World Footy News

The NZAFL Championships are to be held in Christchurch on today, October 23rd and tomorrow October 24th at Westminster Park. Auckland, Canterbury, Waikato and Wellington will be competing for the Senior Championship whilst the Victorian Amateur (VAFA) U18’s will head over from Australia to play two games against the NZ Hawks U20 side.

Read on for information on the draw and the competing Leagues.

Senior NPC draw

Saturday October 23rd 2010

11.00 am Match 1: Canterbury vs Waikato
12.30 pm Match 2: Wellington vs Auckland
14.00 pm Match 3: VAFA U18s vs New Zealand U20s

Sunday October 24th 2010

10.00 am Match 4: Waikato v Auckland
11.30 am Match 5: Canterbury v Wellington
13.30 pm Match 6: Auckland v Canterbury
15.00 pm Match 7: Waikato v Wellington

Monday October 25th 2010
12.00 pm Match 8: VAFA U18s vs New Zealand U20s


- NPC Games involve 15 minute quarters with a 5 minute quarter time break and 10 minute half time.
- 6 players will be available on the bench.
- NPC squads will have a maximum of 26 players minimum of 24 players


Information on the competing Leagues/Teams:-

NZ U20’s
Team:- New Zealand Under 20's
Coach: Justin Davies
Manager: Jim Lucy
Captain: Andriu Sucu

Vandyn Hartman (Manurewa Raiders), Ludwig Hope, Kurt Heatherley, Jason Heatherley (St Pauls College), Rhys Panui-Leth, Tom Woods, Adam Rice, Andriu Sucu ©, Kiwi Kapene-Belcher, Robert Gore (North Shore Tigers), James Stevenson, Stephen VanGruting, Tom Satherwaite, Matthew Crighton, Izaac Williams (Christchurch Bulldogs), Justin Clark, Adam Baker (University Cougars), Tamati Young, Ben Fisher, Michael Gregson (Waitakere Magpies), Sam Dickson (Eastern Blues), Sam Sherring, Troy Lavery, Brendan Garrick (Hutt Valley Eagles), Carl Williams (University Blues), Andrew Howison (vc) (Mid Canterbury Eagles)

New Zealand Under 20’s take on Victorian Amateur Football Association Under 18’s for the second time for the VAFA AFL New Zealand Challenge.

After being defeated twice in the two game series in 2009 (8.11.59 to 5.6.36 in game 1 and 16.11.107 to 12.12.84 in game 2) the Hawks came away from the experience with a better knowledge of just how hard it is to beat a team from the home of AFL football.

With the introduction of the inaugural Under 16 Oceania Cup in Fiji in December last year, the Under 20’s have a new pool of players to choose from. This years team has only 6 players returning from last year's squad with a larger regional representation a highlight.

The squad contains 3 players from the Waikato region, 3 from Wellington, 9 from Christchurch and 11 from Auckland.

Four players have progressed from last year's Under 16 New Zealand Hawks team with all players actively involved in Senior Competition through the local leagues.

2011 will see the VAFA AFL New Zealand challenge take place in Melbourne for the first time, in September. This event along with the commencement of the Senior Secondary Schools Hawks Cup in March 2011 will result in a further pool of players being introduced into local leagues thus strengthening local competition.

Andriu Sucu from Auckland will once again captain the team with Andrew Howison from Canterbury the team Vice Captain. AFL New Zealand welcome the VAFA and its wonderful supporters to New Zealand and Christchurch and another weekend of fantastic footy.

VAFA U18’s
Coach: Michael Hazell/ Jeremy Bourke
Manager: John Robinson
Captain:tbc

Team:- Ben Ayache,, Corey Ely (St Johns OC), Dean Calcedo, Todd Beames(Northern Bullants), Joe Pignatano, Michael Kavanagh (St Bernards), Tom Gales, Mitchell Wilson, Brent Swallow (Rupertswood), Daniel Foot-Connelly, William Green (St Bedes/Mentone), Heath Chipperfield, Jake Evans (St Mary’s, Salesian), Luke Morin, George Angelopoulos, Aisea Valentini (Oakleigh), Matthew Fitzpatrick, Jon DePellegin (Werribee), Keilan Biddlestone, Tim Gumley (Therry Penola), Harry Levvey, Mark Jeffers (Old Camberwell), Shaquille Parker, Ed Pearson (UHS-VU)

The Victorian Amateur Football Association is excited to once again be travelling to New Zealand to take on the national U20 side as part of the NPC in 2010. Last year’s tour was highly successful on a number of levels and the benefits of that tour are still being felt within the VAFA community. The quality of the football played in the last series and the speed of the development of the New Zealand players was one of the highlights and the players and support staff are very much looking forward to more of the same.

