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Aussie Rules looks for world player talent

Two young Argentines, Cristopher Daniele, a Boca Juniors youth team footballer, and rugby player Lucas De Vincenzi are heading to Australia after being uncovered in Australian Football League’s first draft camp held in Buenos Aires, the Melbourne Age newspaper said.

The two youngsters will try out in a national carnival in Sydney and if they impress they could be headed to AFL clubs, the newspaper said.

Players’ agent Peter Jess, who organised the Argentine camps, said depending on the outcome of the trials he may organise another draft camp in Argentina in November.

The latest developments follow the prized recruitment of Australian rugby league superstar Israel Folau this week in a four-year deal with new expansion AFL team, Greater Western Sydney (GWS).

Jim Stynes and Tadgh Kennelly were outstanding successes in the AFL after being recruited from Ireland’s Gaelic football.

Recruiters from all 16 AFL clubs are reportedly considering expanding their search for draft player talent into the United States, China and South Africa.

AFL Game Development manager Dave Matthews has an ambitious plan to run draft testing try-outs in several US cities in August.

The testing days are slated for Dallas, Los Angeles and Miami, with plans to add another in New York or Boston.

Other try-outs will also be held in China in October, as part of the post-season match between AFL teams Melbourne and Brisbane in Shanghai, reports said.

Veteran GWS coach Kevin Sheedy believes California is among the most fertile potential recruiting grounds for AFL.

“I think the two best areas we’ve got to develop, as well as recruit out of, are California and South Africa,” Sheedy said last month.

“We need to develop the game in California and in South Africa’s case, there a lot of young people over there who need opportunities.”

Sheedy, whose GWS club joins the AFL competition in 2012, said he will definitely be looking outside of Australia for possible player recruits.

Australian rules football is played between two teams of 18 players with a rugby-shape ball on oval-sized grounds and was first played in Australia in 1859.