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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 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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BE THE BEST
THE COMBINE PROGRAMME IS UNDERPINNED BY AN EXCITING TESTING FORMAT 5
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 Male and Female athletes are invited 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. 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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2019 ACADEMY FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND BENEFITS TOTAL COST: $200 DUE FEBRUARY 1ST 2019. 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 scouts and potential International Scholarship -- Viewing opportunities
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2019 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: AFL New Zealand, Email: Youth@aflnz.co.nz Phone: (09) 448 0305 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 2019
PAYMENT 2
$300 Due March 15th 2019
PAYMENT 3
$190 Due March 29th 2019
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 2000 and 2006 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 Youth Boys (players born 2004 – 2006, with possible inclusion of some 2003) 24 players and 6 coaching staff are selected to travel and play a twomatch series against Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League. April 5th April 6th April 6th April 7th April 8th
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Arrive Auckland Game 1: AFLNZ Academy Level 1 vs MPJFL High Performance Awards Function National Combine for those selected Game 2: AFLNZ Academy Level 1 vs MPJFL
AFL New Zealand Academy Level 2 Youth Boys (players born 2002 and 2003) 24 players and 6 coaching staff are selected to travel and play a twomatch series against Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League. April 5th April 6th April 6th April 7th April 8th
Arrive Auckland Game 1: AFLNZ Academy Level 2 vs MPJFL High Performance Awards Function National Combine for those selected Game 2: AFLNZ Academy Level 2 vs MPJFL AFL New Zealand Academy Youth Girls (players born 2000 younger)
24 players and 6 coaching staff are selected to travel and play a twomatch series against Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League. April 5th April 6th April 6th April 7th April 8th
Arrive Auckland Game 1: AFLNZ Academy Youth Girls vs MPJFL High Performance Awards Function National Combine for those selected 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 College, Hamilton), Joe Baker Thomas (Porirua College, Wellington), Giovanni Mountain-Silbery (Aorere College, Auckland) and Barclay Miller (Middleton Grange School, Christchurch) have successfully transitioned through the process to gain AFL International Scholarships.
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NEW ZEALAND TEAMS ARE MONITORED BY AFL TALENT SCOUTS
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PLAY AGAINST THE BEST 16
AFLW U18 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS The opportunity exists for the right athletes to be selected and invited to play in the AFL Youth Girls Championships in Australia. These championships are played at a different location of Australia each year in the first week of May where the best Youth Girls footballers from each Australian state and New Zealand come together to play AFL. Involvement and selection in the AFL Youth Girls Championships will involve a further financial commitment. New Zealand Kahu representative Jaimee Wyatt (pictured) represented Tasmania in the 2018 AFL Youth Girls Championships.
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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/NORTHLAND - QBE STADIUM, ALBANY Sundays: 9.00am – 11.00am
-- February 10th, February 17th, February 24th -- March 3rd, March 10th, March 17th, March 24th
WELLINGTON - HUTT PARK, SEAVIEW Sundays: 9.00am – 11.00am
-- February 10th, February 17th, February 24th -- March 3rd, March 10th, March 17th, March 24th
CHRISTCHURCH - BURNSIDE RFC Sundays: 9.00am – 11.00am
-- February 10th, February 17th, February 24th -- March 3rd, March 10th, March 17th, March 24th
DUNEDIN - LOGAN PARK Sundays: 9.00am – 11.00pm
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-- February 10th, February 17th, February 24th -- March 3rd, March 10th, March 17th, March 24th
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PH +64 9 448 0305 AFL New Zealand, PO Box 300 633 Albany, New Zealand
aflnz.co.nz @aflnz
/aflnz