The pathway from the AFL to the NFL has become increasingly familiar, with a growing number of former Australian footballers making the switch to American football as punters.
But with the NFL finally making its long-awaited debut in Australia on Friday at the MCG between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams, it begs the question: could an Aussie footballer make an impact in another position on the gridiron?
In the spirit of the historic clash, I set out to build a hypothetical NFL team using current AFL players — matching their physical attributes, skill sets and playing styles to the positions that could best suit them in American football.
Special Teams
Kicker
Nick Watson - One of the most accurate shots on goal all season; takes the position that many in the AFL could do, small like most kickers as well.
Punter
Charlie Curnow - A fantastic drop punt; can guide the ball better than most after winning his third Coleman Medal, plus a former winner of the AFL's longest kick contest.
Kick Returner
Charlie Cameron - Quick, agile, nimble and pretty much everything you could want in terms of momentum to get the game started for your team.
Punt Returner
Izak Rankine - Blistering breakthrough speed and an ability to read traffic in front of him make him the perfect choice to create impact plays.
