Good pick-up Hawks.
Hawthorn set to sign Tony Olango as Next Generation player through new AFL rule
Hawthorn are poised to become the first beneficiary of what could one day be known colloquially as the "Tony Olango rule".
The Hawks have reached an in-principle agreement for emerging teenage ruckman Olango - born in a Kenyan refugee camp - to join the club as an academy player, taking advantage of a recent AFL rule tweak.
The league last month advised clubs of a change to the status of multicultural players living in Darwin under Next Generation academy rules.
Darwin had not originally been allocated to a club under the Next Generation rule because of the city's history of developing AFL players, however the five clubs with Next Generation zones in the Northern Territory - Geelong, Essendon, Collingwood, Melbourne and the Hawks - are now able to nominate multicultural players living in Darwin for their respective academies. The players are then eligible to be drafted by the clubs at a 20 per cent discount, using the same bidding system in place for the NSW and Queensland clubs' academies and father-son selections.
Olango attracted interest from several clubs - one of whom is understood to be the Cats - but the Hawks confirmed to Fairfax Media on Monday that the athletic 201-centimetre prospect had agreed verbally to join the club, with a signature expected this week.
Olango, who turns 19 in September, went undrafted last year, but is seen as a developing talent, having played football for fewer than two years before the draft. Born to South Sudanese parents, Olango moved with his family to Australia at the age of two and was a talented junior soccer player, even trialling with Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers.
Hawthorn recruiting and list manager Graham Wright spoke highly of Olango, who tested well in the 20-metre sprint and standing vertical jump at last year's draft combine. "He's an exciting prospect with his height and great athleticism," Wright said.
"He has only played a handful of games, so we can expect to see plenty of development. Joining our academy will assist his understanding of the game, and help to fast-track his growth."
Olango is set to remain in Darwin, playing for NT Thunder, while also spending time with the Hawks.
Next Generation academies were unveiled by the AFL 12 months ago as a means of helping to lure and retain young talent in the game, especially players from Indigenous and multicultural backgrounds.
Several clubs, including Essendon and West Coast, signed Next Generation players as rookies late last year.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/hawthorn-set-to-sign-tony-olango-as-next-generation-academy-player-through-new-rule-20170213-gubrru.html
Hawthorn set to sign Tony Olango as Next Generation player through new AFL rule
Hawthorn are poised to become the first beneficiary of what could one day be known colloquially as the "Tony Olango rule".
The Hawks have reached an in-principle agreement for emerging teenage ruckman Olango - born in a Kenyan refugee camp - to join the club as an academy player, taking advantage of a recent AFL rule tweak.
The league last month advised clubs of a change to the status of multicultural players living in Darwin under Next Generation academy rules.
Darwin had not originally been allocated to a club under the Next Generation rule because of the city's history of developing AFL players, however the five clubs with Next Generation zones in the Northern Territory - Geelong, Essendon, Collingwood, Melbourne and the Hawks - are now able to nominate multicultural players living in Darwin for their respective academies. The players are then eligible to be drafted by the clubs at a 20 per cent discount, using the same bidding system in place for the NSW and Queensland clubs' academies and father-son selections.
Olango attracted interest from several clubs - one of whom is understood to be the Cats - but the Hawks confirmed to Fairfax Media on Monday that the athletic 201-centimetre prospect had agreed verbally to join the club, with a signature expected this week.
Olango, who turns 19 in September, went undrafted last year, but is seen as a developing talent, having played football for fewer than two years before the draft. Born to South Sudanese parents, Olango moved with his family to Australia at the age of two and was a talented junior soccer player, even trialling with Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers.
Hawthorn recruiting and list manager Graham Wright spoke highly of Olango, who tested well in the 20-metre sprint and standing vertical jump at last year's draft combine. "He's an exciting prospect with his height and great athleticism," Wright said.
"He has only played a handful of games, so we can expect to see plenty of development. Joining our academy will assist his understanding of the game, and help to fast-track his growth."
Olango is set to remain in Darwin, playing for NT Thunder, while also spending time with the Hawks.
Next Generation academies were unveiled by the AFL 12 months ago as a means of helping to lure and retain young talent in the game, especially players from Indigenous and multicultural backgrounds.
Several clubs, including Essendon and West Coast, signed Next Generation players as rookies late last year.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/hawthorn-set-to-sign-tony-olango-as-next-generation-academy-player-through-new-rule-20170213-gubrru.html
