Development players announced for 2018 AFLNZ Premiership

The AFL New Zealand Premiership will provide a number of talented players from the AFL New Zealand Academy the opportunity to participate in the Premiership as development players.

The opportunity will be utilised to further develop and manage the environment for young players and their introduction into senior football. The preparation they receive will potentially see them drafted and playing in the 2019 AFLNZ Premiership as a full time participant.

Those announced are all born in the year 2001 and are not guaranteed to play in the premiership or play every week. High Performance management will distribute development players to team’s week to week dependant on several factors including;

• The players stage of development
• The players physical preparedness and capability
• Approval from AFLNZ, the participants parents and the participant

Development Players will train with the Premiership group in their region along with their Academy commitments. Development opportunities on game day will be managed by AFL New Zealand and respective coaches this will include specific timing, rotation, opposition match ups and player review throughout the day.

The 16 Development players from the 2017 AFL New Zealand Premiership were all recently drafted into each of the four teams during the 2017 National Draft.

Congratulations to the 2018 AFL New Zealand Premiership Development players.