Pipeline of Australian punting talent shakes off backlash to pin hopes on NFL draft | Jack Snape

Florida State punter Alex Mastromanno leads the latest crop of Australian prospects hoping to join the highest levels of American football

A mulleted former Collingwood VFL player with the ability to kick with both feet heads a crop of Australians seeking to prove themselves at the highest levels of American football, as the sport's spotlight shines on Green Bay for this week's NFL draft.

An upcoming NFL regular season match in Melbourne - for which 90,000 people have already registered an interest - and the rise of former rugby league junior and now Super Bowl winner Jordan Mailata underline the growing reputation of the American code in Australia. But the momentum of the NFL in the homeland of AFL has not been universally welcomed, with some Americans dismayed by the dominance of mature punting imports within the college ranks.