If the money that was offered to Hunt and Folau was on offer to Basketballers, I am sure that the basketballers would consider it seeing as it is more than the salary cap of an entire NBL team.

It is mostly inevitable, given that the AFL is a league that doesnt require world class talent or athleticism. The reality is that most returning college basketballers arent good enough for the NBL, which is a world class league, and therefore the chance to be a pro athlete in a high profile sport like Aussie rules is a very atractive proposition.

What Basketball Australia has to work hard on and commit funds to is ensuring elite level basketballers arent poached.

Paul is correct, you can be an absolute hack AFL level footballer and get paid much more than being a bench warmer on an NBl side. Just not sure where BA are going to get the "funds" to commit to retaining our athletes.

Oldish list here so might be more or less now - around 80-100 from a quick estimate of that site.

As Isaac pointed out, it is definitely around 100 mark.

That list is from last season and is missing players that played at the lower levels of colege basketball, and does not list players that have signed on so far to play next season.

NBL - 10 teams - 100 players, less approximately 20% who are Overseas Born Players, either playing as Imports or Naturalised, - 80 positions, say 40 as starter roles.

AFL - 18 teams - 720 players, less approximately 1% who are Overseas Born Players - 710 positions, 390 of which are first choice positions in a team.

That's pretty close to 10 times as many opportunities in AFL compared to NBL. AFL is stable, has strong TV rights, NBL is trying to re-positions itself, has a Free to Air rights for the first time in many years.

Pretty simple marketing plan for AFL Clubs I would think.

Can't really use the future International opportunities anymore. I mean, at full strength the Boomers will probably look like:

- Mills
- Newley/Ingles
- Neilson/Worthington
- Andersen
- Bogut/Jawai

No too many spots for NBL based players is there.

Having said that, the Beijing team had seven NBL players and three more who have played in the NBL. Just because there will only prob be 3 this time around doesnt mean that is a permanent situation.

Does anyone know of someone who would definitely have been a good NBL player that has switched to footy?

You also need to weight up the international opportunities basketball presents, and the chance to earn good money overseas - it's not just all about the NBL.

I think for bench warming Div 1 players and lower, the AFL may in fact to be a very attractive proposition.

Brogan was a non factor in the NBL. Too slow and unathletic for the 3-spot, and with an average handle and stroke.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Scott Pendlebury spent a week or so at the AIS on a basketball scholarship before throwing it in for football.

Plenty of current AFL players have represented their state in basketball before. Whether they would ever have been good enough to cut it at NBL level will never be known.

I remember reading an article some months ago where someone from the AFL openly admitted that they regarded Patrick Mills as "one that got away". What kind of tragedy could that have been both for Australian basketball and for Mills himself. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the money Mills has earned over the past year riding the pine for the 'Blazers on his rookie contract exceeds the annual salary of every AFL player bar maybe two or three superstars.

It's one thing to poach players returning from The States who are proven unlikely to become good professional ballers but it's the stronger ones and the younger ones with untapped potential which need to be protected from the AFL's salacious appetite.

I found the article. It sends chills up my spine even now!

http://linky.com.au/43po9

The big problem I see with the AFL at the moment is them creating a false economy. The figures they are reported to have paid for Hunt and Folau aren't realistic if true for a domestic competition.

Smart footy clubs should advertise a day for any elite basketballers to 'come and try'. (If they all went out together for a bit of footy results would be interesting. ) Heard of a few that would want to give it a go but would like a group to go?

Yers...and his sister is currently playing at the AIS.

Mitch Creek though is a potential basketball star in the making. He could yet be the legit 3-man that the Boomers have lacked since Sam Mackinnon.

But you are right, he has the athletic ability that could see him prosper in the AFL, however given his basketball talent, he could earn a lot more playing hoops overseas.

They may get drafted but the small amount of money available in the AFL compared to basketball overseas (especially when you consider the fact they are already basketball standouts and would be taking a gamble on footy) means they would decline the invitation in my opinion.

doesn't the NCAA rules preclude pro sports / agents targeting their students?

jake, the AFL are not creating a false economy. Hunt and Falau are beneficiaries of the AFL's largesse towards the two new clubs. The enormous marketing contracts they have been offered on top of their playing contracts will not be on offer again in 5 years time.

Other than that, the AFL, despite a number of clubs losing money, has more than enough resources and revenues streams to continue to pay is players well. The AFL's salary cap is nearly 8 million - thats not out of proportion to club revenues.

The difference between AFL and other professional sports around the world is that the difference between what the real stars are paid and the average player is paid is not nearly as big as it is elsewhere.

The NBA minimum is something like 450k, the maximum this season close to 23 million. AFL minimum is 65k and the top rumoured to be about 1 mil. Thats a mutliplier of 52 compared to 15 or so. The difference in major league baseball would be even bigger and premier league soccer would be similar.

I don't have any problem with the AFL targeting other sports for athletic talent. If they can offer a product and system more attractive to an individual, then so be it.

The individual will consider an offer on its merits, and make a choice in the interests of themself and their family.

Other sports need to recognise this, and take their own measures to retain their stars.

I know Mitch Creek, having lived in the same town as him and playing basketball locally with him, and I believe there is no chance that he will go for the AFL.

I played at the some footy club as he did, and he hasn't played for three or four years, so I doubt he would be interested in going to the AFL.

Hey my names Mitch Creek and this is something alot of people are talking to me about... thing is...
AFL is and always will be a passion. We grow up in Australia watching two things.. NBA and AFL. Afl is more appealing in some ways but at this stage basketball is more a focus. Travelling the world as a young person playing and experiencing new things is something not to many come upon. Maybe in the future it may happen... You never know.. If the offers are there then surely there is always going to be a decision to make.
Cheers.

Money Talks and being a coach in the AFL i know that the ammount of money being offered is far to great and the ready made rock-star life style!