Play AFL Pathway Project providing outcomes for Harbour Sport

AFL New Zealand in partnership with Harbour Sport and the Kiwisport initiative are currently conducting the Harbour Secondary Schools Play AFL Pathway project.

The project includes delivery of any number of the AFL NZ Secondary School programmes that can be delivered to schools that either link with curriculum or competition based. Current schools involved in the project:

Carmel College

Rosmini College

Long Bay College

Glenfield College

Northcote College

Birkenhead College

Through the project and subsequent delivery of sessions and competitions 8 Athletes from North Harbour Secondary Schools were selected for the 2015 AFL NZ Academy.

The AFL New Zealand Academy was newly introduced in 2015 and has a focus on developing athletes skill, fitness along with a training, game and development programme that highlights the necessary requirements to play AFL.

Joseph Alesich-Tamariki, Lewis Barrow-Young, Jacob Tucker and Luke Dunning all went on to be selected for U16 New Zealand Hawks and played in their recent campaign against the AFL South East Victoria Peninsula Saints in Wellington over the ANZAC break.

 Read more: U16 NZ Hawks vs U16 AFL South East Peninsula Saints

Joshua Copeland of Westlake Boys High School continues his development and played quality football at the recent Academy National League competition in Wellington, once again being selected in the U18 New Zealand Hawks Wider squad for their campaign in October.

AFL New Zealand is introducing a new attainable step in the pathway for participants of Secondary School AFL to progress to playing out of school. This comes in the form of the new U15 and U17 competition that will start at the end of term 3 and be the next step toward selection in the AFL NZ Academy and National Representation.

If you would like to know more about how you can get your school involved in the Harbour Secondary School Play AFL Pathway Project having AFL delivered at your school and provide your students with the opportunity to play AFL please contact Mick Coultard National Secondary Schools Manager on hawkscup@aflnz.co.nz or 027 205 0054 for further information.