2022 AFLNZ Women’s Heritage Team

The inaugural AFL New Zealand Women’s Heritage Team was selected in September 2021, showing the depth of involvement New Zealanders have in AFL at the highest level.

The 2021 Heritage team was the first showcase of female talent playing AFL. The 2022 Heritage team has expanded on that with all 20 players featuring in AFLW

The 2022 Heritage team boasts an exciting mix of both established and rising AFL stars such as Jasmine Garner from the North Melbourne Football Club, Brisbane Lions star Jesse Wardlaw and Port Adelaide rising star Abbie Dowrick, youthful talent as well as home grown New Zealand representatives.

To meet the criteria to be selected in the AFLNZ heritage team, each player must either have been born in New Zealand or have New Zealand parentage.

The 2022 team consists of 20 players currently playing regularly in the AFLW competition for their respective clubs.

The introduction of the AFLNZ Youth Competition in 2015 was a major success in placing High School aged students on the pathway to AFL

This is great news for the future of the sport in both countries. New Zealanders moving to Australia will have an understanding and enjoyment of the game, and Australian clubs will have a bigger pool of talented players to select from. The New Zealand Heritage Team is a reflection of the strong links that already exist between the two countries. A passion for AFL is one of those links that is growing stronger every year. a goal