Australian sportsmen linked to professional American Football
Encyclopedia
In Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, there is an almost equal fascination, among the media and general public, of players linked to the National Football League (NFL)
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
as there is for the Irish experiment
Irish experiment
The Irish Experiment is the popular name for the interest, primarily from VFL/AFL clubs, in bringing Irish sportspeople to Australia to play Australian Rules Football professionally ....
.
Although Australians have participated at the highest level of American football level, since the success of Darren Bennett as a punter and more recently Ben Graham, several sportsmen from Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
, rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
and rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
have been linked to potential NFL careers.
The punting specialist position requires similar skills to those found in Australian football players and also to specific kicking positions in rugby football
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
. Salaries are up to five times higher and the position lends itself to longevity. Australian football players generally retire at around 30, whereas American football punters can play well into their 40s (in fact, one of the players listed below, Darren Bennett, played 11 seasons in the NFL after leaving behind an Australian rules career when he was nearing 30). Initially Australians sought out American football careers, although now NFL scouts are more often actively seeking punters from Australia
The first Australian to play American Football at a meaningful level was former Australian rules footballer Pat O'Dea
Pat O'Dea
-External links:* Australian Dictionary of Biography...
in 1898 who was a College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
player.
Gridiron in Australia
Gridiron in Australia
American football, known locally as "gridiron", is a participation and spectator sport in Australia. The sport is governed by Gridiron Australia, a member of the International Federation of American Football ....
is only at amateur level, so the pathway for Australians to NFL clubs is typically limited to other professional Australian sports. For almost a decade, the NFL has placed full-time development officers in Australia, including Australian rules football hopeful Dwayne Armstrong
Dwayne Armstrong
Dwayne Armstrong is a former sportsman who played American Football and Australian rules football.-College football career:Armstrong played college football for Iowa State in 1991 and 1992, lettering in both years.-Australian rules football:...
. There is a full-time punting academy, 'Prokick Australia' in Australia run by former NFL free agent Nathan Chapman
Nathan Chapman (footballer)
Nathan Chapman was a former Australian rules footballer who had a short career in the Australian Football League before a brief stint as an American Football punter...
which is aimed at training and assessing talented punters from Australia to positions in major U.S Colleges and the NFL .
Australian Sportsmen Recruited by NFL clubs
- a) brought to the US by an NFL club
- b) spent time training with an NFL club
- c) played in a NFL pre-season game
- d) offered an NFL contract by a club
- e) spent time on an NFL roster
| Australian sportsmen formerly associated with NFL club highlighted in blue played at least one game at NFL senior level |
| Australian sportsmen highlighted in green are currently on an NFL senior list |
| Australian sportsmen highlighted in yellow are currently on an NFL supplementary list |
| Recruited | Player | Original sport | Original sport position | Initial NFL team | NFL Debut | NFL Games Played | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | David King David King (football player) David King is a professional American football and Australian rules football player who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New England Patriots of the National Football League as a punter on 14 April, 2010, but was waived by the team on 11 June 2010... |
Australian Rules | New England Patriots New England Patriots The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... |
Former semi-pro Aussie Rules player | |||
| 2010 | Chris Bryan Chris Bryan -Carlton Blues:As a mature-aged recruit, Bryan was drafted in the sixth round by Carlton in the 2004 AFL Draft. Drafted as a 22 years old, Bryan was given a chance after showing enough at VFL level for both Sandringham and Frankston... |
Australian Rules | Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
2010 | 48 | contracted by the Green Bay Packers in 2010 | |
| 2007 | Anthony Rocca Anthony Rocca Anthony Rocca is a former Australian rules footballer who has played with the Sydney Swans and Collingwood in the Australian Football League... |
Australian Rules | Forward | Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
2010 | Signed with the Eagles, however got homesick and returned to Australia | |
| 2009 | Jy Bond Jy Bond Jy Bond is an American football punter who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as a street free agent in 2009.Bond has also been a member of the New York Giants and Hartford Colonials.... |
Australian Rules | Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
contracted by the Miami Dolphins in 2009 | |||
| 2007 | Sav Rocca | Australian Rules | Forward | Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
2007 | 48 | oldest ever rookie in the NFL |
| 2005 | Ben Graham | Australian Rules | Forward | New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
