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.
2. Alex Jesaulenko
A name etched in the history books forever, Alex Jesaulenko.
In the 1970 Grand Final, Jesaulenko was immortalised by taking the most iconic mark in VFL/AFL history. Alongside his mark, commentator Mike Williamson's call, "Oh, Jesaulenko, you beauty!" is fondly remembered by footy lovers.
Jesaulenko could make this list just for his mark, but the body of work over the course of his career, brings him to second place (could be argued as first).
Born in Austria in 1945 to a Ukrainian father, a German policeman in WW2, and a Russian born mother, who was subject to many horrors in the WW2 time period. They emigrated to Australia in 1949.
Jesaulenko would play 279 games and kick 444 goals for both Carlton and St Kilda, and coach both clubs for a total of 140 games.
He was the last player-coach to win a premiership, the last captain-coach and one of the last two player-coaches alongside Malcom Blight.
As a player he was known for his high marking, mercurial ground play, superb balance and goalkicking.ย In his debut season, he finished third in the Brownlow count.
Jesaulenko would go on to win four premierships with the Blues, in 1968, 70', 72' and 79', and was a two-time All-Australian in 1969 and 72'.
He is a three time leading goalkicker at Carlton and is the only player to ever kick more than 100 goals in a season for the Blues.
Post football, Jesaulenko is in both the AFL and Carlton Team of the Century and was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996, upgraded to legend status in 2008.
Jesaulenko's sporting achievements were recognized outside the football world as well; he was included in theย 1979 New Year Honoursย list as aย Member (Civil) of the Order of the British Empire "for service to the sport of Australian Rules football".
He is considered one of the greatest players ever and it is in no doubt that he makes the top two best players born outside Australia.
