Australian Football now a sanctioned sport in NZ schools

[Beaussie]

Good news on the NZ development front. =D> =D> =D>

St Kilda eyes New Zealand clash on Anzac Day
Michael Warner
Herald Sun
March 03, 201212:00AM

ST KILDA will make history by staging the first AFL match for premiership points on foreign soil as early as next season.

The Saints have held talks with AFL chiefs about playing in the New Zealand capital of Wellington in a deal similar to Hawthorn's arrangement in Tasmania.

St Kilda is keen to host a game on Anzac Day - against a yet-to-be determined opposition - immediately after the Collingwood-Essendon MCG blockbuster.

It is unclear whether the Magpies and Bombers are aware of the plan.

The St Kilda board has been examining the NZ proposal for several months and is keen to pursue it.

"We have had very preliminary discussions with the AFL," Saints chief executive Michael Nettlefold said last night.

"We plan to continue those discussions ... but at this point nothing has been agreed."

The matches would be played at Westpac Stadium, a multi-purpose stadium that is home to A-League club Wellington. The stadium holds 35,000 fans.

Hawthorn has reaped millions of dollars playing four home matches a year in Launceston in a deal with the Tasmanian Government.

The Saints, who in January announced a $1.5 million operating loss, see potential for the same sort of financial riches in NZ.

Last night the club said: "With the recent inclusion of AFL as a sanctioned sport in schools in New Zealand, the Saints would like to develop the game further through engagement with the community.

"The Saints also see an opportunity to build player talent pathways for local talent to play AFL and potentially play games for premiership points in Wellington in the future."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6287510957

[cos789]

Looks like the AFL will consider H&A games as a means of locking in some big gains made in in schools.

[Beaussie]

Looks like the AFL will consider H&A games as a means of locking in some big gains made in in schools.

Indeed. You think we are far off having a team based in NZ?

[King-Eliagh]

I think its 2 decades before a team could be placed in nz. Very early days over there.

[cos789]

Looks like the AFL will consider H&A games as a means of locking in some big gains made in in schools.

Indeed. You think we are far off having a team based in NZ?

The short answer, IMO is that we could see H&A games played in NZ similar to Tasmania.
The Hawks have done a tremendous job in picking themselves up and developing Tasmania and NZ.
NM are following their footsteps in Tasmania and now STK looks like following them in NZ.
The theory for AFL in NZ is stronger than the Storm in Melbourne.
Initially games will be for good of the club like STK and for the good of AFL TV in NZ but a good
response could well encourage a permanent venture.

[NSWAFL]

Looks like the AFL will consider H&A games as a means of locking in some big gains made in in schools.

Indeed. You think we are far off having a team based in NZ?

I think it's a long way off. The local competition is weak compared to Australian grass roots competitions and needs to develop. The earliest I would dare predict an Australian Football League team in New Zealand would be around 2030.

[cos789]

Looks like the AFL will consider H&A games as a means of locking in some big gains made in in schools.

Indeed. You think we are far off having a team based in NZ?

I think it's a long way off. The local competition is weak compared to Australian grass roots competitions and needs to develop. The earliest I would dare predict an Australian Football League team in New Zealand would be around 2030.

Whilst a strong grassroots competition is desirable it's not completely neccessary.
It wasn'y neccessary for the Swans, the Storm, the Force and the Rebels.
The first requirement is crowd support.

[cos789]

Participation has been stated as incfreasing to 25,000 at the end of 2012 for NZ.

cheers

[Rabbit]

Any proof coz I reckon that is complete bullshit?

[eelofwest]

Participation has been stated as incfreasing to 25,000 at the end of 2012 for NZ.

cheers

Yep i would like to see some links or i am calling BS file.....

[piesman2011]

An AFL NZ spokesman said junior development was a focus, with about 20,000 children playing Auskick equivalent Kiwi Kick in Auckland.

Read more: http://www.foxsports.com.au/AFL/AFL-pre ... z2Ev68fnA0

This was the 2011 numbers for Auckland. So perhaps 25,000 would be about right for all of NZ by the end of 2012 for kiwikick + regular league.

[Rabbit]

ahhh I see its only auskick.

[Striker]

And all of them will jump to the real game by their mid teens!