Meet the international class of 2010

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Wednesday, January 27 2010 @ 07:01 AM EST

Contributed by: Brett

2010 will see an unprecedented number of players on AFL lists that have come from overseas. We're not talking overseas-born but Australian-raised, but players who actually came to Australia to play in the AFL. In all there are 21 players in this category, though the number is fluid with International Scholarship Listings now occurring regularly.

3 of these players are on AFL senior lists, 10 are on rookie lists, while 8 are International Scholarship Listed. Not counted in the 21 are 2 Papuans unofficially getting experience with Brisbane (through their Reserves) and the Gold Coast.

Of the 21 players 11 are Irishmen, 5 Papuan, 2 Fijian, 1 New Zealander, 1 American and 1 Canadian.

The total could easily double in the next two years. Of course the key number will perhaps be seeing the number on senior lists (3) rise dramatically.

Below is a list of all these internationals. With so many reports coming out there's always the possibility of errors, let us know if you spot any.

Senior Listed

Ireland - Sydney - Tadhg Kennelly
Ireland - Carlton - Setanta O'hAilpin
Ireland - Brisbane - Pearce Hanley

International Scholarship Listed

Fiji - Western Bulldogs - Solomoni Loki
Fiji - Western Bulldogs - Inoke Ratua
PNG - Essendon - David Meli
PNG - Carlton - Peter Labi
PNG - Brisbane - Donald Barry
PNG - Brisbane - Brendan Beno
PNG - Brisbane - Ezra Kautu
NZ - Hawthorn - Kurt Heatherley

International Rookie Listed from Ireland

Adelaide - Brian Donnelly
Essendon - Michael Quinn
North Melbourne - Conor Meredith
Brisbane - Niall McKeever
Carlton - Zach Tuohy
Richmond - Jamie O'Reilly
St Kilda - Tommy Walsh
Sydney - Chris McKaigue

International Rookie Listed from other countries

Canada - Sydney - Mike Pyke
USA - Collingwood - Shae McNamara

Unofficial but associated with AFL clubs

PNG - Gold Coast - Stanis Susuve
PNG - Brisbane - Amua Pirika

Meet the international class of 2010 | 4 comments | Create New Account

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Authored by: Stephen Alomes on Wednesday, January 27 2010 @ 08:42 PM EST

This is a great story in international footy.
It demonstrates that even the 'club first' people now are starting to appreciate the international dimension.
This was apparent in the 1980s during Barassi's Irish Experiment at Melbourne, which produced Brownlow Medallist Jim Stynes and 150 game player Sean Wight for Melbourne.
While Barassi had a larger vision of the international future - he had after all captained the Galahs when they beat the Irish, and when they played in Rumania, London and New York in the 1960s - others were only convinced when it produced League players for their clubs. Sheedy too has been a visionary, having visited the US Championships.
Then the international delivered, now it is promising even more.
International footy has now made a great leap forward, one also becoming apparent at the last International Cup, both from the best moments of the Grand Final between NZ and PNG and the conversion of top football journo Mike Sheahan to the international future.
Steve Alomes

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Stephen Alomes

Authored by: tinka13 on Saturday, January 30 2010 @ 09:41 PM EST

In 5 years time this will more than treble, I believe. International Footy still needs great support from the AFL. If we progress to 2 divisions in the International Cup, it will allow the smaller nations to not get thrashed and slowly grow, yet the stronger ones will thrive on the competition and start provide more AFL recruits. The AFL has to find a way to help pay for these teams to visit Melbourne!!!!!!!!! Surely it can be done!!!!!!!!!

Authored by: Brett on Saturday, January 30 2010 @ 11:20 PM EST

So much has improved in the last 5 years in terms of AFL support - I'm glad it has because in the face of strong negativity my advice was give them a chance, things are changing. Nice to be vindicated!

But getting players to the IC remains the main area that is a weakness. As we all talk up international footy it isn't a good look to have countries unable to send many of their best players due to costs.

On the other hand what would it cost the AFL? For many countries it's now over AUD$100,000 to get the whole squad to say Melbourne. Perhaps closer to AUD$200,000. But if the AFL could find AUD$100,0000 for each nation that would probably be enough to ensure cost isn't such an issue. There will always be players unavailable due injury, work commitments etc.

If 20 countries attend IC2011, that would be $2 million. Would AFL clubs accept that being spent on one tournament, and considering how much else is now being spent on international footy in other areas? I don't believe so.

What other options are there? I would think (just my opinion) that some cash could be found from the AFL, and as the Cup keeps growing in exposure you'd really hope a major sponsor can be found. If it wasn't at a large open venue like Royal Park (which was popular with the countries though) then I wouldn't mind seeing a modest admission fee to each round. Still, $5 per person would still probably only draw around $10,000 altogether over the 5 rounds. Ensuring fences and staff to maintain the gate then eats into that too.

So, in short, I don't know how this problem gets fixed.

The other big issue for the Cup will be that many of these internationals we listed above will probably not be available due to AFL commitments, in which case the Cup will not be the cream of international talent.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

Authored by: Brett on Saturday, January 30 2010 @ 11:33 PM EST

I agree with 2 divisions. It's time. They were going to in 2008 but there were some late changes that resulted in the AFL putting everyone in together. A few nations put on a brave face but were privately a bit upset with how badly they lost - not good for morale for new countries. No doubt we'll all be discussing this in more depth later in the year when the AFL call for teams to register their interest. I think it isn't too far away.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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