AFL prospects on trial in Melbourne

no thanks, we have this guy:

Would rather invest in a prospect like Max King. Discovering the game in your early 20s and then making the grade is a longshot.

Good luck to them all.

I would definitely be looking closely at these guys.

Basketball backgrounds are advantageous for ruckman.

AFL skills aren't what they used to be, these guys could pick up the game in a few months.

A decline is skills in recent times makes the cross over a lot easier.

Im actually surprised Roosy hasn't invested in one of these guys. He is a massive fan of American sport and i am also led to believe he did anfair bit of work with jason Holmes from St Kilda when he was doing the swans academy.

We seem to have gone off international players despite leading the way.

They do look 'big mothers' don't they?

As internationals, do they have to be rookies or listed, or is there a 'development' spot off the list?

I seem to remember some guy ? westhoff from NZ somehow attached to our list a year or so back.

It would be fantastic for the AFL to allow an international player such as these guys or Irish in particular to be developed at a club whilst not occupying a list place, as they can be very speculative.

Tell Dill Gil it will be good for the image of the game and he will jump at it.

Westrupp

Yanks cant play Aussie Rules, its too complicated and skillful for them

And way too tough

Nebraska is fine...just no one from Idaho

Nebraska is fine...just no one from Idaho

Worried about spuds ? ;-)

Edited August 5, 201510 yr by monoccular

Yanks cant play Aussie Rules, its too complicated and skillful for them

And way too tough

I've seen top level NFL, NBA and NHL live - there's no issue of toughness.

The issue is endurance same as for rugby league/union players doing the cross-over. I don't think it's any surprise that the sprint, agility and vertical leap test results are emphasised but nothing about beep tests or time trials.

As for too complicated, it's up to the coaching staff to make sure instructions are simple enough for someone who hasn't grown up with the game to get to grips with (and not just "kick the $%*£ing thing long"). I started explaining the rules to a British mate of mine once - even with the aid of beer glasses, I had to give up after half an hour.....

For a club with the international history we have (I grew up with the Irish experiment), I'd love to see us have a go at this type of recruitment again.

Awareness is often an issue with these imports who haven't grown up with the game. Footy is so omni-directional;tacklers can come from anywhere.

Shaun Smith's basketball playing son

no thanks, we have this guy:

This should be a DL emoticon like the Roos one.

Also, why would an American basketball player want to play in the AFL over a European basketball team?

Also, why would an American basketball player want to play in the AFL over a European basketball team?

They are crap at basketball.

Yanks cant play Aussie Rules, its too complicated and skillful for them. And way too tough

I like Mike Pike

I like Mike Pike

Almost a yank, but actually Canadian I think. From a Rugby Union background?

Would rather invest in a prospect like Max King. Discovering the game in your early 20s and then making the grade is a longshot.

Good luck to them all.

Majak Daw springs to mind