World Footy News

Friday 26th April saw a united effort from the AFL, AFL NZ and the St Kilda Saints in a 4 hour promotion at Wellington's prestigious Basin Reserve.

Well over 1,000 participants attended the event, which had a "Meet the Saints" component that drew a number of their Melbourne based fans. For footy in NZ, it was more about allowing for direct action to follow up the previous night's game to increase participation and interest.

AFLNZ Board Chairman Geoff Dickson sees the game as a great leverage point. "Well, the game is over and we are the ones who really have to care about, and develop, footy now," said Dickson.

He continued, "What the game may enable our organisation to do is to get into more schools quicker and perhaps to attract more of the elite players to the game, whether from the Rugby First XV, League First XIII or Soccer First XI."

"The good work that has resulted from Hawthorn's visionary investment in NZ, noticeably through the Hawks Cup, has allowed for a growth in paid staff. This has created extraordinarily good results, as can be seen by the quality of our underage Championships and the development of our various National sides."

"We feel we are very well placed to continue to work with other stakeholders in the advancement of the game and look forward to the opportunity."

From the many skill development activities on the ground and minor games occurring, it was evident that Geoff's vision for the future had a very firm foothold to develop from.

With children not just coming along to meet the Saints (pictured below, and at left captain Nick Riewoldt signing an autograph) but actually enjoying the many activities, it was a real credit to the AFLNZ organisation. The players of the NZ Hawks and South Pacific Academy sides who had played the previous evening were busy working with the participants, as were the many players who had participated in the NZ U18 Championships on the days preceding the Anzac Match.

What AFLNZ is doing particularly well, is getting strategic buy-in from their many junior and senior players to assist with the various promotional activities. Whether it was selling the "Records" on the Concourse, greeting the spectators at the Anzac game, or assisting in grass roots activities such as those at The Basin today, it was all done with willingness and a smile.

Having had the chance to have a chat to some of the young players who ranged from Otago in the South, to Wellington and the far Northland, with even one from the Bay of Plenty where Melbourne's Maia Westrupp hails from, the overwhelming response when asked how the week had gone for them was " fantastic, this is a great game, a lot of fun, pretty easy to learn and is giving us great opportunities".

Pleasingly Mick Coultard and Shannon Wall, both heavily involved with the AFL NZ U18 sides said there had also been a lot of adult interest. "Where can I get involved?" was a common enquiry. With the Wellington competition looking to re-launch in 2013 after having a year in recess this sort of enthusiasm is just the tonic needed.

Equally good would be interested adults in other areas who may like to look at developing some form of footy in their regions.

Certainly there is no denying that many opportunities will arise from the first Anzac Day game and given what was seen and heard at The Basin yesterday there can be little doubt that AFLNZ look well placed to succeed.