Eric Floyd Update

Australian Rules for US imports

 Tuesday, 09 March 2010 11:56

When Eric Floyd competed at the USAFL Nationals in Canada last August, he never imagined it could lead to playing a season in country Western Australia.

The 21-year-old, who arrived in Perth last month, will be playing for Kukerin-Dumbleyung in the Upper Great Southern Football League this season after being introduced to Australian Rules by a friend at highschool.

He was then encouraged to venture to Australia by fellow US import Brady Phillips, who played for Donnybrook in the South West Football League last season.  
The US players are invited by the WA Country Football League to play in Australia as part of an initiative to promote football to one of the biggest sporting markets in the world.

Floyd said he was looking forward to a taste of Australian life and football club culture after a glowing review from Phillips.

"Brady came over last year and said how much he liked it so I'm looking forward to it," he said.

"I expect the games to be a lot harder than at home, where I usually play around the ball as a rover and my team relies on me quite a bit. I expect to do okay but not as well as I do at home."

After competing mostly at track and field and basketball in highschool, Floyd joined Louiseville's Australian Rules team and went on to play at the US AFL Nationals.

"I found it was more of an all-around sport and a lot of fun to play. It's a very fast game and you have the contact as well," he said.

Floyd is staying with a host family for the football season and hopes to travel around WA more later in the year. 

article from:  http://www.wafootball.com.au/country-football/1770-australian-rules-for-us-imports

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