World Footy News

The inaugural New Zealand Hawks AFL Combine was held last week at the ASB Sports Centre in Wellington. Boys aged from 14-18 were flown into Wellington from around the country with the intention of impressing recruiters from the AFL.

The boys were given a taste of the AFL as they were put through speed, agility, endurance and skills testing.

St Kilda helped run the combine with their staff instrumental in setup, showing their experience and professionalism. The Saints players were highly involved and quick to aid participants and pass on their knowledge and experience.

Recruiters were impressed by several of the attendees and it shouldn’t be long before we hear about more New Zealand talent being signed on to AFL scholarships.

Those to shine included Maia Westrupp, Alex Frew from Canterbury aged 16, 183cm and 83kg, Seth Going from Northland aged 17, 179 cms and 70kgs, Brock Messenger from Auckland, aged 17, 182 cms and 70kgs, Hugo Phillips from Wellington, aged 16 187 cms and 76 kgs and Fletcher Barclay from Wellington, aged 17, 186 cms and 75kgs.

Others who attended who are obviously impressive footballers included Siope Ngata from Auckland. He was recently placed on an International Scholarship by Hawthorn, aged 15, 185 cms and 93kgs and two players listed in the best for the NZ Hawks against the AIS- Kade Riddell from Wellington, aged 16, 188 cms and 75kgs and James McKenzie from Auckland, aged 17, 180 cms and 70kgs.

The attendees were identified by AFLNZ staff at school and regional combines held throughout the country with many already excelling in other representative sports including rugby, soccer and volleyball.

Given Siope is the fifth player from NZ offered an International Scholarship with the Hawks along with Charlton Brown who is on a Scholarship with GWS, opportunities are really opening up for New Zealanders with an aptitude for, and interest in AFL.

Top results were:

20m Sprint:
Maia Westrupp 2.8s
Alex Frew 2.86s
Seth Going 2.93s

Agility Test
Brock Messenger 7.98s
Maia Westrupp 8.01s
Hugo Phillips 8.16s

Vertical Leap
Maia Westrupp 80cm
Seth Going 78cm
Alex Frew 73cm

Endurance (Beep Test)
Brock Messenger 15.00
Seth Going 14.08
Fletcher Barclay 14.03

For more:-
http://aflnz.co.nz/inaugural-nz-combine-a-success/
http://aflnz.co.nz/national-combine-a...announced/
http://aflnz.co.nz/st-kilda-saints-at...z-combine/