Dual-athlete Craig Moller is poised to achieve a historic crossover and become the first ex-AFL player to make his international basketball debut for the Boomers.
The Melbourne United forward was picked on Wednesday for the Australian side's upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifiers against Iran (November 30) and Qatar (December 3) in Melbourne.
The former Fremantle tall replaces teammate Chris Goulding, who will sit out the two matches after making his return from a knee injury in United's come-from-behind win over Cairns on Sunday.
Moller played just one AFL game as a substitute in three seasons with the Dockers before being delisted at the end of 2015.
The 24-year-old toured China with the NBL All-Australian team in June after starting in five of his 35 NBL appearances last season for United as they went on to claim the title.
Basketball Australia is confident Moller is the first former AFL player to represent the Boomers after consulting their records, a spokesman told AAP.
The 203cm Sydney native is one of many Australian dual-athletes to switch between the two sports over the years.
But it appears Moller is the only one to cross over from the elite ranks of Australian rules to the national basketball team and not the other way around.
Adelaide defender Hugh Greenwood made the transition to the AFL after being picked by the Crows as a category B rookie in 2015 while under contract with the Perth Wildcats.
Almost 15 years earlier, former Port Adelaide and GWS ruckman Dean Brogan was rookie listed by the Power after playing 17 games with the Adelaide 36ers in 1998.
Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury chose AFL after being well on his way to a professional basketball career as a youngster, while Australian NBA players Ben Simmons and Patty Mills played Aussie rules growing up before following hoop dreams.
Moller's veteran teammate David Barlow and Brisbane Bullets guard Cameron Gliddon were also included in the Australian squad, with the likes of Simmons and Mills unavailable due to NBA commitments.
Australian Associated Press
