Coach of the victorious Papua New Guinea Mosquitoes says the standard of play in the AFL International Cup is on the rise.
PNG edged New Zealand 29-28 in a nail-biting men's division one final at the weekend to become the first country to win back to back titles.
David Lake says PNG and New Zealand have progressed over the past three years, while other countries like the United States also impressed over the past fortnight.
"I think the actual standard has improved and in New Zealand certainly their footy has improved enormously which obviously ours has, if I use that as a measuring stick - we've both gone to new levels" he said.
"It gets more respect on that basis that people take more of an interest and see there's a genuine place you might find a talent," he said.
"You don't find ten blokes in one place, it doesn't work like that but if one player can find an opportunity through that carnival then the carnival works, from my point of view.
"Because that's how hard it is - getting drafted to the AFL is a difficult thing for any athlete".
Papua New Guinea celebrate winning the 2017 AFL International Cup. Photo: AFL Photos
David Lake is tipping big things for teenage star Hewago 'Ace' Oea, who was named best on ground in the grand final and has played for Queensland at state level.
He said AFL National and International Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan was in the PNG huddle during the breaks while AFL CEO Gill McLachlan and Head of Community and International Development Grant Williams were also in attendance.
"So the right people were clearly interested at what was going on yesterday and from both sides point of view I felt they made their effort and they had a real good look," he said.
"For kids the age of young Ace, he played for Queensland recently in the national under 16s so there might be an opportunity to make the Australian Institute of Sport Academy - all those opportunities are real for him.
"If we can get one through the door it just might reignite the whole thing for countries like PNG - it's pretty exciting".
PNG won four straight games after a first up loss against Ireland. Photo: AFL Media
And with another three years until the next International Cup, Lake said Papua New Guinea is already starting to plot another title defence.
"As I got off the plane in Brisbane with (former AFL premiership winning player and PNG assistant coach) Darryl White he was plotting three years time "we need to do this and we need to to do that and we have to come back", he said.
"It amused me that someone that's has achieved so much still felt from being involved and what he got personally out of it, with the relationships he was able to form and seeing the outcomes, he wants to get organised now so that we spend the next three years getting better, not the next three years just moving on and going through that process of no training.
"Can we create a PNG vs Indigenous game up in PNG every year and we use it to showcase talent or find talent and raise money for our next Cup campaign?
"That makes it exciting when you bring a bloke in like that that's done so much and he's thinking like that. It was pretty good - makes you want to stay involved".
