http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/144971/default.aspx

Theres the report on the AFl website..I think he would have the toughness and if he can pull in bigger $$ than in the NBL I would understand him switching.
Not the best thing for the NBL if top level players start leaving for other codes though.

Haha Im near hackam working and got a "location not permitted to post from you must sign in"...LOL

cant see it. he is what 30??

look how long it took hunt to adapt, he too had been playing a bit as a junior and was training and playing for over a year before he entered the afl. he is only just now starting to look like he belongs in his 3rd year of footy ( 2 in afl 1 in neafl).

physically he could fit right in, but in terms of adjusting to the game, not likely he will transition in time to make the most of it. 200+ cm players have a very very short life span in afl.

This has been getting a lot of interest, even if it's a long shot to being a reality. Big back page feature story in The West about it. Bring a high profile basketballer (who the mainstream media have probably never heard of or cared much about until now) and link him to an AFL club and all of a sudden the whole country knows who he is! That's the power of the AFL.

I don't think this is a negative for the NBL either - the AFL have always tried to poach athletes from other sports, and so do other codes around the world. If nothing else, it's put the NBL and one of it's biggest (former) stars in the national spotlight for a day.

Bizarre. Would be an epic fail on Wortho's part. Far too late to make the switch IMO.

Look for an announcement in the next few days.

Would laugh if he lets it all build up, gets the offer, then says in a big media reveal: "Actually, I earn more playing basketball, it's a more challenging sport and I enjoy representing my country."

But, Wortho has been a bit miffed at the failings of the Dragons, Kings and then Blaze. Wouldn't surprise me if he wants a new challenge and the stability of a more powerful league.

A lotta Basketballers world wide will be watching to see how it goes - West Coast Eagles mentioned.

'Basketballers play 360degrees and more suited than rugby players that go straight up and down
and we'll be looking more at Basketballers'
Also mentioned in a speach about the future by an AFL 'recruiter'

Strange move. Can't understand it.

Worthington is too lazy too make it in AFL. He would at best be rookie listed by an AFL where he would be on about $50k a year. It is not going to happen.

I dont think his Serbian deal would be all that lucrative, so I guess its not beyond the realms of possibility that he'd walk away from it.

Serbian salaries arent huge by European standards. I wouldnt know about what Wortho signed for but from what I have read and heard EURO 100K-150K is pretty standard for imports in the Adriatic League and some other similar leagues (France, Germany), and some imports are on even less.

Australia doesnt even have 80 professional male basketballers worldwide, it isnt really in a position to be taking speculators when many talented and committed basketball players cant get a gig.

I thought he was already going to Serbia?

From Wortho's point of view I can certainly understand the move. From West Coasts point of view, I can't. With a list that includes Cox, NicNat, Lycett, Kennedy and Darling, that age is a deal-breaker.

anon minimum wage is $32,000. They work for less than 6 months give an annualised income of over $64,000 per annum. That is well above minimum wage.

He was actually a very good junior footballer and as he hasn't been battered like other 29 year old ruckmen . He realistically could have 3-4 years in the AFL system . He would be quite athletic and is very competitive . The main concern would be probably be soft tissue injury and seeing out a season after gruelling training loads . A long shot but not complete lunacy .

I have heard of some getting import money in Big V.

When I first read the title I laughed, than soon realised this may be somewhat serious.

Surely he is to slow for the pace of AFL these days?

He is getting on the slower side for basketball but dare I say it has some brains and plays smart.

Some in the past have got $40k in the NZ NBL. NBL players could do NBL and NZ NBL in a year for a reasonable return. Most don't do that to rest their bodies, but it's possible. Someone like Tim Behrendorff has previously played in NZ in an import role.

There is a good chance he never knew he was playing basketball all along.

The AFL is so strict on conditioning, how will Wortho's fat ass even pass their preliminary physical?

We'll find out soon enough. Wortho rocked up to Patersons Stadium for his physical this morning.

Be interesting to see him and Nic Nat go one on one in hoops.

He was considerably miffed at the lack of court time in London. As said before, no more self marketing guy in Australian sport and he does it 24/7.
Hasn't played footy since he was 14 so can't see how he was classed as a star junior back then in country Bunbury. Had his Blaze contract paid out each of 2 years in 7, not 12, months so was never a creditor.
The AFL will be a huge system shock, on and off the field.

With experience under Goorjian, at a good club in Germany and in the national team for 7-8 years at a much higher level of competition than the AFL, I dont think Worthington is quite as much a stranger to professionalism as folklore would have us believe.

Just fitness?

Most likely Olympic athletes are pretty fit .

Camel, Wortho is not known for arriving at camps in as good shape as the rest. I think this time around someone said he was looking pretty decent compared to past years?

There's a page or so on how he went at west coast eagles training and etc. on google ,news for mark worthington.

late comment but when an absolute joke.

To have an Olympian represent his country at basketball and in the same year switch codes.

It's an embarrassment to the sport and I can't believe the idiots at the NBL even publiscised it on their website.

They talk about having enough trouble now getting juniors through and staying in Australia for the sport but they still put not one, but TWO articles regarding it

Not to mention how selfish I believe it is of Wortho himself, to take the opportunity away from someone else to represent Australia at the Olympics, when if chosen (yes I'm aware he didn't get picked up), he would just switch sports to afl.

Brains, I do appreciate the comment about Wortho taking the Olympic opportunity of someone more interested, but previously when the NBL stayed quiet on the Blaze and Tigers (until there was more to say) fans were critical. Where do you draw the line?