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A PATHWAY TO EXCEL 2
AFL NEW ZEALAND HAS CREATED ITS ACADEMY TO PROVIDE A PATHWAY FOR PARTICIPANTS TO EXCEL IN AFL Within the AFL New Zealand Academy there is a focus on improving athletes’ skills, fitness along with a training, game and development programme that highlights the necessary requirements over a 6 month period. The AFL New Zealand Academy includes five centres in Whangarei, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Members of the Academy are selected from:
-- Secondary School Programmes -- Intermediate School Programmes -- School and Regional Combines -- Current AFLNZ Youth players -- Talent Identification Personnel -- High Performance Trials
The Academy programme includes a combination of skill development (kicking, catching, passing and bouncing), athletic testing and measurement, game play and personal development that takes place throughout New Zealand. This combination will lead to a number of opportunities for participants including Academy team selection, New Zealand representation, National Combine selection, access to talent scouts and International Scholarships. 3
REGIONAL TESTING Testing is carried out not only at the National Combine but also during the Academy programme. Tests at regional venues will include:
-- Vertical Leap -- Agility -- 20 Metre Sprint -- YOYO Test -- Clean Hands -- Kicking Test
Testing schedules see a selection of events throughout the weekly programme. Those who are most successful in each testing regime can win immediate selection into the final 30 National Combine participants. All results are listed on the AFL New Zealand website for you to compare your progress against other members of the academy.
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THE COMBINE PROGRAMME IS UNDERPINNED BY AN EXCITING TESTING FORMAT
BE THE BEST
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IMPRESS AFL TALENT SCOUTS 6
NATIONAL COMBINE SELECTION The Combine Programme is underpinned by an exciting testing format that provides participants with the opportunity to compete in a number of skills and athletic testing. Each of the events within the programme has a focus on fun and looks to provide those involved with motivation to improve themselves in varying facets of skill and fitness. The Combine Programme can also provide opportunities for National selection, AFL International Scholarships and potentially the commencement of an AFL career. The best 30 athletes are flown to Wellington to complete testing in front of AFL talent scouts.
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All Academy players selected to play for New Zealand will attend the High Performance Awards. This is an annual event held on the eve of the Senior New Zealand Mens team vs the AFL Academy fixture in Wellington. Awards for the New Zealand best Senior Mens, Womens, Under 18, Under 17 and Rising Star players are presented as well as the naming of the annual New Zealand Heritage Team that includes some of the finest players currently playing in the AFL.
HIGH PERFORMANCE AWARDS EVENING
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New Zealand born Shane Savage is a current player with St Kilda FC. Shane is a proud New Zealander who previously also played for Hawthorn FC and is a member of the New Zealand Heritage team.
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2018 ACADEMY FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND BENEFITS TOTAL COST: $200 DUE FEBRUARY 1ST 2018. Payment required prior to the commencement of the AFL New Zealand Academy.
Costs include:
-- 8 week development programme. (Training, Game play, Testing) -- Personalised conditioning programme -- Youth Polo -- Opportunity for National Selection -- Opportunity for Selection in AFLNZ National Combine by AFL Club recruiters and Potential International -- Viewing Scholarship opportunities
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2018 NATIONAL REPRESENTATION Please note that payments for New Zealand representation are required prior to selection of final travelling team. Payments are required by the below due dates to secure your availability for selection and bookings at reduced prices. If you wish to discuss further these payments and set up a payment plan/automatic payment plan, please contact Mick Coultard. If you are not selected in the final travelling teams full refund of any payments towards New Zealand representation will be made to your nominated account.
