Internationals in the VFL - Round 4

Four rounds of VFL are in the bag. Last year’s runners up Box Hill sit on top and Coburg are in the wooden spoon position. We take a look at how the International players faired in Round 4.

 

Kurt Heatherley (NZ) has had a steady start to the VFL season, playing centre half back for Box Hill. The Box Hill Hawks are undefeated. Heatherley kicked a great goal against Williamstown two weeks ago just before half time and then missed the second half after a head knock.

 

This week he had 11 disposals - 4 marks - 3 tackles - 3 rebound 50s against Frankston in the Hawks 59-point win. His Kiwi team mate Shem Tatupu has reportedly joined the Melbourne Storm rugby league team after leaving Hawthorn. Heatherley will shortly be joined at the club by another international when Conor Glass returns to Australia from Ireland after completing his exams.

 

Carlton’s American International Rookie Matt Korcheck (USA) (pictured) continues his education as understudy in the ruck to Cameron Wood playing for the Northern Blues. The Blues went down to Collingwood by 9 points. Rotating between the ruck, up forward and resting on the bench Korcheck this week had 4 disposals – 3 marks- one tackle and had 12 hitouts. He is yet to score a goal kicking behinds in the two previous matches against Port Melbourne and Geelong. 

 

Jason Holmes (USA) is struggling to repeat his 2015 form at Sandringham. This week he had just 2 disposals – 5 hitouts and one goal against Richmond. The previous week against Footscray his ruck return was 38 hitouts. If he is to return to the AFL this year he will have to improve his output and unfortunately rely on injury to the incumbent big men at St Kilda.

 

Padraig Lucey (Ire) has a return of 19 possessions - 5 marks – one tackle – one goal and 17 hit outs for Geelong in their 35 points win over Coburg at Simonds Stadium. Lucey has kicked a goal in each match this season for the Cats and was named in the best the previous week against North Ballarat, his game is developing but he is still a way off an AFL debut.

 

Conor McKenna (Ire) and Ciaran Sheehan (Ire) did not play for their VFL clubs this week as both are injured.

 

In the VFL’s Development League Joe Baker-Thomas (NZ) played in a losing side for Sandringham and Alex Aurrichio (USA) was named best for the Northern Blues in their loss to Coburg.

 

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