Bulldogs scouring Fiji for raw talent

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Bulldogs scouring Fiji for raw talent

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Friday, October 03 2008 @ 12:18 pm ACST

Although there is reference to the AFL's international rookie rules, it's technically called the International Scholarship List. Full details of the rules can be found in our earlier story: International recruitment about to explode?

It's a very interesting situation, with the Bulldogs' Scott Clayton about to move to the Gold Coast job. Does he then institute exactly the same Fijian program there? Does he look to another Oceania country - although Fijians are widely acknowledged as having the best Aussie Rules physiques. Certainly you'd think it augurs well for the many PNG players on the Gold Coast, to have someone so open minded based where they are.

Also interesting that they are targeting tall players, I guess because the best mid-sizes are presumed to already be locked into Rugby. But you'd be happy to uncover a David Rodan (Port Adelaide).

Probably the biggest question for me is - can this interest in Fiji be harnessed to get a league going there, after several unsuccessful attempts in the past? Surely an athletic kid will impress more in the ball handling area if he has 2 years junior footy behind him. We've seen some great info from the AFL's Oceania Manager Andrew Cadzow in recent weeks regarding his survey of the region's needs and potential - hopefully a link up with this Fijian recuitment drive can be made.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

Bulldogs scouring Fiji for raw talent

Authored by: Aaron Richard
on Friday, October 03 2008 @ 12:32 pm ACST

Are we allowed to mention that Fiji's been mentioned as a possible "hub" for the
new AFL Oceania's regional development? Probably partly because AFL clubs
have "Naitanui Fever" and are looking at it as "the new Ireland", but also
because it has a relatively big population and is geographically central to PNG,
Samoa, Tonga, Solomons etc.

With a bit of luck, there'll be more news out of the region very soon.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

Bulldogs scouring Fiji for raw talent

Authored by: WFN Administrator
on Friday, October 03 2008 @ 12:45 pm ACST

It will be very interesting to see where Naitanui goes in the draft. They're all talking top 3 or 4 because of his athletic ability. But I do wonder. I don't get to see any of the WAFL, but I gather he's played over a full season now of seniors and still struggles to get more than about 10 possessions a game. Lots of potential, but you'd like to see him getting the footy a bit more. Certainly still top 15 in the draft, but is he top 3? With the 2 Western Australian AFL clubs having early picks, I guess they'll probably ensure he goes early.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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