Half of the AFLs ruckmen may one day hail from America, the leagues national and international talent manager?Kevin Sheehan believes. ?The AFL last week bade farewell to the latest two imports invited to try out for the Australian sport -- Stanislas Heili and Brandon Nazione, who both impressed at the American draft combine in April this year. ?Frenchman Heili -- who stands a centimetre short of seven feet at 212.3cm, making him the tallest player ever tested for AFL -?played basketball at Lindenwood University in Missouri and Nazione, whose sporting background includes American football, soccer and baseball, played with Eastern Michigan Eagles in college. ? ?The duo was flown to Melbourne to learn more about the chaotic Australian game, as Nazione described it, in the hope of potentially joining a club as a category B rookie. ?The pair trained under the watchful eye of six clubs while in Australia - Port Adelaide, Melbourne, St Kilda, Richmond, North Melbourne and Essendon. ?While neither said they were fully committed to joining a club if offered a contract -- Heili needs to complete the final year of his masters in computer engineering, while Nazione has offers to play professional basketball in Europe -- Sheehan said the AFL was taking a long-term view. ? ?[These guys] were hand-picked for their size. Australia only has 23 million people, and we cant find enough [tall athletes] to fulfil our needs, Sheehan told ESPN. ? ?I think half the clubs would need another ruckman every year, so nine or 10 very big guys who have all the attributes of size, athleticism, courage, eye-hand coordination [are needed each year]. That [need] has been identified and the last four or five years weve worked ... to see if we can address that. ?Weve got [St Kilda ruckman] Jason Holmes, [Collingwoods] Mason Cox through from the small numbers that have come [to Australia] and Matt Korcheck is doing very well at Carlton in VFL in just his first year, so all the indications are that this can work. ?Its early days. Only a handful have ever come out ... but in 50 years or so half the ruckmen in the AFL might well be Americans - thats probably the vision.Theres enormous potential in it. ?Holmes, Cox opened doors for U.S athletes - KorcheckSheehan said he hoped the AFL would soon be viewed as a legitimate option for American athletes who failed to make the top level in their chosen sports. ?We know were in competition with European basketball, other sports and [professional] careers ... we have to compete in that space, he said. ? ?With only about 60 making the NBA each year, theres still some wonderful athletes [available] ... if we can win their hearts and minds and give them opportunities, there may be another Mason Cox somewhere. ?Nazione and Heili view Cox -- who made a dramatic debut for Collingwood in front of more than 85,000 people at the MCG in April -- and Holmes - who became the first born-and-bred American to play AFL late last season - as trailblazers. ?They spent time with Cox, the former Oklahoma State basketballer during their time in Melbourne, picking his brain about his journey, his new sport and living in Australia.The pair also watched several AFL matches during their time Down Under, both men shocked at the running power and physicality on display. ? ?Nazione said he believed many of his basketball skills would translate to AFL if he did eventually take a chance on the sport. ? ?The most translatable skills [are] jumping, cutting from basketball, lots of quick movements which can be used on a footy field, the 198cm?athlete told ESPN. ?Im definitely [attracted to] the chaotic nature of the game - I like how open the game is and the skills are awesome too ... but my family isnt keen about it, because its such a tough sport physically! ?Both said they had plenty to think about during their return flights to America and France respectively. ? ? ?Im up in the air about it, Nazione said. Im not completely 100 percent [certain about, hypothetically] if I get an offer today, Ill sign. ? ?Itll be something Ill have to discuss with my family and, with basketball, Ive got opportunities to play professionally - I actually signed with [German second-tier club] Bayer Giants Leverkusen. So, Ill definitely do one of the two but it has to be the right situation either way. ? ?Heili said he was also unsure of his intentions. ? ?I need one more year for my masters - I cant do it online, I have to be in France, he said. I also have offers to play basketball in France. ? ?Australia is opposite side of the world to France, so it would be a big decision for me. It could be a great experience here, but Im not 100 percent sure. Joe Mauer Jersey . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. Addison Reed Jersey . 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NSW State of Origin coach Laurie Daley feels Adam Reynolds is the man to end Parramattas halfback curse.Daley, who coached Reynolds at Origin level this year, believes the South Sydney No.7 would be the perfect foil next season for the just re-signed Corey Norman.However, he prefaced his selection on whether the Eels, who watched marquee man Kieran Foran dramatically walk away this year, considered themselves one piece away from contending for a premiership.The Eels 11 wins this year would have had them in contention for the top eight if not for a 12-point deduction for salary-cap cheating.It depends if they think they need two-three years to win a competition or whether they think one player can get them over the line straight away, Daley said on Wednesday evening on Fox Sports NRL 360 program.The guy that Id be looking at right there and then would be Adam Reynolds.For me, hes 25; hes won a premiership; he controls a game, great kicking game.Reynolds heads a long list of playmakers off contract at the end of next season, including Mitchell Moses, Luke Brooks, Jack Bird, Ashley Taylor, Ben Hunt, Anthony Milford and Mitchell Pearce.Mercurial stars Johnathan Thurrston and Shaun Johnson will also be free but are considered untouchable.ddddddddddddThey may have to wait 12 months, Daley said.But the big question will be, obviously theyre spending a lot of money keeping Corey Norman there. So the next halfback to come in would have to complement his style of football.Convincing Reynolds to leave Redfern could be a stumbling block, however, given the Rabbitohs have already let Luke Keary go this year and have rookie Cody Walker pencilled in to start at pivot.Greg Inglis could also be an option to move to the halves.Hell probably stay there at Souths, but hed be the one that Id look at and go, you know what, I reckon hed form a good combination with Corey Norman, Daley said.The Eels have money to burn after this years cap scandal forced Nathan Peats, Junior Paulo and Ryan Morgan to depart the club mid-season.Foran walked away to address personal issues, Anthony Watmough also retired on medical grounds, while former star Jarryd Hayne spurned a big-money deal to come back to the NRL with Gold Coast. 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