JECONIAH 'JJ' Peni will be one of the most experienced footballers in the AFL International Cup Grand Final on Saturday, despite turning only 22 on Tuesday.

It was a birthday to remember. First Papua New Guinea piled 113 points on South Africa, and then New Zealand beat Ireland to assure the Mosquitoes of a place in the Grand Final at the MCG. Coincidentally, the team that helped PNG sneak in on percentage will be the one aiming to beat it.

It will be the second time Peni has run on to the MCG in PNG's red, black and gold after starring in the 2014 AFL International Cup triumph over Ireland.

"Playing at the MCG [in 2014] was unreal," said Peni, who lives in Melbourne and is a building and construction student by day. "I am a mad Hawthorn fan, so it was amazing to raise the curtain for the game against Geelong.

"For now, we're just focused on trying to keep our feet on the ground. I am emphasising to the younger boys that it's a privilege to play for your country and to take the opportunity with both hands, but play a natural game. We'll be there to help out and look after them."

Peni had just turned 19 when he was named among the best players as the Mosquitoes came from behind to avenge International Grand Final losses to Ireland in 2002 and 2011. With explosive speed that reaps havoc at ground level, it is no surprise to learn that Peni shapes his game on Hawthorn forward Cyril Rioli.

And although he is still to meet the Hawks star, Peni watched Rioli win the Norm Smith Medal in Hawthorn's 2015 Grand Final triumph over West Coast.

Peni plays his football with Eastern Football League division one team Montrose, which hosted PNG when they beat the USA Revolution last Saturday.

"It was special for me to show my mates where I play football here in Australia," he said. "Montrose has been massive for me this year. I have had a couple of setbacks and the club has been there for me. I would not be where I am now without the boys."

Although Peni has spent time in the forward line, on-ball and in the backline for Montrose, he is content playing anywhere for the Mosquitoes.

"I am just happy to play for my country," he explained. "When I moved from PNG to Campbelltown, in Sydney, I was a runner in the backline. I had to get in the gym as rugby has a big influence up there. When I moved to Victoria in 2015, Balwyn (another Eastern Football League club) put me in the forward line for two seasons – and I had to lose bulk to keep up!

"Footy in Melbourne is far more structured than it is in Sydney, but it is just as quick as the PNG game. The big difference is that in Melbourne, you protect the ball at all costs – in PNG you protect yourself first!"

Peni was seven years old when he learned how to play football in Hoskins, West New Britain, PNG. His father, who had been working in Sydney, brought a Sherrin back and continued to play on his return. So, J J did what every seven-year-old does and copied dad. Eleven years later, aged 18, Peni had developed into a very talented footballer and he moved to Campbelltown to see how far he could go.

"PNG players always get overlooked and there is a lot of raw talent up there," he explained. "We want to get exposure for the young boys coming through. We are trying to open up channels for players into the AFL and hope to build schools of excellence. We want to show the world what PNG is capable of.

"Support at home for us is huge. We have a long list of awesome players and top guys, but we had to leave half the team at home. We are playing here for those boys back in PNG."

Peni certainly raised exposure for football in PNG when he appeared in the second season of television show The Recruit – training under Mick Malthouse and chasing a place on an AFL list.

"It was great fun. I don't think I would have otherwise had the chance to canoe around Docklands, tightrope walk over Etihad Stadium or do a bungee jump!" he said. 

AFL INTERNATIONAL CUP GRAND FINALS 

Men's division two
12.30pm Friday, August 18
Germany v Croatia
Royal Park – Ransford Oval 

Men's division one
11.15am Saturday, August 19
New Zealand v Papua New Guinea,
MCG 

Women's competition
4.30pm Saturday, August 19
Canada v Ireland
Etihad Stadium 

Go to AFL.com.au/internationalcup for scores, live streams of selected matches, feature stories and news from the tournament, and worldfootynews.com for reports on all matches.