WFN spoke with NZAFL CEO and the Falcon’s Coach Rob Vanstam to see how things were progressing towards International Cup 2008

The New Zealanders have had three training camps so far, with 2 of them based in regional centres before everyone gathered in Auckland earlier this month. The squad has been whittled down from the near 60 who were initially named at the National Provincial Championships late in 2007. There are now 34 players aiming for the 29 available spots in the traveling squad to Melbourne.

Coach Vanstam was playing his cards very close to his chest knowing how close this years International Cup is likely to be with significant development in around the world in the intervening period. He confirmed that there are players from across the four provinces Auckland, Canterbury, Waikato and Wellington as well as five who are continuing to develop off-shore in Australia and have made the effort to meet the requirements of being selected.

The U16 Binatangs returned home to PNG recently after a long and exciting AFL tour in Queensland. AFL Queensland have nominated three Binatangs as part of the Queensland State Squad. These three boys, Garry Kele (who also received the Coach’s award as Most Promising Player), David Meli and Naime Gordon have not returned to PNG with the rest of the team but will remain in Brisbane to be part of the Queensland State U16’s Squad and will return to PNG in September.

The Western Bulldogs' Scott Clayton has confirmed his club is actively exploring new talent in Fiji, prompted by the enormous potential seen in the likely number one draft pick, Fijian Australian Nicholas Naitanui, as discussed in Naitanui - a big Fijian draft prospect to watch.

It seems one of the keys to opening the AFL club wallets has been the recent rule change to allow clubs to stockpile international talent for just AUD$1000, as explained in International recruitment about to explode? Recruiters previously would have been hesitant to commit to any area if they couldn't exclusively lock in the best talent, or if the costs were too high. It seems the changes now have several clubs looking around Oceania and trying to keep a low profile so that they can sign up the best prospects first.

Other than a few off the record comments from a couple of our sources, it's difficult to know exactly how many AFL clubs are on the hunt, but hopefully we'll start to see some signings within the next six to twelve months.

In the meantime, see the Daily Telegraph story Bulldogs hope for Fiji paradise where Mark Stevens reports on Clayton's efforts to spot Fijian talent, funded by club supporter and businessman Shaun Bassett. The article states that "Most of Clayton's scouting has been centred on secondary school rugby sevens" and that "He is intent on finding tall, mobile players in the mould of 196cm Naitanui".

The AFL Division 2 Championships have just concluded in Melbourne with PNG’s John James representing the Queenslanders, the first player developed internationally to represent an Aussie state at this level. The tournament comprised the best players from NSW/ACT, Tasmania, Queensland and the Northern Territory. Though Queensland failed to gain a win John James was still able to be recognised as among Queensland’s better players.

In signs that the mainstream media are beginning to see the potential for the Australian game internationally, Melbourne's the Age recently published two articles highlighting the potential for Pacific athletes to become AFL talent, but also the shortage of funding to make that happen.

Papua New Guinea continues to set the pace in terms of utilising Australian Football pathways and continues to produce impressive young talent.

Gary Kele, David Meli and Naime Gordons will represent Queensland at Under 16 level in the state championships.

The young stars will be billeted by members of the Caboolture Football Club in South East Queensland, where they will train with and play for the Caboolture under 16s.

The news received coverage in Papua New Guinea's major papers, The National and Post Courier.

Though much of the recent media focus has been on Fijian Nicholas Naitanui, who is widely tipped to go number one in the 2008 draft, there is another player of Pacific Islands descent, Khan Haretuku, whose parents are New Zealanders, who has been rookie listed with St Kilda. Meanwhile the Western Bulldogs have turned their attention to Fiji, with another club expected to also join the international hunt this year.

Nauru recently confirmed their attendance at the 2008 Australian Football International Cup. As we've previously reported, the island nation has had no active league recently due to on and off-field violence. Hopefully the move towards entering a side in the Cup will be the beginning of a new era for the game in Nauru.

Here's a link to an excellent report that appeared on the English version of the Al Jazeera network, including a chat to coach Vaiuli Amoe and sports minister Mathew Batsiua.

Interestingly it notes that all players selected must have a clean history and as such most are under 21. Certainly they seem to move fairly smoothly in training.

Sportsworld - Nauru's national sport

The NZAFL were expecting a Canberra Marists Junior side later this year, but unfortunately they have had to cancel. With the postponement of the Barassi Cup this is a double blow to NZ's efforts to attract and retain junior players.

With Rugby Union, Cricket, Soccer and Rugby League as the more traditional sporting choices it is imperative that juniors who are participating in NZ get an opportunity to make national sides and therefore view a pathway that is exciting, and possibly leads somehere other than the All Blacks, Kiwis, All Whites and Black Caps.

Though many players may only get to represent their country at the junior level, with little likelihood of making an international rookie list, it is a numbers game and it just might be those young fellers who become the future leaders of the sport within the country.

If you are interested in taking a junior or senior team to NZ in the near future all contact details for CEO Rob Vanstam are on the NZAFL website at www.nzafl.co.nz

For more on the Canberra Marist cancellation please view this article.

Pictured below is action from the Canterbury high school league on New Zealand's South Island.

There is no longer any doubt that 18 year old Fijian sensation Nicholas Naitanui, unlucky to miss last years AFL draft by just two days, will make the grade to be selected into the AFL. The only question remaining is just how high will he be taken.

The talented and agile 198cm dreadlocked junior is blazing a trail for Swan Districts in the semi-professional WAFL competition against seasoned players.

Nick had a standout performance in last year's Under 18 national championships for Western Australia and was one of just 30 juniors in Australia to win an AIS scholarship. Almost half of those scholarship players are now listed with AFL clubs. Since then he has grown taller and stronger and not stopped impressing. He has drawn consistent attention for his athleticism, vertical leap, ability to win the hard ball and multiple efforts in a contest.