World Footy News

New York Magpie, Alex Aurrichio, has been signed by Carlton’s VFL affiliate the Northern Blues for the 2015 season. The 198 centimetre former baseballer and soccer goalkeeper had come to Australia and trained with Collingwood as well as VFL clubs Coburg and Sandringham. But it was the blues that threw out the first concrete lifeline to give Alex a go.

Leaving his home, and his native club in New York last November, Aurrichio had held a dream to try his hand at reaching the highest levels of Australian Rules football in the heartlands of the game. His bold move has already paid handsome dividends, with the Northern Blues prepared to take the chance.

According to the http://www.afl.com.au website, Garry O’Sullivan, the General Manager of the Blues, stated that the club was prepared to play the waiting game and allow Aurrichio’s talents to grow and blossom. “"We all know that we've got a long way to go, however we're very hopeful that it will prove to be a fruitful project both for us and for Alex.”

"There’s certainly enough [that we've seen] to suggest that he could play senior VFL football, and so we're very excited to officially provide that opportunity for him."

Should Alex reach that level of performance it would be a possibility that Carlton may consider listing him, or even another club drafting him. Interestingly, Rookie B listing Alex as an international would not be an option if he plays a VFL game. But that is a long way down the track. "Of course there's risk. The risk is that he doesn't get to achieve the level that he wants to achieve," added O’Sullivan.

"But the signs are there. He's big, he's strong, he's mobile and he's motivated.”

Aurrichio first came to the wider attention of the Australian Rules world last year when his journey to play the game was reported in a number of articles, including a story on the New York Magpies website (see: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article...6122822150 ). Los Angeles based sports journalist also wrote an article about Americans from a range of other sports turned their backs on basketball or other sports to give the Australian game a go. Within the article, the author Gil Griffin highlighted Aurrichio, Mason Cox (Collingwood), Eric Wallace (North Ballarat Roosters VFL/North Melbourne) and Jason Holmes (Sandringham VFL/St Kilda) as examples. (See: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article...8193154860 )

The AFL website reports that “The 24-year-old has been on a whirlwind trip to Australia after he tested at the USAFL Combine last April and then played in the national championship victory for the New York Magpies.”

“Encouraged by his teammates, Aurrichio cut together a highlights tape of his performances, sent it to AFL clubs and a week later he was flown to Melbourne to trial.”

Aurrichio has travelled far, but has a great deal further to go. But already his story is inspiring and may have opened the door to other players worldwide to follow their dreams.

That would be a sure fire tonic for The Blues also.





Left: Alex Aurrichio (centre) in training - (Picture - http://afl.com.au)