AFL Vanuatu

The players are Naviti Friman, Patricia Salili, Miaka Kieron Kapea, and Rawo Malnaim Viona.

They will be representing Vanuatu among other professional players from Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Nauru.

AFL Vanutau said the players will be accompanied by Development Manager, Nancy Patterson, and local coaches Ryan Bonga, Lenty Tevi, and Jesta Toka.

Talent Camp is an annual event, however due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, it was postponed to this year.

But undeterred, a small band of Aussie Rules disciples have soldiered on, and spread their message via social media and through on-line training programmes.

And with the 2023 International Cup in Melbourne put back to 2024, the hope is by then Vanuatu might have a team ready to take part.

Nancy Patterson is AFL Vanuatu's Programme Director, and while she's the first to admit that soccer is the dominant force, she says interest in AFL is growing.

AFL Programme Manager, Nancy Patterson said they have changed their selection criteria due to Covid-19 pandemic. 

“We were going around the schools based with Year 8 students, and select the best ones, but this year we changed our selection criteria.”

“We are now focused on Years 6 and 7 students, because we understand Year 8 students will be studying for exams.”

In the previous years, AFL visited schools to select the best U15s to represent Vanuatu at an annual tournament that takes place in December.