Pacific AFL players are continuing to make strides in what is shaping up as massive year for the international development of the sport.
A South Pacific team drew their two match series with the New Zealand in Wellington over the weekend, including their first ever win against the Hawks.
It's the second year the teams have played a series as a part of the AFL initiative to play a Premiership match outside of Australia.
Hawks assistant coach Andrew Congalton, who coached the Pacific team for the week, says he's already noticed improvements from 12 months ago.
"There was a little bit more experience and structure for the South Pacific boys to be able to build that running game around. They were able to match a lot of the Kiwi boys from the stoppages and general work around the ground. It wasn't quite as - not undisciplined - but they knew where to run at the right times and that's helping a bit more".
The South Pacifc side featured players from New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Solomon Islands, and Andrew Congalton says he expects most if not all of them will be involved for their country's in the International Cup in August.