The VAFA consists of 72 clubs, 250 teams and 12,000 registered players in 26 different competitions. It is the largest senior football competition in Australia and, as the name suggests, is one of only two purely amateur football competitions in Australia. The VAFA commenced in 1892 and representative football has played an integral part of the Association's history since 1925. The matches against New Zealand mark a new chapter in the Association’s representative history. Over the years, the VAFA has sent teams to all parts of Australia as well international tours to Ireland, South Africa and now New Zealand.

The VAFA’s U18 competition commenced in 2009 with 8 teams, complimenting the 50 teams currently competing in the U19 competition. In 2010, the number of U18 teams has grown to 12 and further growth is anticipated in 2011. The teams originate from all corners of the Melbourne Metropolitan area and the U18 competition provides a valuable introduction to VAFA football.

The team will this year be accompanied by one of the leading VAFA umpires in Merv Monty who will pass on plenty of his experience. Also joining the team are many parents and supporters from the clubs and the VAFA thanks them for making the journey, supporting the team and enhancing the atmosphere of the tour.

The VAFA would like to wish all teams competing in the NPC the very best and hope they continue to enjoy and cherish their participation in the game and look forward to watching their matches. The VAFA also wishes to thank Robert Vanstam and the AFLNZ team for their hospitality and look forward to hosting them next year in Melbourne.

Auckland FL
Coach: Andrew Congalton
Manager: Jarrod Darlington
Captain: TBA

Team:- Ben Pine, Andrew Marsden, John Maling, David rattenbury, William Papesch, Daniel McGregor , Aaron Harris, Daniel Moyle , Matt Hacket , Mike Gawn, Carl Gabriel (Waitakere Magpies), Ben Hick , Andrew Buckthought, David Cory-Toussaint , James Monaghan, Chris Mundell, Alex Fakatimafi (University Blues), Tristan McArley, Courtney McCarthy, Adam Simpson, Andrew Crighton (North Shore Tigers), Nigel Middleton, Josh White (Takapuna Eagles), Brendan Clark, Mike Tagg (Mt Roskill Saints), Mike Dunlop (Manurewa Raiders)

The Auckland side is looking forward to heading to Christchurch for some hard fought matches against the other provinces for the 2010 NPC.

There is a good mixture of players in the side, with five out of the six Auckland clubs represented. Experience trumps youth this year, with a large number of potential players involved in the NZ U20 side playing at the same time against the VAFA.

The 2010 Buccaneers sees some familiar faces back in the fold, such as Andrew Marsden, Tristan McArley and David Cory-Toussaint from the 2005 International Cup winning NZ squad.

With 10 current NZ Hawks squad members in the Auckland side, there is some great skill and plenty of enthusiasm to right the wrongs of last year’s campaign.

Big Mike Gawn makes a storming return to football this year and has been injecting his fighting spirit into the team. Old hands James Monaghan, John Maling and Andy Crighton will be looking to dictate things on the field as they move the football around the park and rally the troops. Matt Hacket is back with a vengeance and will be linking with Brendan Clark and David Rattenbury to provide some firepower for the Buccaneers this year in an effort to bring the trophy back to the upper north!

Canterbury FL
Coach: Jason Lanyon
Manager: Steve Langridge
Captain: Todd Andrews

Team:- Jacob Thomson, Danny Hastings, Matt Crighton, Nicki Dow, Zac Williams, Steven Howard, Yodd Andrew (c), Chris Thornton(Christchurch Bulldogs), Brad Fleming, Matt Rushton, James Roughan, Joseph Hendry, Jesse Burgess, Tim Bailey, Kieran Rae, Danny Kingan(University Cougars), Nick Fisher, Jarad Court, James Bowden (vc), Scott McNally, Johnny Fisher, Jason Hopkins, Brent Frewan, (Eastern Blues), Simon Carden, Chris Morel (Mid Canterbury Eagles)

2010 could be the year for the Cobras with large playing numbers through out the CAFL clubs and the talent going from strength to strength.

This year’s team has a solid looking mixture youth and experience, with seasoned campaigners to first season stand outs.

The team will be led from the centre, with tough and talented mid fielder Todd Andrews, driving the team towards their goals. He will not be alone in the leadership role with New Zealand Hawks players James Bowden and Matt Crighton by his side as vice captains.

Brothers Johnny and Nick Fisher will add a lot of natural flair up front and through the middle. What these two boys lack in experience they more than make up for it with superior athleticism and a feverish hunger to get their hands on the ball.

Steven Howard will be playing in his second NPC for the Cobras and with a year under his belt, he will be taking no prisoners. Also returning to the Cobras is Perth based New Zealand Hawks player Scott McNally. Scott is a great addition to the team and his experience will add a bit of starch to an already very rigid back six.

