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.
5. Mal Michaelย
Malcolm "Mal" Michael is one of the more memorable players born outside of Australia. Michael was born in Papua New Guinea (PNG), where his father Peter was influential in helping develop AFL.
Drafted by Collingwood in 1996, Michael became the first ever player to elevated from the rookie list to seniors. Debuting in 1997, he had a successful first year, winning the Harry Collier Trophy (best first year player at the club) and received a Rising Star nomination. The rest of his time at Collingwood however, was memorable for the wrong reasons.
In 1999, Michael was notable as being the player on Sydney full-forward Tony Lockett, in the match where Lockett kicked his 1300th career goal to become the highest goalkicker in AFL history. In the New Years Eve game against Carlton, Michael had 12 goals kicked on him by Brendan Fevola.
Michael was traded to Brisbane in 2000, and it was at the Lions where he would have his most success. Michael became known as one of the strongest players in the league, and was the full-back in all three of the Lions premierships from 2001-03.
Michael was involved in two highly controversial and publicised incidents, first in 2005, when he and teammate Chris Scott both "tested" the broken collarbone of St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt, and then again the following year when he conceded a rushed behind by kicking the ball through the goals 20 metres out.
At the end of 2006, Michael announced his retirement, but the following month shocked the football community by reconsidering his retirement. To the behest of the Lions, Michael joined his third club, Essendon, in the 2007 pre-season draft.ย He would officially retire in 2008, playing 238 games across all three clubs.
Michael was the first Papa New Guinean to play in the AFL, becoming an ambassador to the country and quite the celebrity. He is perhaps the only AFL player who is more known in a country outside of Australia.
