Time to leap into US market

It's a sneak peek at the brave new world of AFL, recruiting athletic talent and size which simply isn't available in Australia in anywhere near the numbers of the United States.

Paul Roos has always believed the US college basketballers are an obvious source of talent for the AFL and the recent visit of 200cm plus trio Jason Holmes, Mark Cisco and Patrick Mitchell has only strengthened his view.

A display of their amazing skills above the rim on a Moore Park basketball court provided a tantalizing glimpse of just what they could do with a Sherrin in their hands.

"Australia has a population of 23 million compared to 300 million," Roos told The Sunday Telegraph.

We don't have unlimited amount of guys that are 200cm tall and above. The pathway is clear on the back of Mike Pyke being a premiership ruckman and the development he has shown."

Should Roos end up coaching at Melbourne it will be a recruiting vision he is certain to employ at the battling club. Holmes, Mitchell and Cisco are the best three players from an AFL Combine held in Los Angeles in April.

"There were a few at 195 cm but 14 of the 17 were 200cm plus," Roos said.

"We probably couldn't get that number of big guys in Australia at any one time."

Other sports in Australia are lifting their game, making it harder to get the best athletic talent.

Adding to the challenge for the AFL is the introduction of two new teams - the Gold Coast Suns and the GWS Giants.

"The talent available to AFL clubs is really being stretched," Swans list manager Kinnear Beatson said.

"I've got no doubt the standard of players and the athletic talent in Australia is not as good as the recent past as it's being spread across so many teams and more sports.

"We have to look elsewhere, Mike Pyke is the perfect example."

Pyke's success has also shown the ruck to be the best position to introduce players to the game.

It's little surprise that Israel Folau had his best games playing in the ruck.

"Without demeaning ruckmen I think it's a position where you can be very specific about what you want as a coach," Roos said.

"We've seen with Mike Pyke his role is to get his hand on the ball around the stoppages. What he's been able to add to his game is a contested mark.

"It's very hard to recruit midfielders because you need silky skills, you're competing against kids who have been playing the game since they were eight. It's just an unrealistic expectation."

Roos also believes basketball is the best sport to be recruiting from.

Karmichael Hunt played a lot of basketball as a junior which has clearly helped his transition.

"You see with Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood) he's able to make a good decision in traffic and that's what basketball is," Roos said

"Basketball is a game of making smart decisions."

Story by: Neil Cordy - Sunday Telegraph, July 21