We will just have to wait and see how the labour weekend event unfolds, but one thing to be sure of is that the Cobras will be there or abouts when the 2010 Champions are crowned.

Waikato FL
Coach: Jim Lucy
Manager: Wayne Donnellon
Captain: Luke Kneebone

Team:- Matt Crossan, Matt Van Wijk, Michael Pratt, Alex Brown, Aaron Fergusson Phil Mourits (vc) , Luke Kneebone (c), Bobby Rollinson, Hayden Mourits , Reece Turner , Callum Flynn, James Quinn-Casey, Rob Howitt (Mavericks), Mitchell Mace, Scott van den Behm, Dick Burns, Arie Spyksma, Liam Annals, Moss Doran, Andrew James, Taare Wilson, Callum McLean, Owen Lee-Cusack, Ian Laing, Guillaume Goijen (Tuis)

Season 2010 for Waikato once again was reduced to only 2 teams. The Redbacks from 2009 couldn’t field a team and the players were absorbed by the Mavericks and Tui’s. 7 competition rounds were played until finalists could be found and surprisingly they were the Tui’s and Mavericks! With no love lost between the two teams a great GF was ready to unfold with the Tui’s having a win the week before and looking quite strong. The GF turned into a one sided affair with the Mavericks running away comfortable winners. This season set the campaign on fire for the 2010 NPC campaign.

The Waikato Thunder begin the 2010 NPC campaign with a strong sense of self belief. The last 2 campaigns have seen some very narrow losses and the Thunder are more keen than ever to turn those losses in to victories.

Building on last year’s efforts, where many of the team had only 5-6 games of experience before the NPC, the majority of the team now have at least 1 campaign under their belt and another Waikato Thunder season played. The few new recruits have added more options around the ground and in key positions.

The Thunder have a formidable back line who are capable of shutting down opposing forwards and then turning defence in to attack. Key defenders such as Luke Kneebone, Phil Mourits, Aaron Fergusson and Liam Annals will ensure every opposition possession is hard won and likely a painful one too. More mobility, height and experience in the forward line will provide greater goal scoring opportunities. Watch out for Moss Doran, Andrew James and the ever dangerous James Quinn-Casey. The mid-field and on-ballers (Matt Van Wijk, Mitch Mace, Bobby Rollinson) have the experience that will link the attacking half back line with a dangerous forward line.

Whilst the Thunder are a small league in comparison to the other provinces, they have a tight knit brotherhood who will put their body on the line for their mates, shirk no contest and never give in. Expect a Thunder win or two this year; maybe an even bigger upset is on the cards.

Opponents beware: we are from - Waikato Taniwha rau, he piko he taniwha, he piko he taniwha; Waikato of a thousand taniwha, on every bend is a Taniwha.

Wellington FL
Coach: John Jackson
Managers: Dave Plumb/Margaret Lavery
Captain: Danny Morgan

Team:- Andrew Christensen , Andrew Rhodes (vc), Michael Jackson, Jarred Burns, James Cox, James MacAodhgain (Wellington Saints), Elijah Ward, Hayden Schrijvers, Matthew George, Lachlan Brooking, Matthew Poole, Chris Tenisili, Lenny Reeves, Raymond Gribenauw, James Ferrari (Hutt Valley Eagles) Stan Chung, Danny Morgan (c), Chris Curran, Liam Townsend, James Terry, Tom Robinson, Andrew Eastwood, Dan Couling (Eastern Bulldogs) Daniel Annand (North City Demons)

Following their surprise win in the 2009 Championships, the Wellington Tigers have commenced a deep renewal of their playing stocks and a raft of new players will represent the Region for their first time in 2010. While the Wellington season will not start until after the 2010 NPC (shocking Winter means no grounds available), the rep training and rep trial matches have been played with great intensity and skill. Across the park the Tigers have strength and speed to burn and are looking forward to defending their title.

Unfortunately their NZ Hawks squad players James Kusel (also Wellington captain), Dean Ellis and Graham Rattenbury are unavailable for the Tigers in 2010, as is 2009 Golden Boot winner Mac Tuavao. However, the Tigers have unearthed some exciting new young talent in Hayden Schrijvers, Matt Poole and Elijah Ward.

As befitting the reigning champions, the Tigers will this year be rocking the Black and Gold in the WAFL’s brand new representative strip. No more mufti for Wellington premier players. Danny Morgan (triple premiership player for the Bulldogs and 2009 B.O.G.) will lead the boys and will Captain the team in 2010, ably supported by Andrew Rhodes (Saints captain) as Vice Captain. Tigers Roar!