World Footy News

The Wellington AFL season is due to commence on Sunday 4th November. The recent NZ National Provincial Championship tournament, held in the capital, saw the Wellington team win matches against Canterbury and Waikato and lose to the Auckland outfit by 7 points.

The NPC has proven to be an excellent springboard into the forthcoming season. The competition has struggled a little in recent times to have four committed and competitive teams, along with a central committee who have perhaps not always offered the inclusive and respected leadership required. Now read on and look at the positive outlook for each Club as provided to WFN.

Wellington City Saints

2006 Result: Premiers
Coach: Leigh Kube
Captain 2006: Anthony Richardson
2007: TBA

Key players-
Andrew Lealofi: 19 years old, 4 years playing experience, extremely athletic and skilful- current member of NZ Falcons Training Squad and has previously attended an AFL Draft Camp.
Chris Banks: veteran defender and stand in ruck.
Ben Thompson: ex-basketballer, rookie in 2006, excellent high marker of the ball. Recent Wellington NPC Representative.
Geoff Miller: 2006 rookie, tenacious defender and on-baller, fearless.
Alex Rowlands: 2006 rookie, athletic HBF.
Tim Wells: 2006 rookie, strong on-baller, a natural play maker.
Michael Jackson: 19 years old, 3 years experience, gutsy on-baller and small forward. Recent Wellington NPC Representative.
Nigel Burn: veteran utility. Gaelic skills have been an advantage.
Vince Grealish: unpredictable and gutsy defender who is certainly in the veteran category after starting his career with the rival Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs in 1995.

Key juniors
Andrew Lealofi, Michael Jackson, Ben Thompson, Tovio Apolo

New recruits:
14 new players this year, so far, at training. Those to impress are the new Aussies Chris Schilling, Peter Gunthorpe and Justin White, Andrew Cuttriss from the Canterbury competition and Andrew Christensen. Of these Shilling and Cuttriss both represented Wellington well at the recent NPC Championships.

Likely % of Aussies in squad:
5 players, including playing coach Leigh Kube, therefore approximately 20%.

Season Outlook:
Continue to develop the Saints squad. Increase the number of experienced players (i.e. retain players for more than 1 or 2 seasons). Increase overall team skill level and understanding of patterns of play.

North City Demons

2006 Result: Minor Premiers (2006), Beaten Finalists
Coach: Gordon McKenzie
Captain: James Kerse

Key Players:
James Kerse- current Wellington captain. A class act who has progressed through the NZ junior sides to take his debut for the Senior Falcons at the 2002 International Cup.
Bruce Malcolm- many times a NZ Falcon through the Arafura tournaments and the 2002 International Cup he is a very tough, skilled and uncompromising ruck rover.
Rob Willis- a free wheeling wingman with much Senior Falcons’ experience who is very prepared to run and carry.

Outside of these three they have a core group of very experienced footballers who have been around the block a few times, understand the game and have embraced the Demons' running game. These players who have the skill and ability to change the course of a match single-handedly include Dean Ellis, Carl Ellis, Graeme Horo, Ian Jarwalski, Xavier Forde, Joe Denyer and Kiernan “Chop” O’Gorman. Many of these players have come through the NZ Junior Falcons and if they all fire, all the time, it will be a difficult team to beat.

Key Juniors:
Parekura Lalaga and Mike Willis

New Recruits:
Robert Aloe - Wellington B Rep Rugby Player - First Five Eighth with a sound kicking game
Nick Ashford - Premier Football Player (Soccer)

Likely % of Aussies in squad
1 player, the veteran playing coach Gordon McKenzie (therefore about 3% of the team).

Season Outlook:
This season the Demons would like to avenge the 'upset' result in the Grand Final of last season. Given the new structure of the competition with the top two teams qualifying for the final, they can’t afford to drop games early. The first 3 rounds of the competition will be key, as they had only had a handful of players participate in the NPC campaign, as opposed to the three other sides, who had better numbers involved in the tournament. The Bulldogs and Saints, as per usual are going to be well drilled, and the Demons are expecting close games where there may only be a goal or two in it. The Eagles are an unknown quantity, similar to how the Demons shaped up a couple of seasons ago, so they will need to be respected.

As in previous seasons, the Demons have shown some great play out of the back line from players such as 'Chop' O'Gorman and Rob Willis, linking with the young and athletic wingers Parekura Lalaga and Mike Willis. Shaun Smith will be a target up front, and as he proved in the NPC, for a smaller bloke can take a strong grab in traffic. The Demons are looking forward to an enjoyable season, and feel that if they are able to play the expansive game the results they are after will come.

Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs

2006 Result: 3rd
Coach: John Jackson
Manager: Dave Plumb
Captain: Byron Roff

Key Players:
Mike Severinsen- said by many to be NZ’s finest ruckman, he was selected in the tournament team in 2002 at the AFIC and is once again in the NZ Falcons squad this year. His mobility around the ground and skills below his knees are a highlight.
Guy Ferguson- a tenacious on-baller and ball carrier who is now a multiple NZ Falcon. He played a key role in the AFIC 2005 campaign and again wore the colours at the Australian Country Football Championships in 2006. Guy first played for the Bulldogs as a 15 year old in 1999. Once again Guy has been selected in the Falcons squad.
Byron Roff- a very experienced key position player who has been an instrumental member of both of NZ’s International Cup campaigns and has again been selected in the squad.
Josh Hema- a very tough, skilled and determined on-baller. He has the ability to move through heavy traffic with ease, and sneak forward to kick a goal. A key member of the Falcon’s 2002 team, he was rated in the best 4 players by the team. He has again been selected in the train on squad after five years overseas.
Isaac O’Connor- a quickly improving 17 year old tall forward who has progressed from the Junior Falcons to now being selected in the NZ Falcons squad.
Graham Rattenbury- a bonus for the Bulldogs was the relocation of this uncompromising midfielder from Auckland. He is said by Coach Jackson to be definitely of Falcon’s quality which was reflected by his selection in the squad for AFIC 2008.
Al Hunter- a champion midfielder/defender in every sense of the word. As age did not weary the ageless Craig Bradley or Michael Tuck neither has it done so to Hunter. Where there is significant turnover yearly in playing numbers, as often happens in international competitions, the simple ability to know the game well and be in good physical condition means he remains a force to be reckoned with. Selected in the World Team in 1997 and 1999 at the Arafura Games and voted by the NZ team as their second best player, behind only Mike Severinsen, at the inaugural International Cup, before being controversially left out of the 2005 team, he continually seeks to improve his game.
Taoho Patuawa- a relative newcomer to the game making his debut for the Club in 2005 he is another adaptable and mobile tall who can change in the ruck. Was selected in the 2006 Falcons squad for the Australian Country Champs but was forced to withdraw. He will only improve with time after missing much of the 2006 season due to injury.
Matt Maihi- ex-Saints player & Gaelic footballer who is now over longtime back/leg injuries. Will add much needed experince to HF line.

Key Juniors:
Isaac O’Connor (subject to fitness), Laith Rua, Liam Sampson, Andrew Eastwood.

New Recruits:
Graham Rattenbury (Waitakere, AAFL), Darren West + Josh Hema (returned from overseas), Ed Nickel (American who played last two seasons with Dallas Magpies), Taoho Patuawa back from 2006 leg injury & sorely missed last year, John Terry, Matt Baker & Blair Bradley from Poneke Rugby club, tough as teeth league rep Hone Patrick, Aussie Robin Dosser and other newcomers Tommy Martin, Chris Lendrum, Andrew Ray, & WLG 7's rugby squad member Jason Holdt.

Likely % of Aussies in the Squad:
6% with three players on the sheet, Jamie Tout who learnt the game in NZ, Jesse Brooke and Melbourne newcomer Robin Dosser who hasn’t played since school.

Season Outlook:
After a disappointing 'Gunner' 2006 season by Doggies' standards, the 2007 squad is rebuilding after a number of off season departures. On paper the squad looks capable of making the finals but already it is proving difficult is get the squad available to put on the paddock together! The Bulldogs will again be looking for the experienced NZ Falcons & senior players to step up and lead the way for the new raw talent that has come the their way.

Hutt Valley Eagles

2006 Result: Wooden Spoon
Coach: Neil Hargreaves
Manager: Pearl Caumaa
Co-captains: James Kusel and Lenny Reeves

Key players:
James Kusel – according to long time Wellington footy identity and new Eagles coach, probably the best Wellington player he has seen.
Nathan Rose – A real hard ball winner!
Lenny Reeves – A key strong marking forward who has been selected for the NZ falcons training squad.
Cameron Heka – A 17 year old who has just made the Falcons senior squad

Key juniors:
Colin Hargreaves – son of the new coach and brought up playing the game.
Scott and Gary Pointon – Brothers from a top sporting family.

New players:
Rob Jones – An Aussie who is older but has all the skills.
Pete Bourke and Chris Jackson – older players but Ironman athletes who can run all day and are as hard as nails!
Daryl Franks – enticed out of retirement to play full forward.

Likely % of Aussies in squad:
2 Aussies in the squad- so about 6%

Season Outlook:
The Eagles' number one goal is to not default any games this year. Some of the team have ambitions of a flag but Coach Hargreaves feels that given the compact season this will be a year for setting in place structures and rules to go for gold in 2008.