In 2006, the AFL announced it would send an all-aboriginal juniors side (from the Clontarf Foundation's Clontarf Football Academy) headed by former Essendon star Michael Long and Sydney Swans star Adam Goodes to play three matches, including an international rules football match against local sides in South Africa.Indigenous Aussies take series 3 – 0 but South African footy a winner by Brett Northey for worldfootynews.com Although the Australian team won easilyThe Power of Many by Martin Flanagan for realfooty.com.au. 15 March 2006 the AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou announced that he wanted to expand the International Rules Series to become a tri-series and include South Africa, believing that indigenous South Africans would prefer a game with a round ball. He also stated that he believed that a junior from South Africa will eventually play at the AFL level in around 5–10 years time.AFL wants South Africa to take on Australia by 2008 by Aaron Richard for worldfootynews.com