2005 | 72 | first Australian to play in the Super Bowl |
| 2004 | Mat McBriar Mat McBriar Mat McBriar is an Australian American football punter in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys.-Early years:McBriar began as an Australian rules football player, playing Australian rules for Brighton Grammar School... |
Australian Rules | Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... |
2004 | 86 | ||
| 2004 | Nathan Chapman Nathan Chapman (footballer) Nathan Chapman was a former Australian rules footballer who had a short career in the Australian Football League before a brief stint as an American Football punter... |
Australian Rules | Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
contracted by the Green Bay Packers and played in a handful of pre-season games | |||
| 1995 | Darren Bennett Darren Bennett (footballer) Darren Bennett is a former Australian rules football player and American football punter in the National Football League.As an Australian rules footballer, he played 12 seasons for two clubs... |
Australian Rules | San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
1995 | 159 | most successful Australian in the history of the NFL | |
| 1987 | Colin Scotts Colin Scotts Colin Scotts was the first Australian to receive an American football scholarship in the United States and be drafted into the NFL... |
Rugby union | St. Louis Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
1987 | first Australian to receive an American football scholarship in the United States | ||
| 1965 | Colin Ridgeway Colin Ridgeway Colin Edwin Ridgway was an American football punter distinguished as being the first Australian to play in the National Football League.-Track and Field:... |
Australian Rules | Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... |
1965 | first Australian to play in the NFL |
Professional Australian sportsmen trialled with NFL clubs
- Anthony RoccaAnthony RoccaAnthony Rocca is a former Australian rules footballer who has played with the Sydney Swans and Collingwood in the Australian Football League...
(2010) - Nick DavisNick Davis (footballer)Nick Davis is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Collingwood Football Club and the Sydney Swans in the AFL.- Collingwood:...
(2008) - Wayne CareyWayne CareyWayne Carey is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the North Melbourne and Adelaide Football Clubs in the Australian Football League ....
(2002 - Dallas Cowboys) - Richard OsborneRichard OsborneRichard Osborne is a former Australian rules footballer who enjoyed a lengthy career in the VFL/AFL. He played a total of 283 games in 17 seasons, and played with four different clubs, as well as representing Victoria 7 times in interstate competition.Originally from Bulleen/Templestowe, he...
(1994) - Tony CampbellTony Campbell (Australian rules football)Anthony 'Tony' Campbell is a former professional Australian rules footballer and businessman.-AFL career:Campbell was recruited to the Melbourne Football Club from Camberwell Grammar School. Early in his career, the solidly built player was tried on the full-forward line wearing the number 40 and...
(1994)
Professional Australian sportsmen public stating an interest in switching to NFL
(either during or after their Australian professional careers)- Scott Harding
- Brendan FevolaBrendan FevolaBrendan Fevola is a professional Australian rules footballer. He played with the Carlton and Brisbane Lions football clubs in the Australian Football League....
- Anthony RoccaAnthony RoccaAnthony Rocca is a former Australian rules footballer who has played with the Sydney Swans and Collingwood in the Australian Football League...
- Dustin FletcherDustin FletcherDustin Fletcher is an Australian rules footballer with the Essendon Football Club. He is renowned as one of the finest defenders in the AFL, and has played at full-back for his team for many years. He is the son of former Bombers captain Ken Fletcher...
- Cory PatersonCory PatersonCory Paterson is an Australian professional rugby league player. He currently plays for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League . He previously played 77 NRL matches for the Newcastle Knights...
- Todd CarneyTodd CarneyTodd Carney is an Australian professional rugby league football player. Carney has represented Australia, Country New South Wales and, in the National Rugby League, the Canberra Raiders between 2003 and 2008, and the Sydney Roosters between 2010 and 2011...
- Willie MasonWillie MasonWilliam Marshall "Willie" Mason is an Australian professional rugby union footballer for Toulon in the Top 14 competition, having previously being a rugby league footballer for Hull KR in the European Super League.Mason signed a 3-year contract with Hull KR in September 2010, pending a successful...
- Trent CroadTrent CroadTrent Eric Croad is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League .During his 222 game AFL career, he achieved some of the Australian Football League's highest honours including an AFL premiership medallion, All-Australian selection, representing...
- Paul WheatleyPaul WheatleyPaul Wheatley is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League .A Preston Knights recruit, Wheatley made his debut for the Melbourne Football Club in 2000, after being selected at number 20 in the 1999 AFL Draft.Wheatley is known for his prodigious kicking, with his...
- Greg InglisGreg InglisGreg Inglis is an Australian professional rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative outside back, Inglis joined the Rabbitohs in 2011 after much controversy.Inglis is a versatile back, having played in several...