Folau walks from AFL
This article first appeared on afl.com.au and gwsgiants.com.au
The Greater Western Sydney GIANTS have agreed to release Israel Folau from the remaining two years of his contract with the club.
Chief Executive David Matthews said Folau had informed the club that it was his wish to leave and it would not stand in his way.
“This was a difficult decision for Israel and we appreciate him being upfront with us,” Matthews said.
“He made a very courageous decision two years ago to join the GIANTS and he has made aremarkable contribution to the club and Australian football more widely in a short space of time.
“Along with Karmichael Hunt he has been a trailblazer in our game and opened the door for kids right around Australia to follow them.”
Matthews said Folau had been an integral part of the build of the club in Western Sydney and Canberra and the GIANTS first year in the AFL.
Folau was a member of the GIANTS’ first ever team against the Sydney Swans and the club’s first ever win against the Gold Coast Suns at Manuka Oval. He played 13 games for the GIANTS in 2012 and kicked two goals.
“Israel’s development as an AFL player has been remarkable to watch and off the field he has done a power of work in multicultural communities and Western Sydney tohelp promote the game.
“He goes with our blessings and best wishes and he will always be a friend of the GIANTS.”
Folau made the decision public at a press conference at Skoda Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
“I think it’s only fair for me to let the club know [I am quitting] so they can move forward and worry about their future … I wanted to move forward as well,” Folau said.
“I didn’t quite have the passion there and I would have been cheating myself and it wouldn’t have been fair for the club.
“The last two years I’ve really enjoyed my experience at the Giants, in the end if I was staying I felt I was cheating myself and I had to be honest and move forward.”
AFL Chief Executive Officer Andrew Demetriou today paid tribute to Israel Folau for his invaluable contribution to the establishment of the GWS GIANTS and the continuing growth of Australian football in New South Wales, and wished him well for the future.
“Israel Folau has been a terrific ambassador for our game in the past two years and his courageous decision to give AFL football a go has helped inspire many children, particularly in NSW and Queensland, to play and watch Australian football,” Mr Demetriou said.
“Naturally we are sad to see Israel leave the AFL community but we understand and respect his decision. He goes with our blessing.”
Mr Demetriou said that Israel was a quality individual and an outstanding sportsman who consistently showed improvement in his debut AFL season this year following a season playing with the Giants in the North East Australian Football League in 2011.
“Like Karmichael Hunt, who showed dramatic improvement this year at the Gold Coast Suns, the Giants had confidence that Israel was on the right path and would continue to adapt to our game, despite its many differences to rugby league, the sport he grew up playing.
“However, our focus is on what Israel feels is right for him as an individual and as a sportsman, and so we support what has been a very tough decision for him,” Mr Demetriou said.
“On behalf of the AFL community, I would like to thank Israel for his contribution to Australia’s Game – we wish him every success for the future.”
