Exciting opportunities are emerging for young Pacific athletes interested in Australian rules football, thanks to a new partnership between the Australian Government and the Australian Football League (AFL).

This collaboration aims to bolster high-performance pathways for footballers across the Pacific region, offering avenues for players, coaches, and umpires to develop their skills and pursue their sporting dreams.

As part of this initiative, the Queensland junior grade AFL competition will serve as a crucial pathway for aspiring Pasifika players. Participants will have the chance to train and secure placements with prestigious academies such as the Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions, immersing themselves in Queensland’s competitive football environment.

In addition to strengthening pathways in Australia, the partnership will establish a groundbreaking AFL Talent Academy in Vanuatu, complementing existing academies in Papua New Guinea, Nauru, and Fiji.

Modeled after the remarkable journey of current Gold Coast Suns player Hewago Paul ‘Ace’ Oea from Papua New Guinea, the program aims to inspire and support Pacific talents as they navigate the road to AFL success.

Reflecting on his own journey, Ace expressed gratitude for the opportunities afforded to him through similar pathways. He emphasized the transformative impact of the PacificAus Sports program and voiced his hope for more Pasifika players to follow in his footsteps, realizing their potential on the AFL stage.

Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the significance of fostering sporting connections between Australia and the Pacific. He highlighted the Australian Government’s commitment to providing talented Pacific athletes with avenues for growth and development in Australian rules football.

James Ceely, the AFL’s Head of Participation and International, shared his enthusiasm for the future of Pacific AFL, emphasizing the importance of structured pathways in nurturing talent from the region.

He expressed pride in the AFL’s ongoing partnership with the Australian Government, underscoring their shared goal of cultivating and expanding the Australian rules football talent pool in the Pacific.

With these new opportunities on the horizon, the Pacific region is poised to become an even more vibrant hub for AFL talent, fostering a new generation of skilled players, coaches, and umpires with dreams of reaching the elite level.