THE Dongguan province in China is home to more than 126 million people, including a team of eager GIANTS.
A 30-man squad branded as the Dongguan GIANTS last-year joined the Guangdong Australian Football League (GDAFL) which runs from August to December.
The team, which is still learning the basic skills of the game, plays a modified version of the sport once a fortnight.
The Dongguan GIANTS are one of many clubs that have taken on the GIANTS name globally.
Other affiliated clubs include the South East London GIANTS (England), the North Leinster GIANTS (Ireland), the Zaprude GIANTS (Croatia) and the Skane GIANTS (Sweden).
Darren Flanigan, Former operations manager for AFL China, helped to establish the club during his two-year stint in Hong Kong.
He said the Dongguan GIANTS showed significant improvement throughout their debut season, despite finishing bottom of the table.
“The potential talent pool in China is huge given the population,” Flanigan said.
“Dongguan province is about the size of Victoria and is home to more than 126 million people so the possibilities are endless.
“Some of these guys have incredible speed, agility and the leg strength to run in all sorts of weather conditions.
“People in China seem to pick up the game really quickly because they have no pre-existing bad habits to unlearn. Everything we coach is from scratch.”
Flanigan said he hoped to one-day see a Chinese national plucked from the GDAFL to play professionally in Australia.
“It might take 20 years or it might take less depending on the support we get,” he said.
“It will happen, it’s just a matter of time.”
The first ever AFL match in China was played between Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions in Shanghai in October 2010 and Kevin Sheedy has been a strong advocate for a match to be played for premiership points there in the coming years.
GIANTS supporters living abroad have the chance to support the club through our Global GIANTS membership package.
Sign up as a 2014 Global GIANTS member to receive a membership card, lanyard, bumper sticker and fixture magnet.
Details: http://membership.gwsgiants.com.au
