NZ v NAB AFL Academy
Tuesday 24 April 2018
Event Information
The Senior New Zealand National Men’s AFL side are once again set to continue their encounter with the AFL Academy when they return to the Capital to take on the best young players from Australia in April.
The AFL have confirmed that the Australian Under 17 team as part of the NAB AFL Academy will return to Aotearoa to take on the senior New Zealand national AFL side in a one off game at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on the 24th of April 2018.
Lead by AFL National Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan, the trip will be the seventh time the Australian Under 17 side has toured New Zealand and Sheehan is excited to bring back a brand new squad full of talent. “We certainly look forward returning to New Zealand once again and building on the successful experiences of past NAB AFL Academy tours.”
After six competitive matches since its inception in 2011, the New Zealand side will be looking to record their first win over the visitors in what will be a fantastic weekend for the sport in New Zealand.
Dubbed ‘The Superstars’ by AFL recruiters, the AFL Academy were convincing winners in 2017 at Wellington’s iconic stadium and coming off a successful International Cup campaign which saw New Zealand make the Grand Final, they will be competitive and be up for the challenge on April 24th.
The New Zealand side will have perfect preparation in the lead up where the team will be selected from the AFL New Zealand Premiership commencing February 11th. The Premiership is seen as the perfect opportunity for a higher level competition providing an extension to the traditional regional league seasons spanning between August to December each year.
Entry will be FREE on the day.
MATCH DAY TIMINGS
9.00am - Gates open
9.10am - Curtain raiser
11.30am - Kick off NZ Hawks v NAB AFL Academy
1.15pm - Estimated end of match
The Stadium’s commuter car parking will be available for event attendees on Ground and Mezzanine level of the public carpark.
The standard charge of $12 will apply
