Folau worth every cent for AFL

Israel Folau attempts a shot at goal against the Kangaroos. Picture: Rohan Kelly Source: The Daily Telegraph

TWO goals for $2 million. It is tempting to view the Israel Folau experiment as an abject failure through the prism of footy performance.

But in terms of his effectiveness as a public relations driver, Folau has been nothing short of a spectacular success.

If you were to conduct a vox pop in the streets of Sydney, asking people to name a GWS player, it's a fair bet the vast majority would baulk after identifying Folau.

And that says plenty about his worth to the code.

The AFL's expensive bid to launch a team in western Sydney with a predominantly inexperienced list was always going to be a hard sell, particularly in the formative years.

An identifiable face and an audacious transformation project was crucial in engaging the public and generating awareness in an already crowded sporting market.

So, while Folau might never have cracked GWS's best 22, he more than pulled his weight off the field.

Analysis provided by Media Monitors has revealed that his reported $1 million-per-season wage was offset by the publicity he generated, particularly in that crucial window around the time of the club's launch earlier this year.

I personally think it's a shame he didn't play at least another year in the AFL.

As we have seen with fellow code-jumpers Karmichael Hunt and Mike Pyke, it takes two years of heavy slog to learn a new sport and it is not until season three that benefits are reaped.

Many wrote off the recruitment of Folau as nothing more than a marketing gimmick, but I'm not convinced that was the case.

There was genuine intent and investment from the AFL, GWS and the Giants' coaching staff to transform Folau into a footy player. In time, he might have got there. But now we'll never know.

It's clear, though, that Folau's best game for the Giants was his last one. For the first and only time, he looked in his element against the Kangaroos, kicking a goal and imposing himself upon the opposition.

But now he is headed back to his natural habitat where, at the age of 23, Test matches, State of Origin and perhaps grand finals await.

From bit-part player in AFL to superstar in league - I don't think anyone would begrudge him this move.

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