"When we go down to Potchefstroom we see the guys playing around there. Even one or two times when we're practising in the nets we see a couple of guys playing a bit of AFL," Johan Botha - one-day captain. 

South African fast bowler Makhaya Ntini is all smiles after earning a Collingwood guernsey on Wednesday

AFTER a couple of months travelling around Australia playing in front of packed crowds that either passionately love them or passionately hate them, it seemed fitting that the South African cricket team would spend one of its days off at Collingwood Football Club.

Representatives of the touring side had some lessons in the finer points of the Australian game from the Collingwood players and staff at the Lexus Centre in the lead-up to Friday's one-day international at the MCG.

While few of the touring party had a great knowledge of football beforehand, the oohs and ahs as they watched a highlights package of the
2008 AFL season suggested that they quickly warmed to the game.

New Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell spoke about the day-to-day life of an AFL footballer.

AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan spoke about the AFL's push into the South African market, AFL youth co-ordinator Jason McCartney spoke of his experiences coaching the South African team to third place in last year's International Cup while Kevin Sheedy did as he has done for decades and preached the message of the great Australian game and its appeal to all races and religions.

After Collingwood assistant coach Blake Caracella taught South Africa's first drop Hashim Amla how to execute a drop punt, the batsman said he had seen bits and pieces of the game and was impressed by it.

"Just occasionally some clips on television but other than that I haven't had the opportunity of getting in touch with the game," Amla said.

"Being in Australia, I'm pretty much aware of it. We've had a few balls in the changeroom occasionally.

"It seems very interesting and certainly something I'd like to learn more about."

All-rounder Albie Morkel nominated former teammate Andre Nel as the cricketer most suited to the game because of his competitiveness and ball skills, while one-day captain Johan Botha said he had already seen signs the game's popularity was growing in South Africa.

"When we go down to Potchefstroom we see the guys playing around there.
Even one or two times when we're practising in the nets we see a couple of guys playing a bit of AFL," he said.

Paceman Makhaya Ntini said the game had plenty of potential to grow because of his nation's vast interest in all sport.

"In South Africa they would love to try anything when it comes to sport.
They will make time to learn about this kind of stuff."
 

By Luke Holmesby