The Academy payment structure totalling $790 will involve three payments as follows: PAYMENT 1
$300 Due February 15th 2018
PAYMENT 2
$300 Due March 15th 2018
PAYMENT 3
$190 Due April 9th 2018
Costs include:
-- New Zealand playing kit -- New Zealand off field kit -- Travel, Accommodation and Catering -- Attendance AFLNZ High Performance Awards evening -- Opportunity for Selection in AFLNZ National Combine 11
NATIONAL REPRESENTATION ACADEMY PARTICIPANTS HAVE A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT THEIR COUNTRY. Academy participants born between 1999 and 2005 will have the following opportunities to represent New Zealand. Please note that each Academy team will have selection criteria relating directly to you year of birth. AFL New Zealand Academy Level 1 (players born 2003 – 2005, with possible inclusion of some 2002) 24 players and 6 coaching staff are selected to travel to Wellington to play a two-match series against Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League April 21st April 21st April 22nd April 22nd April 24th
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Arrive Wellington National Combine for those selected Game 1: AFLNZ Academy Level 1 vs MPJFL High Performance Awards Function Game 2: AFLNZ Academy Level 1 vs MPJFL
AFL New Zealand Academy Level 2 (players born 2001 and 2002) 24 players and 6 coaching staff are selected to travel to Wellington to play a two-match series against Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League. April 21st April 21st April 22nd April 22nd April 24th
Arrive Wellington National Combine for those selected Game 1: AFLNZ Academy Level 2 vs MPJFL High Performance Awards Function Game 2: AFLNZ Academy Level 2 vs MPJFL AFL New Zealand Academy Youth Girls (players born 1999 younger)
24 players and 6 coaching staff are selected to travel to Wellington to play a two-match series against Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League. April 21st April 21st April 22nd April 22nd April 24th
Arrive Wellington National Combine for those selected Game 1: AFLNZ Academy Youth Girls vs MPJFL High Performance Awards Function Game 2: AFLNZ Academy Youth Girls vs MPJFL
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INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS AFL International Scholarship opportunities allow for up to eight players outside of Australia to be listed with each AFL club every year. The Academy programme, National Combine and high performance tournaments that involve New Zealand teams are monitored by AFL talent scouts looking to provide opportunities for talented athletes from New Zealand. New Zealand born players Kurt Heatherley (St Pauls Hamilton) have successfully transitioned through the process to gain AFL contracts with 2014 Premiers Hawthorn FC, whilst Barclay Miller (Middleton Grange School, Christchurch) currently has International Scholarships with AFL club St Kilda FC.
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NEW ZEALAND TEAMS ARE MONITORED BY AFL TALENT SCOUTS
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ACADEMY SCHEDULE
PH +64 9 448 0305 AFL New Zealand, PO Box 300 633 Albany, New Zealand
aflnz.co.nz @aflnz
/aflnz
AUCKLAND - QBE STADIUM, ALBANY Sundays: 9.00am – 11.00am
-- February 11th, February 18th, February 25th -- March 4th, March 11th, March 18th, March 25th -- April 8th, April 15th. -- February 14th, February 21st, February 28th -- March 7th, March 14th, March 21st, March 28th, -- April 4th
Wednesday’s: 6.00pm – 7.00pm
WELLINGTON - HUTT PARK, SEAVIEW Sundays: 9.30am – 11.30am
-- February 11th, February 18th, February 25th -- March 4th, March 11th, March 18th, March 25th -- April 8th, April 15th. -- February 14th, February 21st, February 28th -- March 7th, March 14th, March 21st, March 28th, -- April 4th
Wednesday’s: 6.00pm – 7.00pm
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CHRISTCHURCH - BURNSIDE RFC Sundays: 10.00am – 12.00pm
-- February 18th -- March 4th, March 18th -- April 2nd -- February 13th, February 20th, February 27th -- March 6th, March 13th, March 20th, March 27th, -- April 3rd, April 10th
Tuesday’s: 6.30pm – 8.00pm
DUNEDIN - LOGAN PARK Sundays: 10.00am – 12.00pm
-- February 25th -- March 11th -- April 8th -- February 14th, February 21st, February 28th -- March 8th, March 15th, March 22nd, March 29th, -- April 5th
Wednesday’s: 6.30pm – 8.00pm
NORTHLAND - AS PER AUCKLAND SCHEDULE. 17
PH +64 9 448 0305 AFL New Zealand, PO Box 300 633 Albany, New Zealand
aflnz.co.nz @aflnz
/aflnz