Carlton has signed 17 year old AFLPNG Scholarship holder Peter Labi on a two-year International Scholarship. The dynamic half forward who has been playing with Mt Gravatt in the AFL Queensland State League this year has joined the Blues on an International Scholarship just four years after he was introduced to AFL football at school in his PNG birth town of Lae.The speedster has become the second AFLPNG Bemobile Game Development and Coca Cola Talent Pathway product in two months to earn an astonishing passage way to the AFL. Carlton's recruiting team, which has a wide network throughout Australia, have watched the progress of Labi, particularly during the 2009 season, and a five goal performance in the QAFL semi-final only added to the interest from the Blues and confirmed the decision to invite him to become a Blue.General Manager Football Operations, Steven Icke made a special trip to Brisbane to sign the papers with Labi on Thursday, confirming the Blues had advised AFLPNG and Peter of the Club’s intentions in late September.Lab will head south next month on a journey similar to that of countrymen and close friend David Meli, who was recruited by Essendon from Gold Coast-based QAFL club Southport on a similar deal in August.
The second-youngest of six children, Labi, whos mum is from Enga in the Highlands of PNG and father from Morobe was born on New Year’s Eve 1991, stands a healthy 189cm and 84kg but is still growing. A product of the fast-growing AFLPNG Bemobile Game Development network and an excellent Coca Cola Player Pathway system, Labi used to watch AFL football on television but didn’t play until four years ago when AFLPNG introduced a schools program in Lae, run by Northern Region Coordinator Connie Papau.
Labi will head to Melbourne in time for the start of summer training at Visy Park on 2 November and will play next year with the Northern Bullants, Carlton’s VFL affiliate coached by David Teague.
Labi was the Round 17 nomination for the NAB AFLQ Rising Star Award, twice kicked five goals in a game at senior level this year – against Broadbeach in Round 18 and Redland in the semi-final. He impressed Blues scouts no end with his effort in the second week of the finals.Labi, whose father is the Police Commissioner in Lae, had until now been a huge Brisbane Lions fan, listing Jonathan Brown as his favorite player. But he says he “cannot wait” to join the Carlton playing group. Whisper has it that Commissioner Labi has always been a Carlton supporter and no doubt more so now.
Scott Reid, a proud chairman of AFL PNG, said he hoped the recruitment of Labi on top of that of Meli would reinforce the message to youngsters in Papua New Guinea that the AFL was not an impossible dream.“It’s been so exciting for us to see first David and now Peter win the recognition that they so richly deserve but if I can say one thing to AFL recruiting scouts – there are plenty more where they came from,” Reid said.
AFLPNG National Game Development Manager, Walter Yangomina said that news of the Lae local being signed to the Blues will no doubt spur up competition for the hotly contested Northern Region spots for the December Coca Cola National Talent Camp. No doubt AFL Club Recruitment officers have locked in December 4th 5th and 6th as the time to be in Goroka for the Coca Cola Talent Camp.
The second-youngest of six children, Labi, whos mum is from Enga in the Highlands of PNG and father from Morobe was born on New Year’s Eve 1991, stands a healthy 189cm and 84kg but is still growing. A product of the fast-growing AFLPNG Bemobile Game Development network and an excellent Coca Cola Player Pathway system, Labi used to watch AFL football on television but didn’t play until four years ago when AFLPNG introduced a schools program in Lae, run by Northern Region Coordinator Connie Papau.
Labi will head to Melbourne in time for the start of summer training at Visy Park on 2 November and will play next year with the Northern Bullants, Carlton’s VFL affiliate coached by David Teague.
Labi was the Round 17 nomination for the NAB AFLQ Rising Star Award, twice kicked five goals in a game at senior level this year – against Broadbeach in Round 18 and Redland in the semi-final. He impressed Blues scouts no end with his effort in the second week of the finals.Labi, whose father is the Police Commissioner in Lae, had until now been a huge Brisbane Lions fan, listing Jonathan Brown as his favorite player. But he says he “cannot wait” to join the Carlton playing group. Whisper has it that Commissioner Labi has always been a Carlton supporter and no doubt more so now.
Scott Reid, a proud chairman of AFL PNG, said he hoped the recruitment of Labi on top of that of Meli would reinforce the message to youngsters in Papua New Guinea that the AFL was not an impossible dream.“It’s been so exciting for us to see first David and now Peter win the recognition that they so richly deserve but if I can say one thing to AFL recruiting scouts – there are plenty more where they came from,” Reid said.
AFLPNG National Game Development Manager, Walter Yangomina said that news of the Lae local being signed to the Blues will no doubt spur up competition for the hotly contested Northern Region spots for the December Coca Cola National Talent Camp. No doubt AFL Club Recruitment officers have locked in December 4th 5th and 6th as the time to be in Goroka for the Coca Cola Talent Camp.
On behalf of everyone at World Footy News, congratulations to both these young lads, but also to everyone involved in AFLPNG.
Let's hope they both make it all the way and play each other one day in front of 80,000 people at the MCG. There'd be a few AFLPNG people desperate for tickets to see that one.