AFLPNG’s Coca Cola Talent Path model has again delivered with six new signings to AFL Clubs under the international recruitment drive.

Richmond, Essendon, and the Brisbane Lions did not let the opportunity slip when attending PNG’s Coca Cola Talent Camp late in 2009, signing players to International Scholarships.

Gideon Simon (Western Highlands) and Nathan Malbak (Morobe) have been snapped up by the Richmond Tigers, Ezra Kautu (West New Britain) has been signed by the Brisbane Lions and Victor Rame (West New Britain) was taken by the Essendon Bombers (pictured below). Also recruited were Brendan Beno (Autonomous Region of Bougainville) who was wooed to the Lions, and Max Lavai (NCD) who was swooped on by the Bombers.

Beno and Kautu had actually been signed a few weeks earlier, but it was not widely publicised.

Recently a whole new lot of talented AFLPNG Coca Cola Talent Path Scholarship participants left Papua New Guinea to show their wares in a variety of Queensland competitions.

With the Coca Cola Talent Path Program already producing four AFLPNG players who are now listed to AFL Clubs (Meli, Susuve, Barry and Labi) the 12 unattached players sent down on Australian-based scholarships will be aware that opportunities may arise, especially with the formation of the Greater Western Sydney organisation under the eye of the globetrotting Kevin Sheedy and the very well-credentialed Graeme Allan, formerly in charge of recruitment at Collingwood and Brisbane. In fact, rumours are that several more AFL signings are imminent.

New Zealand national newspaper, the Sunday Star-Times, recently profiled the work of AFL NZ CEO Rob Vanstam in a very positive article for the game in New Zealand. The interview discussed raising the sport's profile and providing pathways for young Kiwis. Amongst Vanstam's comments was "But to get a higher profile, if we've got guys from New Zealand who go on to play AFL in Australia, that's certainly going to promote the sport in this country and make it a viable option or alternative to rugby."

For more, read Aussie Rules chases Kiwis in tight shorts.

Last month New Zealand born Hawks premiership defender Trent Croad retired. Grandson of All Black (NZ Rugby) Eric Boggs, he had not played since the 2008 grand final, when he broke his foot in the second quarter in the win over Geelong. Hawthorn gave their star every chance to recover but the injury proved persistent.

Croad retires having won All-Australian honours in 2005 and was selected in International Rules Series to play in 1999, 2000, and 2005.

The new Gold Coast Football Club was the first AFL (or future AFL) club to play Papuan players at the club's highest level, giving Amua Pirika and Stanis Susuve (pictured) a run in 2009. With a huge influx of some of Australia's best young talent it was always going to be difficult for the two to stay on the club's list as it moves into the VFL (2010) and AFL (2011).

As it turns out, Pirika has moved on to play with Mt Gravatt in Queensland's top league, with the possibility of playing some games with the Brisbane Lions, and Susuve will stay with the Coasters to hopefully play some VFL matches. Gold Coast assistant coach Shaun Hart, himself a triple premiership player with the Brisbane Lions, talked to WFN about where the two players stand heading into 2010.

Young PNG star Amua Pirika was one of the breakthroughs for international Australian football, when future AFL club the Gold Coast recruited him in early 2009, see IC08 hero signed by Gold Coast FC. Unfortunately in the tight battle for spots on that young talent laden team Pirika has been squeezed out of the 2010 squad, along with many fine Australian prospects while GC pick up more elite players from around the country.

Fortunately Pirika will have opportunities at Brisbane this year. AFLPNG's Scott Reid explained that "after discussion with the Lions and Mt Gravatt and based on assesments by Gold Coast and Geelong, Amua needs close intensive coaching in a strong footy environment. On that basis after consulting with David Lake at Mt Gravatt he will play and live with David or one of his team, to play under his guidance and like Peter Labi and Donald Barry (both now on official AFL international scholarships) get to play several games with the Lions Reserves and hopefully be ready for the next step to the AFL in 2011 when he will still only be turning 20".

So although Pirika's dream has in one sense moved a step further away, the above assessment is still pretty positive and AFLPNG and Queensland footy will continue to invest in him. The chance is still there for Pirika to grab it.

With the announcement that there will be separate World XVIII and Pacific teams for the AFL NAB Under 16s this year, and given the initial Pacific squad following the Youth Oceania Cup featured no Papuans (who were unable to make it to the tournament in Fiji), there have been some queries as to whether Papua New Guinea players will represent the World XVIII, the Pacific team, continue to be eligible for Queensland as in the past, or none of the above.

Andrew Cadzow, whose official title these days is AFL Asia Pacific Development Manager, clarified that "The PNG boys targeted will be 17/18 years of age for the Under 18 Pacific Team".

So as we'd previously assumed, PNG players will be added to the initial Pacific Team that was listed. As the international sides are able to field older players than the Australian state squads, it would be reasonable to assume that younger Papuans who may be coming through the Queensland representative teams would still be eligible for that state, so hopefully we'll see one or two there as well. Pictured are some PNG's elite young Under 13 and Under 15 players.

It seems the Brisbane Lions have developed a real appreciation of the prospects of international football players. This month Papuan Donald Barry, 21, began training with the Brisbane Lions as an international scholarship listed player. The Lions sat on the announcement for some time and worldfootynews.com was waiting for the official word before running a story. Brisbane has now gone public, and two younger PNG players have also been scholarship listed.

Barry left his family in Port Moresby to play for Manunda Hawks in Cairns in 2007, Coolangatta and the Lions reserves in 2008 and Mt Gravatt seniors in the strong AFL Queensland competition last year. After forcing his way into the Mt Gravatt side in Round 2, he played every game until he had to miss the grand final with a hamstring strain, with local media noting prior to the match that he would be missed.

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By all reports the inaugural Australian football Oceania Youth Cup in Fiji was a great success, with Tonga the surprise winners, see Tonga the champions in rollercoaster day.

Now thanks to AFL Fiji we have a pictorial story of the work behind the scenes and some of the on-field action. In particular thanks to Damian Ames, Robert Wolfgramm, Max Wolfgramm and Alea Williams, the latter two for the photos you will find in our album.

As Fiji battened down for Cyclone Mick, we were honoured to host this inaugural international event. Thank you and congratulations to AFL Asia-Pacific’s Andrew Cadzow and his staff for making it so. We held it at Cathedral Secondary School Grounds in Suva. Teams from Nauru, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji competed. Pre-cyclonic windy drizzle couldn't dampen their good will and desire to succeed.

Joining the various team staff, umpires, local supporters and diplomats in braving the Melbourne-like elements (minus the cold) were a number of AFL club recruiting personnel assessing the potential on display. AFL representative, Jason McCartney, was special guest for the occasion. By all reports, our visitors were impressed with the staging of the tournament, if not the weather.

worldfootynews.com is pleased to be able to confirm that Fijian players Inoke Ratu (aged 20) and Solomoni Loki (still only 17) will be continuing on the Western Bulldogs' International Scholarship List in 2010.

First signed up in October 2008, the Bulldogs this week confirmed to WFN that the players would continue to be developed by the club this year. Ratu has had ongoing issues securing a visa to Australia, but has continued his development in Fiji and assisted with Fiji's team at the recent Youth Oceania Cup.

Solomoni Loki, the younger of the pair, performed well for Fiji in the same tournament, being named in the Pacific Islands squad for the AFL Under 16 championships later this year (the international sides are allowed to field players up to 18).