Regarding PNG, although I would've liked to see more support a few years ago, they are getting some excellent support now through AFL Queensland (which is funded by the AFL) and AFL Oceania.

So I think the question really is NZ. It's different to RSA and PNG in that the Aussie dollar can't pay for the same amount of local support staff. My general impression is that there was still a disconnect where some of the excellent work from a few years ago in NZ wasn't followed through in the way that it should've been. I'm hopeful that this is starting to turn around with the talk of an Oceania junior championship and possibly an Oceania side into the Australian junior championships.

So I agree with some of what you're saying, but if it comes down to bang for your buck, NZ will always be a different proposition to RSA and PNG. But like I've stated before, I think it's realistic to target NZ for an AFL club in say a 20 year timeframe, if the AFL really went after it. So although it's a different market to the rest of Oceania, I do think it deserves special attention.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN