Who's this character with the Magic Roundabout name? And where is Noonkanbah?
We knew it was nowhere near Keilor.
The player in question is Zephaniah Skinner, a full-blooded Aboriginal from the Noonkanbah community at Fitzroy Crossing, in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. His rise on to an AFL list is like a northern version of Isaac Smith's adventure.
This time last year Skinner moved from his outback community to Darwin to play for Nightcliff during the Top End's Wet Season competition. From Nightcliff, he was recruited to play with the NT Thunder in the Queensland AFL competition, which plays during the southern winter.
Bulldogs recruiter Wayne McCaw was given a video of Skinner highlights. With the blessing of Simon Dalrymple, the Bulldogs' list manager, he began researching whether Skinner could embark on an AFL career.
The research was encouraging. McCraw discovered a young man who was shy but determined. To play in the AFL was his dream.
Dalrymple joined in the research. The Dogs staff spoke to coaches, confidants and Skinner's boss at the food packaging factory at which he worked in Darwin.
"His coaches stressed that he's got the work ethic to improve," Dalrymple said. "It was important to hear that."
The Dogs staff went to an NT Thunder game in Brisbane on the weekend that Dogs played the Lions. They became fascinated by the 190cm figure with a phenomenal leap and a willingness to tackle in the forward half.
"He's a big mark, and his speed and agility are elite," Dalrymple said. "But his defensive pressure is also elite."
Skinner went on to win the QAFL rising star award by a silly margin. The 21-year-old then returned to Nightcliff, where he's played two games of the Northern Territory Football League season.
"Best on ground both times," McCraw said.
The question now is whether Skinner can adapt to life in Melbourne's western suburbs, at a footy club where expectations are higher than they are in Darwin.
"Our club's challenge is to relocate him," Dalrymple said. "We're confident.
"If can adapt to the workload and living in Melbourne, he could play in 2011."
