MELBOURNE'S new recruiting manager Jason Taylor is rapt the Demons have secured promising New Zealander Maia Westrupp on an international scholarship

Dees' new recruiting manager signs Kiwi prospect

Good story and glad we are being proactive.

Can someone explain how the International scholarship works. Does Maia come over this season to train? If he is good enough when could he play. Two year contract?

Hear hear!

Reading the article tends to answer the questions... will continue to be NZ based.

I must've missed the memo when Taylor joined the club! It was something that was always going to happen but I didn't hear any announcement!

On topic, best of luck to the young kiwi!

Good story and glad we are being proactive.

Can someone explain how the International scholarship works. Does Maia come over this season to train? If he is good enough when could he play. Two year contract?

From memory he spends two years as an international rookie outside our list, and is then incorporated into our rookie list. From there he is a standard rookie and can play games/be promoted by the same rules. Basically it gives him an extra couple of rookie years to learn the game before we decide whether to keep him.

From a place pronounced Fah-ka-tah-nee apparently.

Which is slightly odd given that the official spelling of his hometown, Whakatane, starts with a "W" ... someone pulling our legs?

(slow day, sorry ....)

From memory he spends two years as an international rookie outside our list, and is then incorporated into our rookie list. From there he is a standard rookie and can play games/be promoted by the same rules. Basically it gives him an extra couple of rookie years to learn the game before we decide whether to keep him.

Thank you, Ralph.

Tough gig then if you are an International Rookie. Learn the skills for 2 years and if you are good enough there is another two years getting paid as a standard rookie. If good enough then get upgraded to a senior list.

From a place pronounced Fah-ka-tah-nee apparently.

Which is slightly odd given that the official spelling of his hometown, Whakatane, starts with a "W" ... someone pulling our legs?

(slow day, sorry ....)

"Wh" is pronounced as F in maori... Probably the worst named town is Whakapapa

From a place pronounced Fah-ka-tah-nee apparently.

Which is slightly odd given that the official spelling of his hometown, Whakatane, starts with a "W" ... someone pulling our legs?

(slow day, sorry ....)

So his knee is stuffed already?

"Wh" is pronounced as F in maori... Probably the worst named town is Whakapapa

just like Whush'n'Chups

Fantastic to see the club tapping into the international recruiting game and even better to see Taylor make this early of an impact.

Great to see Talyor presumably taking advantage of the Pies recruiting network!

One minute you are in new Zealand then NEK MINUTE your on a AFL list.

Reading the article tends to answer the questions... will continue to be NZ based.

Unless i'm going crazy the article does not say he will be based in NZ

Welcome aboard Westy (pronounced "Wisty")

Taylor's definitely making the right noises in that article.

All unproven of course but nevertheless an interesting prospect.

Nothing much to lose and everything to gain.

Wow this is massive for the Melbourne football club! about time we start to challenge ourselves to the top sides. even if its recruiting international player if we want to be like the collingwoods and hawthorns then we gotta start acting like one.

Good get dees! And well done to Jason taylor aswell don't [censored] straight to business

Taylor spotted the a 187cm and 75kg midfield prospect during an AFLNZ Combine in
Wellington, where Westrupp topped the 20 metre sprint (2.8 seconds) and vertical
leap (80 cm), from roughly 60 participants aged 14 to 18 years old.

Feeling a bit sheepish about this.

Sorry, that was baaaad.

Welcome to the Demons, aye bro.

"Wh" is pronounced as F in maori... Probably the worst named town is Whakapapa

Well, I'll be whicked I always thought Whiteboard Wednesday never quite rhymed ... B)

Fingers crossed for him that he makes it.

Loved the Taylor quotes. They're selling the message beautifully, now just to show us on the field.

Guys I know its only volleyball but he has a fair old leap on him!!

http://youtu.be/i8oyR7CgA0o

Edited February 12, 201312 yr by dazzledavey36

just like Whush'n'Chups

Whuck , Daisy ye smart kent.

Taking the puss bru?

Nuthin wrong wuth unzedders ay bru?

"Wh" is pronounced as F in maori... Probably the worst named town is Whakapapa

I had to go there for work once, and safe to say there was a few giggles....

On topic though, he's got an alright leap on him, and has some coordination

FMD. Every kiwi athlete I've ever heard of has no neck, weighs off the scale and gave up a promising boxing career. Yet we pick a skinny kid.