JEPARIT Rainbow has welcomed two Americans to its playing ranks this year.
Eric Politz and Clyde Simpson will join the Lakers from Ohio-based Australian rules club Columbus Jackaroos.
The club has forged a relationship with the Jackaroos thanks to former Lakers player Scott Matheson.
A teammate of the American pair, Matheson was a founding member of the Jackaroos.
Now vice president of the United States Australian Football League, Matheson suggested Jeparit Rainbow as a good destination when Politz and Simpson expressed a desire to play the game in its native country.
Both are 27 and have played in the midfield for the Jackaroos in recent seasons.
They played in the Jackaroos team that won the division two title at last year’s nationals played in Austin, Texas.
The competition involved 32 clubs from across the USA that played in four divisions.
Politz and Simpson will live in Rainbow while they play for the Lakers and both are hopeful to represent the USA at the International Cup in Melbourne in August.
For more on the upcoming Mallee league season, see Monday’s edition of The Guardian (March 31, 2014).
