Fevola flags Inglis as next AFL target - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Fevola flags Inglis as next AFL target

By Laine Clark 01/06/2010 04:24:13 PM Comments (0)

Throwing money at code hoppers Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau is a "slap in the face" for long-serving AFL players, Brisbane Lions star Brendan Fevola says

But that did not stop Fevola talking up latest convert Folau's AFL prospects - or nominating Melbourne Storm star Greg Inglis as the next recruit.

Barely 24 hours after Hunt was officially welcomed by Gold Coast, Folau confirmed in Sydney on Tuesday that he had signed a lucrative four-year deal with fellow AFL newcomers Team GWS.

Fevola was scratching his head over the news, saying he "can't see why" the AFL had to sign rugby league players to bolster the game.

The two-time Coleman Medallist may be one of the AFL's biggest names but he was clearly gobsmacked by the figures thrown around for the Hunt and Folau deals - worth at least $1 million a season.

"It's a lot of money to throw at a player who has not played footy before," he said of Folau.

"I think it is a slap in the face for players who played the game for a long time.

"I think only (Geelong's) Gary Ablett - who is probably in the top five to have played in the game's history - and (Carlton's) Chris Judd are on that sort of coin.

"But they have won premierships, Brownlow Medals and Norm Smith Medals.

"(And) it's a bit unfair to those blokes who work their butt off for 10 to 12 years and this bloke (Folau) comes in and gets offered a million bucks."

However, Fevola still backed Folau's AFL chances after training alongside the former Storm star during his time with Carlton in Melbourne.

Fevola said the Broncos strike weapon could make a fist of full-forward after witnessing ex-hurling star Setanta O'hAilpin's transformation at Carlton.

"I spent a bit of time with him (Folau) down in Melbourne where Carlton trained with the Storm - he is very fast and a very big boy," Fevola said.

"He might struggle a bit with the kicking but he's got two years to get that right (before Team GWS's 2012 debut).

"I have worked with blokes like Setanta O'hAilpin and he couldn't kick a footy when he came over but now he is kicking goals from everywhere.

"You can see he (Folau) can mark the footy, and I don't think too many people will want to tackle him - he will probably just run straight over the top of them."

And Fevola reckoned Inglis may be next on the AFL's "to do" list.

"GI (Inglis) is a chance I reckon," he said.

"(And) we've trained with Cameron Smith and Billy Slater and they kick the footy pretty well - they could play off the wing or something.

"But it is a totally different game AFL - you can get hit from anywhere.

"In league they are mad, they just run at each other.

"Hopefully not too many (NRL players) come over - we might lose our spots."

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