By www.theage.com.au
16 February 2007
Jason McCartney doesn’t like tattoos.
For someone who spent months rehabilitating from agonising scars on his skin, caused by the Bali bombings of 2002, it is not surprising the former Kangaroo may feel uncomfortable about someone deliberately marking their body.
But in the case of Steven Matshane, an 18-year-old lad from the Mafikeng in South Africa’s North-West province, McCartney is willing to make an exception.
Because the home-made ink on the teenager’s arm – depicting a football surrounding his nickname – is for McCartney the embodiment of a pioneering effort to turn South Africa into an offshore breeding ground for AFL talent.
“I had breakfast with Steven last week in Darwin, and I looked across at his arm and the tattoo was a home-made job,” McCartney said.
“That tattoo is of an AFL football, and inside that football is Steven’s name – it is a fair indication of the great love and passion they have for the game.”
Matshane, along with 25 teammates, have spent the last fortnight in Australia, playing football and strengthening a bond which the AFL hopes could see 30,000 youngsters playing the game in South Africa within five years.
The last of their games saw the touring team play WA’s Clontarf Football Academy at Subiaco Oval this week, a collision of what some consider football’s two most significant social impact programs.
And following the swag of Clontarf draftees who entered the AFL this year, the top brass of Australia’s indigenous football code now see South Africa as the next frontier.
Ross Kelly, chairman of the Clontarf Foundation and a director of AFL South Africa, said the same principles of life improvement through football being used at Clontarf could transfer overseas.
“I believe we saw a game of great significance, because there were two of the AFL’s most important initiatives on display, both of these initiatives largely unheralded,” Kelly told a post-match dinner.
“(At Clontarf) here is a group of people who are using football as an opportunity to increase the education and opportunity for boys.
“To make them feel better about themselves, to change their ways, get better education and therefore to get better life outcomes.
“The South African story … I have got no doubt that in four, five, six or seven years there will be a number of great South African players running around gracing our game.
“There are 3,000 young men already playing football … it is quite possible that within a reasonable time frame the AFL will have added another state, in a football sense, to Australia.
“And I believe the same opportunities exist in South Africa to improve the lot of the South African people and to give them an opportunity … to achieve better life outcomes.”
After being set up six years ago by inaugural Fremantle coach Gerard Neesham, Clontarf’s mission to use football as a motivational tool to keep indigenous boys at school has produced much praise – as well as unearthing rare talent.
Hawthorn star Mark Williams, Richmond’s Andrew Krakouer and former Docker Dion Woods all emerged from the initial intake, with Fremantle defender Michael Johnson and Essendon ruckman Paddy Ryder adding to that alumni.
In the most recent AFL draft former Clontarf youngsters Calib Mourish, Nathan Krakouer, Brad Dick, Leroy Jetta, Carl Peterson and Brennan Stack were all picked up by AFL teams.
Several of those rising stars were part of a Clontarf tour of South Africa made last year – and the hopes are the reciprocal trip which ended in WA this week would spawn more stars of the future.
After the game, which Clontarf won but not without a struggle, the AFL revealed Collingwood, West Coast and Fremantle had committed to pumping resources into three South African provinces, with the possibility of community camps and pre-season games in the future.
Dockers coach Chris Connolly said the advantages for the clubs were obvious.
“The Fremantle football club is certainly in,” Connolly said.
“We will do everything we can to be the first club to have a South African player play senior AFL football.
“We will look to make sure that we put between $50,000 and $100,000 into developing and recruiting in South Africa.
“And if there are two clubs which are going to benefit it will be Freo and West Coast, if we can slip over there and keep a real close eye on the place.”
With McCartney, Michael Long, Peter Schwab and the AFL’s chief talent spotter Kevin Sheehan for company, the South African team has had some expert tuition along the way, and some lofty admirers.
“(Essendon coach) Kevin Sheedy and Jock Mcleod (father of dual Norm Smith medallist Andrew) – both men said separately to me that this is one of the great things they have seen in their career in the game,” Sheehan said.
“We are now seeing a country with these pioneers who are here on this tour, showing that they have got the natural talent to play this game.
“So why shouldn’t we have a crack. Next year we celebrate 150 years (of football), but we have never really had a crack at sharing football with the world.”
Fittingly for someone who literally wears his passion for AFL on his sleeve, Matshane was named by his coach Mtutuzeli Hlomela as the best player of the tour.
“I foresee a great future for him,” Hlomela said.
As does the AFL for his countrymen.
By: Brett Northey 
