Like most kids growing up in Papua New Guinea, Donald Barry was a rugby league fanatic.
"I played it since I was a little kid," Barry said of league. "I was a five-eighth – a pretty skinny one though."
But since moving to Australia two years ago, Barry has found a better use for his naturally lithe physique.
Barry has dedicated his talents to mastering Australian rules and has progressed to the point where he is playing for QAFL club the Mt Gravatt Vultures.
The fleet-footed midfielder was one of the players on show for the Pacific Islands in their match against the North Queensland All Stars at Cazlays last night.
While not all of the skills came naturally at first, Barry said he now felt comfortable with the demands of the sport.
"I’m starting to get used it with all the different structures involved," he said. "At first I just used to run around a lot but now I know a lot more about positioning and I’m getting better at kicking."
Pacific Islands coach and former Brisbane Lions defender Mal Michael believes Barry’s ability to adapt to what was a foreign game only two years is proof Australian rules has a future outside the
mainland.
With players from New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji under his control last night, Michael said Australian rules could be an international game.
"We’re starting to see some ripple effects from the waves we started a little while ago," the three-time premiership player said.
"The main thing is they’re just more organised now. The AFL and AFL Queensland have got into those regions and we’re starting to see the fruits of the youth coming through."
North Queensland coach Darryl White, who was also a member of the Lions side that won three flags between 2001-03, said Australian rules could develop a strong presence in the Pacific Islands.
"I think the NRL have been trying to do it for a long time but I don’t think their development programs at junior level are up to the standard of the AFL," he said.
"We get out and about more often than any other sport and that’s starting to show with the numbers we’ve got coming through.
"It’s something different for the kids to play.
"They still get the running aspect, which they really love, they still get the competitiveness and are very good tacklers."
At least five prime ministers attended last night’s match, which the Pacific Islands won 8.12 (60) to 7.6 (48).
New Zealander Carl Williams was awarded the best on ground medal for the Islanders, while Manunda Hawks star Daniel Dai was named the All Stars’ best player
Last Modified on 06/08/2009 15:55