Nic Hopes AFL Spreads Wings To Fiji
As the AFL continues to look overseas in an attempt to grow the game, West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui hopes Fiji is not forgotten.
Port Adelaide and Gold Coast travelled to Shanghai, China for a historic clash during round eight of the current season.
It was the first game played for premiership points outside of Australia since St Kilda’s experiment in Wellington that ran from 2013-15.
Pre-season and exhibition fixtures have also been hosted in England, the United Arab Emirates, United States and South Africa. There is widespread speculation that India could host a match for premiership points, as early as next year.
Naitanui, who is proud of his Fijian heritage and one of the league’s multicultural ambassadors, has travelled to the South Pacific on AFL business in the past.
The superstar, who is currently sidelined as he continues to recover from a knee reconstruction, would love to return to Fiji for a fixture; be it pre-season or regular season.
“It’d be awesome for the locals but also for the game to grow,” Naitanui told AAP.
“I’ve run a few exhibition matches in the Pacific with guys like Andrew McLeod, Chris Johnson and a few others. We’ve been to Fiji, Tonga and whatnot with the Flying Boomerangs programme. “Having a proper AFL game there would really lift the sport in that region.
“To get more Fijians and South Pacific kids interested would be really good for the sport.”
The Chiefs, one of five New Zealand sides in the Super Rugby competition, played one home game in Suva during this year and last. Samoa hosted its first ever Super Rugby fixture this year. Naitanui suggested Oceania was a logical part of the world for the AFL to increase its presence in- and that plenty of youngsters would be responsive to any push.
“It’d be great for the kids to understand footy, but also what comes with it,” the 27-year-old said at the launch of Nike’s ‘No Turning Back’ campaign last week in Sydney.
“It’s not just about playing football. There’s so many opportunities and networks that come with it.
“You stay fit and healthy but off the field it really sets you up as well.”
It’s not just about playing football. There’s so many opportunities and networks that come with it. You stay fit and healthy but off the field it really sets you up as well. Nic Natanui AFL player