expatriate

May 11th, 2016 at 12:53 AM ^

A lot of folks in the states are unfamiliar with AFL, Australian Football League, which is very different from rugby. In the few years since I moved here I have absolutely fallen in love with the sport (specifically the Adelaide Crows), which is exciting, high scoring, fast-paced, and with some rather crunching hits. 

 

He's wise to go to Victoria (the state where Melbourne is), which is the hotbed of AFL (Sydney and Brisbane are big rugby centres, whereas Melbourne and Adelaide are mostly AFL). When you hear about an Aussie punter they are usually AFLers (which is why Blake O'Neill came from Melbourne. 

 

However, they are more than that. The way these guys need to streak down the field and high-point a ball, I wouldn't be surprised for them to make a good transition to defensive back or wide receiver as the case may be. An example of some highlights can be found at the link -> here

 

P.S. It's called "gridiron" here to distinguish it from AFL ("footy"), rugby union, rugby league, (yes there are two rugbys, that sometimes go by "football'), and soccer (which is actually called soccer just as often as it's called football, believe it or not). 

expatriate

May 10th, 2016 at 11:17 PM ^

I ask this because I bug everyone about it... are you in Australia (or is your gf also a Michigan grad)? If so we're trying to grow our alumni network out here, currently we have a FB page and are working on a website, had our first event in Melbourne last year. It's an exciting time to be a Wolverine in Australia! 

I Want To Believe

May 11th, 2016 at 4:20 AM ^

Australian punters are the best. I highly doubt Michigan finds any good skill position players in Australia, but the camp itself will be worth it when we sign the next Aussie great.

CoverZero

May 11th, 2016 at 6:04 AM ^

Jim and John Harbaugh have told people that they feel that it is their mission to spread the good gospel of football to the youth of the world.   This is an amazing decision to continue in that light...and also flip a middle finger to the SEC and NCAA at the same time.

Nothing stops this train.

 

Zarniwoop

May 11th, 2016 at 11:05 AM ^

The man is absolutely batshit crazy.  Its awesome.

My wife is Australian and I'm telling you, that is a BRUTAL flight there and back. 18 - 30 hours one way no matter how you arrange it from Michigan.  My wife has never done it in less than 24 hours because a nonstop flight from LA to Australia is just awesomely expensive.

In addition, everything in Australia is actively seeking your death.  My wife likes to walk and more than a few times she had to get a ride home because the neighbors notified her that a brown snake was sunning itself on the road home.