Auckland have won the inaugural National Under 20 Provincial Championships played in Christchurch at Westminster Park on March 14th and 15th.
The Auckland team were undefeated in their four games and were deserved winners against the spirited opposition of Canterbury and Wellington.
2009 Under 20 NPC Scores
Talent scouts from four AFL clubs attended the weekends matches in an event that would have provided thoughtful insights into the games current development status as well as what potential opportunities may exist in the future.
Tournament B and F winner Andriu Sucu (20)
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 neighbor, 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.
After two years of consolidation and planning the NZAFL is now faced with the challenge of managing the increase in pace of its development pathways.
AFL Auskick specialist James Briody has been in New Zealand for the past nine days assisting with firstly fitness testing on all participants in this years Under 20 championships but more importantly the new roll out of the rebranded product of ‘AFL Kiwikick’.
The need for casual staff and associated training required has seen the intiative ( through AFL Oceania and Andrew Cadzow ), provide 15 staff members with 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 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 reatin 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.
This year’s Under 20 tournament was a starting point for the NZAFL High Performance strategy. Next years event is hopeful on including teams from Waikato and Otago and the New Zealand Under 16 team will also compete as a side in the Under 20 competition.
Following on from this process, 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 of 16 Auckland. 10 Canterbury and 5 Wellington Players.
New Zealand Under 20 Squad for NPC
A talent development squad was also selected to supplement the initial squad with a lure of entry into the side if those initially selected do not meet the set criteria.
New Zealand Under 20 Talent DevelopmentSquad
Player of the tournament was New Zealand Falcons player 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.