PNG to compete in AFL Queensland Championships

[clarkey]

The following is sensational news for international footy! Congrats to all who have worked very hard to make this happen.

Binatangs to take part in Qld c’ships
PNG Post Courier

THE Papua New Guinea Binatangs will for the first time participate in the Queensland State championships.

AFLPNG operations manager Peter Cates said this was because the Bintangs had been the Champions of the Queensland AFL Country Championships for the last two years.

“Due to this outstanding performance they have been rewarded by the Queensland AFL, and from 2007 they will participate as part of the Queensland State Championship. They will also come under the close scrutiny of AFL talent scouts.”

The Under 16 Binatang team is : Joseph Yara (Highlands), Greg Aki (Highlands), Daniel Rufus (Highlands), Raphael Malau (Highlands), Nelson Kerowa (Highlands) Kenneth Buka (Kimbe) , Jalal Gori (Kimbe), Neville Kaiwa (Kimbe) Charles Nalong and Peter Labi; (Lae) David Meli, Amua Pirika, Willie Hayufa, Vagi Vaina, Gagu Kaiyage, Eddie Tilik, Willie Dasi, Garry Kele, Simon Meakord, Wingti Pena, Jolam Tonga, Ferdinand Musi, Garrett Masab (Port Moresby), Nathan Baramun (Buka) and Junior Kauri (Gulf).

 

[rossco]

Great to here of this. I was wondering if they will be under 16's or if their would be concessions eg. 6 or so under 17 players as NT under 16's are permitted to do in the Australian nationals.
Any links to the latest info for the PNG team ? are they on the AFLPNG website?

 

[MightyFighting]

What is this Queensland State Championship?

Surely it's not the league that the Lions' reserves play in??

 

[fishmonger]

What is this Queensland State Championship?

Surely it's not the league that the Lions' reserves play in??

You are thinking of the Queensland State League

The state championships pit representative sides from various regions (ie. North Queensland, South East Queensland, Darling Downs etc) together and represent several junior age groups such as U16, U18 etc.

This is great news for PNG, as the state championships have produced a record number of AFL draft picks for Queensland. Will be interesting to see the gap between the country and the big cities.

But the chances of a PNG player making the AFL in the next 2-3 years are looking ever so sweet.

 

[WFN2004]

Great to here of this. I was wondering if they will be under 16's or if their would be concessions eg. 6 or so under 17 players as NT under 16's are permitted to do in the Australian nationals.
Any links to the latest info for the PNG team ? are they on the AFLPNG website?

The AFLPNG website is http://www.afl-png.com/ but unfortunately not updated for a long time.

You'll find plenty of background info covering the lead up to this over the last few years on www.worldfootynews.com, and in particular the Oceania section http://www.worldfootynews.com/index.php?topic=oceania. We'd been predicting PNG would make the move to being treated as a region of its own rather than funneling through the country squad - great to see it happen this quickly. All the hype is about South Africa but the Papuans are actually still well ahead. As Fishmonger says, an AFL draftee might not be far away - whoever he is, he's probably already well into the PNG system, hoping like the rest that he gets picked oneday. NZ is still the one we don't hear enough about - would love to see them linked in similar to South Africa or PNG.

 

[Dingo - Alpha]

Good to hear

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

I'd really like to see PNG play in the national champs at under-age level, but this is a good stepping stone towards that.

 

[WFN2004]

Exactly, one step at a time. I think they'll have their work cut out for them in the first couple of years. They're eligible for Queensland, so the very best will still get to play at the national champs.