World Footy News

This year has been a very positive one for Wellington AFL in that a local season of footy was played. In 2012 the competition never eventuated even after trying to commence with three teams with the North City Demons in recess.

After the excitement generated from finishing Runners Up to Canterbury in the National Provincial Championships (NPC) in late 2012, regular participation of Wellington players in NZ senior and under-age teams and the highlight of the Anzac Day game between St Kilda and Sydney at the Wellington Stadium it provided the impetus for the re-establishment of the local competition.
 

It would be fair to say that despite best intentions the competition hasn’t exactly flourished this year. The season was to be of each team playing each of the others three times, providing a 9 game season. By the end of Round 6 neither the Wellington City Saints or defending back to back premiers of 2010-11, the Hutt Valley Eagles, were able to field a team. North City Demons were also struggling a bit and added some of the players from the Eagles in Round 8 and the Saints and Eagles in Round 9 to play the Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs who had regularly turned up with 20+ players each week.

The Wellington team that competed in last week’s 2013 NPC was not disgraced in finishing third and providing that the bulk of those players return to the local competition in 2014 they should provide a springboard for a competition with much greater depth.

That said, the local Grand Final will be played this Saturday with the NZ U 16’s playing the touring Flying Boomerangs Australian indigenous youth team as a curtain raiser.

It is fair to say that the two Wellington teams with the best organization and playing depth this season will square off on Saturday. The Bulldogs have been undefeated all year and after playing in the last 5 straight Grand Finals, and with 11 of the Wellington team in their squad, should be formidable. There is no doubt that the young and enthusiastic North City Demons will make a game of it, indeed they have been closing the gap on their opponents as the season has progressed. With Bulldogs stand outs Andrew Eastwood (broken arm from NPC) and Ryan Roselli (OE to London) out it further opens the game up.

From the North City Demons, Joe Baker-Thomas will be a player to watch. The Porirua teenager currently holds an AFL International Scholarship with the St Kilda Football Club. Another recent New Zealand representative at the club is Waylon Baker, who was part of the Under 18 New Zealand Hawks team who played a series against the Victorian Amateur Football Association in October. Their team also includes New Zealand Hawks player Sam McKenzie, known for his ability to take marks under heavy pressure.

The Eastern Bulldogs will have a very strong side going into the WAFL final, featuring many players who have represented New Zealand. Stanley Chung and James Terry played for the New Zealand Hawks in 2013, Wayne Harvey and Guy Ferguson are former NZ representatives, and Kade Riddell has played for various age grade New Zealand Hawks teams.

Both coaches are also highly experienced. Shannon Wall, who will coach the North City Demons, has been an assistant coach for various New Zealand Hawks teams, and Jason Wozniak from the Eastern Bulldogs coached the Wellington team at the NPC. Interestingly these two are likely to be the only Australians playing in the Grand Final.

AFL New Zealand has experienced significant growth in Wellington over 2013. With thousands of children participating in AFL KiwiKick, and hundreds more teenagers participating in AFL Secondary School programmes, the future for the game in the capital is bright.

Given all that has happened this year with footy in Wellington it is to be hoped that Saturday provides two brilliant of football and provides a base for future growth in the region.

http://aflnz.co.nz/wafl-grand-final-to-cap-exciting-year-for-afl-in-wellington/