The sixth edition of the AFL International Cup gets underway in Melbourne this weekend with a host of familiar foes expected to challenge for the silverware.
The Nauru Chiefs in training. Photo: Supplied
Papua New Guinea are the defending men's champions, with Canada seeking to retain the women's title.
But as Vinnie Wylie reports, they're not short of competition.
The PNG Mosquitoes have contested the past five International Cup gold medal matches, winning the men's title in 2008 and 2014.
Three years ago they scraped past Ireland 45-42 in a nail-biting grand final, avenging their defeat to the Warriors in 2011.
New Zealand are the only other team to lift the men's title, back in 2005, and AFLNZ's chief executive Robert Vanstam expects the same sides to set the standard over the coming fortnight.
"The top three sides have filled the same positions at each International Cup since 2002 and that's Ireland, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. Each of those countries has got a reason for having that favouritism - Ireland have obviously got Gaelic football, which is an easy transition from Gaelic to AFL, and then PNG and New Zealand have both got good pathways that utilise Australia where possible to help develop those players."
The United States and South Africa have both made semi final appearances in recent years while the Nauru Chiefs finished seventh in 2014, despite only losing one of their five matches.
Vice Captain Kenneth Oppenheimer was tipping New Zealand as the team to beat but believed a top four finish was within their grasp.
"It's the one that we really take pride in and we really try to do our best in. Because it is our national sport and the boys come back to Nauru and we expect to get a little bit out of it, in terms of our pride and where AFL really stands for us. I think it means a lot for the countries, especially for Nauru."
Tonga is a no-show in 2017 despite the Kingdom finishing a creditable sixth in both the men's and women's competitions three years ago.
Meanwhile Fiji and Papua New Guinea have entered both the men's and women's competitions.
The PNG Flames skipped the last International Cup in 2014 and Tour Manager Peter Harrison says they're a bit of an unknown quantity.
"And now with the explosion of women's football in Australia of course PNG is back on board again. It's been an interesting ride with the Flames, we will sort of just see how we go but we've got a little core of Australian-based players which can help up. I think when they come up against sides like Canada and teams like that, that have got height, it does become a little bit daunting for them but you can never underestimate them (although) it is probably more of a development sort of team."
The International Cup starts on Sunday with Ireland and PNG squaring off in a repeat of the past two men's grand finals, while Canada begin their title defence against the Fiji women's side.
The triennial event runs for two weeks, with the men's final will be played prior to the Collingwood-Geelong AFL match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the women's grand final serving as the curtain-raiser to the Carlton-Hawthorn match at Etihad Stadium.
