However, its popularity in the last decade or so has
significantly increased in New Zealand. For example, Kiwikick was recently
established as the kiwi equivalent of Auskick in Australia, the AFL’s development
program for children.
 |
| A future for AFL in New Zealand? (Source: AFLNZ) |
ANZAC Day 2013 marked the first competitive game of AFL
played outside of Australia.
Prior to the Swan’s sixteen point victory in the
game against St Kilda, forward Adam Goodes drew on similarities between
his team and the beloved All Blacks at a press conference in Wellington.
“I think if people are coming
to watch the Swannies play for the first time and they’ve never seen us or
didn’t see the grand final last year, we like to play our game like the All
Blacks, which is hard and tough and for the full 90 minutes - which in our game
is 120 minutes,” he said
However, Goodes stated that he doesn’t want conflict with Union
lovers caused by the game being played in New Zealand, but rather showcasing and
sharing the sport with Australia’s neighbours across the Tasman.
In reference again to All
Black players, Goods said “it’s one thing that quite scares me to be honest, is
to have one of those boys tackle me, but we’re not over here to poach players
or anything like that, we just want to share our great game that we love in
Australia and that we play so proudly, like the All Blacks play rugby union
over here.”
 |
| Divided Opinion - Can the AFL coexist with Rugby Union in NZ? (Source: The Age) |
Just like the A-League and the NRL, could we see a team from
New Zealand playing in the AFL in the near future?
With over 50 countries having clubs or leagues which play regularly, the game certainly has an international appeal.
- Lachlan Lewis
