Israel Folau?

[Bumper Bulldogs]

Does anyone really think these blokes will have the right skills to play AFL.
Can't kick and throw the ball more than the Crows in a pack.
As soon as they have any pressure the can fall straight to ground.(holding the ball in our game)
One or two may be able to play at the elite level but IMO and experiance they make good backman and can tackle but get them in front of goal or need a precise pass you could just recruit Sam Power.

Agree with Chef its is all about marketing.

They want to be careful IMO as the state may turn on the AFL for poaching the big guns of the comp and the backlash may be they don't come to the games.... They are a funny state afterall

They will get a run in the 2nd's for year so they should be able to tell how they will go from that. The marketing use of these guys could be huge but would it be better than a Ablett or a Franklin?

[alwaysadog]

Majority of the money used to pay his salary would actually be from the AFL and would fall outside of the salary cap as it would be considered a marketing investment.

As Hutchy stated GWS would only be paying him maybe 400k, when looking at the bigger picture and taking into consideration the youth on their initial list plus their salary exemptions it wouldn't really be that much.

If this is true so much for the salary cap and control of co-payments.

[LostDoggy]

Rumor is he will sign for GWS tomorrow.

This is all i could find on the net.

MELBOURNE, Australia- Rugby League star Israel Folau is set to make a risky move to the sport of Australian rules Football, reports said.

Sports media in Melbourne, Australia reported the star Rugby League star would be the second such player to move to the Australian Football League.

Israel Folau was set to sign for new AFL team Greater Western Sydney, the second AFL team for Australia’s largest city, Sydney.

Folau is a former player with the Melbourne Storm National Rugby League club and currently plays with the Brisbane Bronco’s.

Folau gained a reputation for his high flying ball grabs, a skill much sought after in Australian Football.

Another Brisbane Bronco Rugby League player, Karmichael Hunt, signed with another new AFL club, Gold Coast, last year in a surprising move.

Hunt also wnet to play Rugby Union in France, before beginning his career in Australian Football with the Gold Coast today.

Sports TV network Fox Sports reported the AFL would hold a press conference with Folau to announce the signing with GWS.

http://newsolio.com/israel-folau-mov...ney-club,10329

[LostDoggy]

Hutchy just confirmed on Footy Classifieds, that it will happen.

3 year deal.

[LostDoggy]

May 31, 2010 - 10:42PM

Giant rugby league centre Israel Folau will inform the Brisbane Broncos on Tuesday he is accepting a massive offer to switch to the AFL.

The 21 year-old, who has played eight Tests for Australia and six State of Origin games for Queensland, will sign a three-year deal with expansion AFL club Greater Western Sydney, who enter the competition in 2012.

The deal is worth a reported $3 million.

Link

[bornadog]

Hutchy just confirmed on Footy Classifieds, that it will happen.

3 year deal.

Mike Sheahan beat him On The Couch

[Throughandthrough]

all he has to do now is learn how to kick, mark and handball and he will have 25% of the game sorted.

[comrade]

all he has to do now is learn how to kick, mark and handball and he will have 25% of the game sorted.

It's not about whether he can ever actually play the game. He's a symbolic signing, funded from the marketing account.

Israel Falou > decades of tv and print advertising expenditure

[chef]

It's not about whether he can ever actually play the game. He's a symbolic signing, funded from the marketing account.

Israel Falou > decades of tv and print advertising expenditure

Exactly, this is going to put GWS on the map. In term of marketing for this club and the AFL brand he is still being under paid for what they are going to get(remembering the Hunt defection was the biggest football story ever(of all the codes)).

[Bulldog Revolution]

All said he is a very exciting athletic package and I think it will be very interesting to see how he develops

Would centre half back be a great spot to start Izzie on the basis that he is predominantly used to running in one direction?

[Desipura]

All said he is a very exciting athletic package and I think it will be very interesting to see how he develops

Would centre half back be a great spot to start Izzie on the basis that he is predominantly used to running in one direction?

I would be very surprised if he played 50 AFL games.

[chef]

I would be very surprised if he played 50 AFL games.

I agree, but his number one priority(to the AFL anyway) is not to play games. The interest he will create in GWS will be phenomenal and If he does turn out to be a half decent player that is a bonus IMO.

[Bulldog Revolution]

I would be very surprised if he played 50 AFL games.

However, given that they will be trying to teach him to play what position would you start with?

[Desipura]

However, given that they will be trying to teach him to play what position would you start with?

back pocket, less damage

[Bulldog Revolution]

back pocket, less damage

At 195cm? Would he match up Alwyn Davey?

I just assumed they would try to turn him into a key defender, or consider a follower, roaming type role?