In the wake of the Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal big name league players such as Billy Slater and Greg Inglis have been linked with a switch to the AFL. Particulalry the two new teams who, with strong backing from the AFL in the form of draft and salary cap concessions in their eagerness to gain a foothold in rugby league heartland, are able to offer much more attractive wages than they would receive plying their current trade.
Billy Slater's courage and dash off a half-back flank would be an asset to most clubs with the only factor against a potential switch being his age, at 27, and ball reading ability as supported by GWS coach Kevin Sheedy.
"I won't be getting Billy Slater." Sheedy said. " He is an amazing athlete but...it wouldn't be my go to look at getting a rugby league player who is turning 27 this year."
Inglis was recently linked with an approach from Essendon when Chief Executive Ian Robson said "We are always looking for opportunities to bring elite athletes to the club, particularly during a period when the game is undergoing significant expansion."
"We haven't put an offer to Greg but should he express an interest in playing AFL we would like to be at the front of what would be a very long queue." Robson said.
Leigh Matthews recently commented on radio that $1 million contracts for untried players from other codes was insulting to the greats of the game.
Speaking on Melbourne's 3AW Matthews expressed dissapointment that unproven players like Israel Folau were able to walk into the competition commanding such salaries and labelled it nothing more than a "money spinner" to garner support in a developing market.
Matthews said that he didn't have a problem with athletes without AFL backrounds coming into the sport but argued they should only be paid rookie wages the same as most Irish players in the game currenlty receive.
During the same discussion retired Richmond legend Matthew Richardson said "I'd be rubbing my hands together if I was still playing up forward, walked out to my position and Karmichael Hunt was standing next to me."
When asked about signing Israel Folau during an online blog for the HeraldSun.com.au today, Kevin Sheedy said "All I ever did was ask Israel are you very serious about playing AFL, and I ended up down that well-known creek."
He went on to say that he would talk to anyone that considers playing AFL and drew comparisons with Jimmy Stynes and the current form of Setanta O'Hailpin.
The raw talent of Nic Naitanui has been a highlight so far this season fueling speculation Folau could demonstrate the same freakish ability given the chance at AFL level. Gold Coast recruiting manager Scott Clayton told Kevin Sheedy he would hand over picks one, two and three for the dreadlocked kid with Fijian heritage.
In his regular newspaper column with the Sunday Herald Sun Sheedy said as a coach it was his duty to look into recruiting Folau who he described as "a fantastic athlete and young enough to change codes."
He alluded to past recruiting failures of other clubs in the game with many potential stars having slipped though the net due to poor decision making and said this was the reason GWS football manager Graeme "Gubby" Allan "will be the most dangerous person in the AFL".
These comments will surely re-inforce the fact that the AFL's established teams are in for a fight.
Regardless of whether or not Israel Folau becomes the next big recruiting coup GWS and the Gold Coast, with sizeable assitance from the AFL, will leave no stone unturned in their mission to establish a sustainable market in the northern states.
