Regional clubs could benefit from work-play balance, recruiter says

An “electric” regional football player has been unable to work during his two-season stay. A club recruiter says there needs to be an alternate visa to help.

A Victorian club recruiter is lobbying for a visa he says would alleviate labour gaps, nurture international sports and elevate rural football.

Nhill and District Sporting Club recruiter Dean Wheaton says the current visas on offer failed to fit the bill for potential Pacific Island players.

The club has hosted Papua New Guinean player Glen Saniong for the past two seasons, and he will represent his country on Thursday during the 2024 Pacific Cup at Maroochydore, QLD.

“If they bring a bloke out here and he earns money, plays football and coaches kids, every kid in Port Moresby is going to say ‘I want to be like Glen, I want to play footy in Australia’,” Mr Wheaton said.

“But this system is not working.”

Yanac farmer and football club recruiter Dean Wheaton is calling for further support for Pacific Islander players. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

He said Glen had been unable to work while in Nhill due to his visa regulations, and was only able to stay throughout the two football seasons.

Temporary Activity visa holders with the sporting subclass can play, coach, instruct or adjudicate for an Australian team or do high-level training, but cannot work outside their specified sporting activities.

Glen helped bring the club to its first finals in 10 years, and Mr Wheaton described him as an “electric” player.

“Glen is an X-factor player, he is super quick with early speed, he’s hard to catch, and he’s an impact player. Other teams don’t have what he’s got,” Mr Wheaton said.

Glen Saniong, who joined Nhill & District Sporting Club for two seasons, playing football. Picture: Supplied by Hetahou Photography

He said Glen wanted to return to the Wimmera long-term, and enjoyed polishing his sporting skills. Mr Wheaton hoped Pacific players could work full-time jobs during their stay.

“These players are the cream of the footballers. This visa would be to encourage the development of their sporting skills,” he said.

“The regional clubs are a gateway to getting these guys’ feet on the ground.”

A Department of Home Affairs spokesperson said they were unable to comment on individual visa cases.

They said the PALM scheme would allow eligible businesses to recruit workers for short-term jobs up to nine months, or long-term roles between 1-4 years, with no restrictions prohibiting participants from playing AFL while in the country.

“Sporting organisations are free to sponsor footballers across a range of skilled visa products,” they said.

Mr Wheaton believed a PALM visa would be inadequate, and said there needed to be a visa that would be a “win-win” situation for regional communities, country football and Pacific Islander players.

“The numbers are short in country football and there’s plenty of jobs in country Victoria,” he said.