It is quite the task to succeed in the AFL, even harder for those recruited from overseas to play the game.
These players have gone most of their life to that point, not knowing what Aussie rules is most of the time.
Than there are players who are born overseas but move to Australia at a young age, giving them ample time to learn the sport as they grow up.
This list will look at players on both sides of the coin, those who were not born here but moved at a young age, and those who were recruited from other sports worldwide.
Those who played before 1965 do not make the cut.
Honourable Mentions:
Current: Former No.1 Draft Pick and Rising Star Bomber Andrew McGrath (Canada), 2016 Norm Smith medallist and Premiership Bulldog Jason Johannisen (South Africa).
Former: Heritier Lumumba (Brazil) and Trent Croad (New Zealand) were both Premiership players and All-Australians at the Magpies and Hawks respectively.
Mike Pyke (Canada) won a Premiership at the Swans in 2005, and was the first international sportsman (rugby) outside of Gaelic football to switch to AFL.
Brian Mynott (England), played in the Saints only premiership in 1966.
9. Sean Wight
The first player associated with the VFL/AFL Irish experiment, Sean Wight was scouted on an Irish tour in 1982 by Ron Barassi and Barry Richardson.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Wight played Gaelic football in County Kerry and would eventually be picked up by Melbourne.
Debuting in 1985, Wight went on to play 150 games for the Demons, winning two night flags in 1987 and 89, and was also named an All-Australian in 1987. In 2008, Wight was inducted into Melbourne's Hall of Fame.
Wight sadly passed away due to lung cancer in 2011.
Wight had a great career, but was often overshadowed by a fellow Irish teammate, who you'll see later in the list.
