World Footy News

With the NZ AFL Premiership won by the Western Crows attention turns to – well – turns to more footy. The next few days across the ANZAC Day weekend will probably be the most hectic part of the annual AFLNZ calendar. There’s rep footy for seniors, juniors, boys and girls, there’s a combine and a decent feed to be had at the High Performance dinner & awards on Saturday.

The first event is Thursdays combine. Across the ANZAC Day weekend the NZ Hawks senior team will again front up to the AFL Academy side. New Zealand youth teams will play in a 2 game series against the Peninsula Saints from South East of Melbourne and the NSW Independent Schools.

The AFL New Zealand National Combine is being conducted (today – Thursday April 21st) at the Trusts Arena in West Auckland (5pm local time). The combine includes the following tests: 20m sprint; AFL Agility; Standing Vertical Leap; Beep Test; Clean Hands Test and Kicking Test. The best 35 athletes have been invited from the AFL NZ Academy and flown to Auckland to show their wares in front of AFL talent scouts. There are players from Auckland, Wellington, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Otago, Waitakere, Northland, Harbour and Counties ‘regions’.

In matches to be played on Friday and Sunday the New Zealand Kahu Youth Girls take on the Peninsula Saints Youth Girls. Again on Friday and Sunday the AFL NZ Academy Level 1 Hawks take on the AFL NSW Independent Schools. The AFL NZ Academy Level 2 Hawks take on the AFL South East U16 Peninsula Saints again on both Friday and Sunday.

The highlight game for the senior Hawks is Sunday afternoon at QBE Stadium (Albany, Auckland) when the NZ Hawks take on the AFL Academy (from 1 pm). This will be the 5th time the AFL Academy has toured New Zealand and are again being escorted by AFL National Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan. The Hawks are yet to register a victory but will be keen to acquit themselves well in their first big hit out at AFLNZ’s newest ‘AFL’ ground at North Harbour Stadium.

The leadership group is made up of Howison (Capt), Kusel, Boyce, Harris and McKenzie.
Warbrick, Faimalo, Scarf-Matthews and Maisey were all Young Rising Star nominations.

Match Schedule (QBE Stadium, Auckland)

Friday April 22nd
10am: AFLNZ Academy Level 1 Hawks vs AFL NSW Independent Schools
12pm: NZ Kahu Youth Girls vs Peninsula Saints Youth Grils
2pm: AFLNZ Academy Level 2 Hawks vs AFL South East U16 Peninsula Siants

Sunday April 24th
10am: AFLNZ Academy Level 1 Hawks vs AFL NSW Independent Schools
11.30am: NZ Kahu Youth Girls vs Peninsula Saints Youth Grils
1pm: NZ Hawks vs AFL Academy
3pm: AFLNZ Academy Level 2 Hawks vs AFL South East U16 Peninsula Siants