential emerge, and these are the first two boys to come through."

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