World Footy News

The New Zealand Under 20 NPC was held at Westminster Park on March 14th and 15th in Christchurch, with the Auckland side undefeated in their four games and deserved winners against the spirited opposition of Canterbury and Wellington.

Talent scouts from four AFL clubs attended the weekend's matches in an event that would have provided thoughtful insights into the game's current development status as well as what potential opportunities may exist in the future - something obviously being discussed at NZAFL level.

The NZAFL website had this to say, which makes interesting reading with the current focus on the PNG juniors.

“With New Zealand’s population over eight times that of Tasmania and the AFL soon to stretch its player base with new clubs on the Gold Coast and West Sydney, it is important that the talent pool remains capable of providing the AFL clubs with ‘first choice athletes’.

The genetic make up of a New Zealander, the cultural similarities of a close neighbour, the lack of visa constraints and a logistical proximity to the eastern seaboard better than Western Australia, all add up to a cost effective recruiting and investment strategy. The aforementioned benefits in conjunction with the current international draft laws certainly provide food for thought”.

Though there were just 3 teams participating this year it is planned that there will be 6 teams in 2010 with squads coming from the Waikato, Otago and the NZU16 team to complete the bill.

Results:-

AAFL (Auckland) 10.8 (68) def CAFL (Canterbury) 3.5 (23), Best: Hick, Sucu, Ackland, Cunliffe

AAFL 7.9:51 d WAFL (Wellington) 1.9:15, Best: Gore, Boyce, Geale, Lavery

WAFL 5.9:39 d CAFL 4.5:29, Best: Willis, Griebanouw, Carden, Geale

CAFL 4.3:27 d WAFL 4.1:25, Best: Henry, Grisan, Gresan, Williams

AAFL 8.10:58 d CAFL 4.2:25, Best: Sucu, Latham, Dow, Henry

AAFL 8.3:51 d WAFL 3.7:25, Best: Ackland, Crighton, Dow, Annard

A New Zealand Under 20 squad was selected to participate in the Senior NPC in Auckland in October later this year. The squad of 31 will be trimmed to 24 leading up to the event. The squad comprises 16 Auckland, 10 Canterbury and 5 Wellington players.

Players named were:-

Auckland
Andriu Sucu, Mathew Crighton, Robbie Gore, Kiwi Kapene-Becher, Josh Cunliffe (Nth Shore Tigers), Liam Ackland, Ben Hick, Michael Boyce, James Simonds, Josh McKenzie (Mt Roskill Saints), Carl Williams, Niki Dow, Stefan van Gruting, Andrew Turner (University Blues), Michael Gregson (Waitakere Magpies), Josh White (Takapuna Eagles)

Canterbury
Jed Williams, Sam Blackler, Ethan Harding (Eastern Blues), Mitch Harding, Jason Henry, Isaac Williams (Christchurch Bulldogs), Brad Fleming, Brendon Swift (University Cougars), Simon Carden (Mid-Canterbury Eagles), Mathew Ruston (unaligned)

Wellington
Michael Willis (Eastern Bulldogs), Harley Geale (Nth City Demons), Sam Sherring, Daniel Annand, Brendon Garrick (Wellington City Saints)

Player of the tournament was New Zealand Falcons’ Andriu Sucu followed by Liam Ackland in second place. All regions presented a Best and Fairest adjudged by coaching staff with Ben Hick from Auckland, Ethan Harding from Canterbury and Sam Sherring from Wellington the respective winners. Leading goal kicker for the tournament was Carl Williams from Auckland with 6 goals.

WFN spoke with Canterbury’s coach Lachlan Keating who noted this about some of his players:

“The players to stand out for Canterbury were Mitch Harding - Christchurch Bulldogs (183cm, 15yrs old, played CHF for all 4 games, won the 1%er award presented by Auskick coordinator James Briody), Jed Williams - Eastern Blues (16yrs 184cm, plays halfback in Rangiora High 1st XV, was very solid across the half-backline and spent time in the midfield in the 2nd half of most games), Jason Henry (19yrs, 184cm played his first ever game on the Saturday, had played for the Crusaders Super 14 Development Team the week prior, very skillful, strong & powerful, and who kicked a great running goal against Auckland from 50m) and Matt Ruston - originally from Lincoln High Dragons (18yrs, 190cm, very little experience, played at full forward and made the most of limited opportunities kicking 4 goals)”.

In addition to the U20 tournament, the NZAFL have recently benefited from AFL Auskick specialist, James Briody, being in New Zealand where he assisted with fitness testing on all participants in this year’s Under 20 championships He also significantly helped with the new roll out of the rebranded product of ‘AFL Kiwikick’.

He worked with 15 casual NZAFL staff members in an intense training programme with session delivery to 1000 students and five schools in the three regions of Canterbury, Auckland and Waikato over the period of Mr Briody’s short visit.

The NZAFL website also mentioned that:

“The motor skills programme targeting children between the ages of 5 to 12 is the first step in a pathway that will provide AFL clubs with a future base of talent that retain an association with the game of Australian Football. As AFL Kiwikick moves into the Intermediate schools, the eight week course will be concluded with tournament days and competitions that stimulate competitive urges of the participants”.