AFL talent search heads to Ireland

This article first appeared on aflcommunityclub.com

By Callum Twomey

Twenty-three athletes from Ireland and the United Kingdom will face agility, endurance, jumping and skills testing at Dublin City University.

A number of AFL club scouts will attend the combine, conducted by AFL Europe, to assess the talent.

“These tests are the same as those conducted in Australia and enable us to compare athletes from all over the world,” said Kennelly, the AFL’s international talent coordinator.

“The combine looks for athletes and footballers with athletic prowess with the skill to potentially play AFL.”

Two athletes will be selected to attend the 2013 NAB AFL Draft Combine in October at Etihad Stadium among other draft hopefuls.

The venture into Ireland follows the New Zealand combine last month, where 15-year-old Siope Ngata impressed Hawthorn recruiters before being recruited by the club as an international scholarship holder.

Combines are also held in the USA, China, South Africa and in the Pacific region as the AFL strives to expand its international talent pool.