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.
3. Peter Bell
Peter Bell is one of the most successful AFL players born overseas. Born to a Korean mother and American father, Bell was adopted by an Australian couple, who were Christian missionaries, in 1979.
Bell played 286 games and kicked 250 goals at both Fremantle and North Melbourne.
In 1994, playing for South Fremantle in the WAFL, Bell won a Best and Fairest and was one of the first two players signed by AFL's newest team, Fremantle. He made his debut the next year, but was delisted at the end of the season, for being "too slow", only playing two games.
Bell was picked up by North Melbourne and would have great success at the club.
He became known for his courageous, energetic and skilled performances, nominated for a Rising Star Award in 1996 and playing in the Kangaroos' premiership that year. In 1999, he won another premiership, and made the All-Australian team.
In 2000, Bell finished first in the Roos' Best and Fairest, winning the Syd Barker medal.
Bell was traded back to Fremantle, after proving his early doubters wrong, and would finish his career in 2008 with an abundance of accolades at the Dockers.
This includes:
- 3รย Doig Medalย 2001, 2003-2004
- Fremantleย Captain: 2002โ06
- Fremantleย 25 since โ95 Team
- Geoff Christian Medal: 2003
- Ross Glendinning Medal: 2000
Peter Bell was also President of the AFLPA from 2003-2007, and is a member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
