BULLDOGS’ FIJIAN HUNT
BY ALANA LAKELAND
THE Western Bulldogs have launched an offensive to uncover a Fijian talent equal to the caliber of Nicholas Naitanui.
Bulldogs recruiting manager Scott Clayton has visited Fiji a number of times since January under the guise of ‘Project Fiji’ to identify talented athletes suitable for the transition to Aussie rules.
Clayton’s Fiji experiment was implemented after he saw 17-year-old Naitanui, of Fijian descent, dominate for Swan Districts in the WAFL.
Clayton labeled Naitanui as the most exciting junior athlete he had seen.
“People will just go and see him, even if they don’t barrack for a team,” Clayton said.
Clubs can secure international recruits by paying them an up-front fee of $1,000 and they can be added to lists as international rookies.
