Connolly's top five: Internationally-born AFL stars

On Thursday afternoon, former Fairfax Media journalist Rohan Connolly joined SEN Afternoons and counted down his top five players who were born overseas. There is no shortage of quality on this list! Tadhg Kennelly (Ireland) & Mal Michael (Papua New Guinea) Kennelly and Michael couldn't be split by Connolly, with the pair both injuring impressive careers. The Irishman joined Sydney in 2001 when he was 18, and was a member of their drought-breaking premiership side in 2005. Kennelly then went back to Ireland after the 2008 season and amazingly won an All-Ireland championship with Kerry. He then returned to Sydney in 2010 and played 39 games in his final two seasons with the club, bringing his total games tally to 197. [caption id="attachment_14858" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 17: Tadhg Kennelly of the Swans looks on during a Sydney Swans AFL training session at Sydney Cricket Ground on May 17, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)[/caption] Michael played the first four years of his career as a Collingwood Magpie, but will certainly be remembered for everything he achieved in Brisbane. The defender was an integral member of the Lions' triple premiership winning side, and played a total of 238 games over his 12-year career. Wayne Schwass (New Zealand) Born across the ditch, Schwass made his debut for North Melbourne in round 1, 1988, and went on to enjoy a very successful career. A two-time best and fairest (1994, 1995) and premiership player (1996) with the Roos, Schwass played 184 games for North Melbourne before making the move up north to Sydney. In his second year with the Swans, Schwass was named as an All-Australian and won his third overall club champion award, and first with Sydney. His career spanned 15 years and 282 games. [caption id="attachment_14861" align="alignnone" width="459"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - 1997: Wayne Schwass of the Kangaroos in action during the round 20 AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the North Melbourne Kangaroos held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, 1997 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)[/caption] Peter Bell (South Korea) The North Melbourne and Fremantle champion is one of the best ever players born outside of Australia to play AFL football. Bell won two flags with the Roos in 1996 and 1999, and was a best and fairest winner at North Melbourne in his final year at the club in 2000. After moving back to Fremantle, Bell captained the club between 2002-2006, and won three best and fairest awards (2001, 2003, 2004) and was named to the All-Australian side in 2003, his second appearance in the AA side (1999). Bell was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 2015. [caption id="attachment_14862" align="alignnone" width="477"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 30: Peter Bell of the Dockers looks for a teammate during the round 17 AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the Fremantle Dockers at the Telstra Dome on July 30, 2006 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)[/caption] Jim Stynes (Ireland) A Brownlow Medallist in 1991, Stynes was one of Melbourne's best ever players, and is a member of their Team of the Century and is in the AFL Hall of Fame. A four-time best and fairest winner (1991, 1995, 1996, 1997) and two-time All-Australian (1991, 1993), Stynes played 264 games for Melbourne over 12 fantastic seasons with the club. In 2009, while he was the President of the Melbourne Football Club, Stynes announced he had developed cancer. After a three-year battle, Stynes passed away in 2012, aged 45. [caption id="attachment_14863" align="alignnone" width="434"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - 1990: Jim Stynes of the Melbourne Demons kicks the ball during a AFL match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Getty Images)[/caption] Alex Jesaulenko (Austria) Many players have migrated to Australia to play in the AFL, but according to Connolly, none were better than Alex Jesaulenko. The Carlton champion played 256 games for the Blues before playing his final 23 for St Kilda, and is one of just 27 'Legends' in the AFL Hall of Fame. Jesaulenko kicked 444 goals from his 279 career games, and led the Blues to four premierships (1968, 1970, 1972 and 1979) with the final premiership coming as a captain-coach. He also captained the club for five years, was named to two All-Australian teams (1969, 1972) and is named in Carlton's and the AFL's Team's of the Century. [caption id="attachment_14864" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Alex Jesaulenko of the Blues competes in the 1979 VFL Grand Final match between Carlton Blues and Collingwood Magpies at the MCG on September 29, 1979 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Getty Images)[/caption]

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	SYD	2	2	0	8	182.9
2	WB	2	2	0	8	154.1
3	GC	1	1	0	4	181.2
4	ADEL	1	1	0	4	117.7
5	HAW	2	1	1	4	117.1
6	COLL	2	1	1	4	98.7
7	GEEL	2	1	1	4	79.6
8	GWS	2	1	1	4	76.4
9	CARL	2	1	1	4	70.9
10	RICH	1	0	1	0	94.7

Connolly’s top five: Internationally-born AFL stars

1. Alex Jesaulenko (Austria)

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