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The AFL has been forced to defend the size of lucrative contracts offered to NRL’s code-hopping stars Israel Folau and Karmichael Hunt. The deals allegedly worth close to $1 million a year have produced divided opinions from key figures within the game. AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou recently said the signing of Folau to the fledgling Greater Western Sydney club had already provided a return. “If we had spent $2 million promoting AFL in NSW it probably wouldn't have got a blip on the radar to be quite truthful” he said. He added that an independent media review determined the Folau deal had generated nine million dollars worth of publicity for the game. Demetriou said the AFL’s objective was slowly being met. “There's certainly a lot of awareness around GWS because of Folau so from that perspective we're pleased but we haven't won the battle, it’s a long haul, we've always said it's a long haul”.

Several figures within the game have recently questioned whether such a substantial investment was required. Individuals at the Brisbane Lions have openly expressed their disappointment about the announcements. Spearhead Brendan Fevola labelled the deals “a slap in the face” to players who have battled to work their way through the AFL ranks. Fevola’s teammate Simon Black was similarly scathing in his assessment of Folau’s contract. “It's a ridiculous amount of money for someone who has never played the game, but good luck to him” he said. Brisbane coach Michael Voss also canned the deals. He said the money could have instead been used to invest in junior programs directed towards fostering young AFL talent. Carlton captain Chris Judd, St.Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt and prominent player manager Ricky Nixon were others to also slam the AFL. The league has come out on the defensive anticipating the backlash sending a letter to players, coaches and administrators of current clubs explaining the rationale behind the signings. Demetriou also clarified that only $250,000 of the players’ contracts was allocated as a normal base playing wage, with the remainder a hefty allowance for marketing and promotion.

In spite of the AFL’s view on the value of Folau and Hunt in broadening the new market, questions regarding their ability to play the game still remain.
Demetriou admitted “Our expectation for Israel Folau and Karmichael Hunt is not an expectation of them succeeding quickly” he said. “They are a long-term investment and I can see these guys taking quite a while to adjust to our game, it would be a natural thing”. Folau revealed he has never played a competitive game of Australian rules football at any level but stated it was the unique opportunity rather than the money which prompted his change of code. His new coach at GWS Kevin Sheedy has tremendous faith in him. “Yes he will have to learn the intricacies of our game but he will have an entire season in the VFL [in 2011 before GWS’s introduction into the AFL in 2012] to hone his skills” Sheedy recently told the Herald Sun. “AFL clubs normally draft kids with impeccable skills and turn them into elite athletes, we will do it in reverse with Israel” he said.

Quotes Sourced From:

‘Voss questions whether millions should be spent on code jumpers’
Age, The (Melbourne, Australia) - Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Author: SEAN BAUMGART and JIM MORTON
‘$4m man ... but can he play?’
Herald Sun (Melbourne, Australia) - Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Author: Jon Ralph
‘He's a jolly good Folau , so say all of us’
Herald Sun (Melbourne, Australia) - Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Author: Kevin Sheedy
‘Players seething over massive contracts for new signings, claims agent’
Age, The (Melbourne, Australia) - Thursday, June 3, 2010 
Author: JAKE NIALL
‘Deals a 'slap in face': Riewoldt’
Age, The (Melbourne, Australia) - Saturday, June 5, 2010 
Author: JON PIERIK
‘Folau already providing a return’
Age, The (Melbourne, Australia) - Tuesday, June 15, 2010 
Author: MARTIN BLAKE