AFLNZ NPC 2014

O F F I C I A L P R O G R A M M E DECEMBER 6-7, 2014 HUTT PARK, LOWER HUTT, WELLINGTON

A Message from AFL New Zealand 2014 has been a year of consolidation for the sport of AFL in New Zealand, with the gains made in recent years entrenched and strengthened.

The sport has been boosted at every level by the AFL coverage carried by Sommet Sports, which now has the best presence on Free to Air television of any sport in New Zealand. The effect of this has been profoundly noticable, with everyone involved in the delivery of AFL New Zealand programmes reporting a huge upswing of knowledge and interest in AFL. The ANZAC Day matches in Wellington continued, with a range of successful events aimed at growing the fanbase of the sport at a Community level. More than 3000 children and their families from schools around the Wellington region attended the 2014 match, with hundreds running onto the field to play AFL 9s at half time. With Carlton FC confirmed to visit next year, these kids will be first in line to come back and experience live AFL again.

At an International level, teams have represented New Zealand with distinction across 2014. The New Zealand Hawks shocked their AIS AFL Academy opposition

in January, coming within 4 points of victory.

The team also travelled to Melbourne for the International Cup, coming 3rd and losing only to eventual victors Papua New Guinea.

Teams have also represented New Zealand at U16, U18 and Female U18 levels.

Within the AFL New Zealand High Performance programme, the depth of talent now exists to build a National League, scheduled to begin in January 2016. With the top AFL players in the country playing more regularly against each other, the standard of play will inevitably rise, which will benefit New Zealand Hawks representative teams immensely. Teams carrying the flag for New Zealand in International contests will be better equipped to beat the best.

The backbone of New Zealand Hawks teams are the Regional Leagues that are represented here this weekend. The AFL New Zealand NPC is the culmination of a season of tough matches and exciting contests. Every player here has earned their place through performance over the season, and should be proud to represent their region.

AFL New Zealand wishes every team the best of luck, and we hope that you will play with the values held dear by AFL fans in New Zealand. Play hard, play fair, and play with respect for opponents, teammates, spectators and officials.

AUCKLAND The Auckland AFL is the largest regional league in New Zealand, with six clubs covering the vast breadth of New Zealand’s largest city. The Auckland Buccaneers are the current Champions of New Zealand, and will be defending their title in Wellington.

Auckland’s squad includes a large contingent of players who represented New Zealand at the recent AFL International Cup, along with others who have represented New Zealand, either at Senior or age group level. Many of the players will be returning from the successful 2013 NPC campaign, making Auckland one of the more experienced teams in the competition.

The strongest contingent from a club hails from the University Blues, who won the Minor Premiership across the regular season.

Auckland’s coach, Chris Mundell, is a key figure within the Blues, and will be looking to replicate the success at club level with the Buccaneers.

COACH

Chris Mundell

ASSISTANT COACH

Michael Lentini

MANAGER

Michael Lentini

FIRST NAME

SURNAME

CLUB

1

Matt

Kemp

Mt Roskill Saints

2

MIchael

Boyce

Mt Roskill Saints

3

Sam

McKenize

Mt Roskill Saints

4

Sven

Guttenbeil

Mt Roskill Saints

5

Chris

Mundell

University Blues

6

Liam

Beattie

University Blues

7

Michael

Crutchley

University Blues

8

Steph

Tabaillu

University Blues

9

Tim

Morton

University Blues

10

Ben

Hick

University Blues

11

Liam

McAlsister

University Blues

12

Siope

Ngata

University Blues

13

Matthew

Gale

University Blues

14

Jamie

Gresham

Waitakere Magpies

15

Michael

Gregson

Waitakere Magpies

16

Will

Gregson

Waitakere Magpies

17

Josh

Copeland

Waitakere Magpies

18

Shane

Leat

Waitakere Magpies

19

Mitch

Ryan

North Shore Tigers

20

Noora

Packer

North Shore Tigers

21

Te Kopa

Tipene

North Shore Tigers

22

Rhys

Panui-Leith

North Shore Tigers

23

Brad

Wade

Manurewa Raiders

24

Liam

Devoy

Manurewa Raiders

25

Pete

Rogers

University Blues

26

Sam

Richards

University Blues

CANTERBURY FIRST NAME

SURNAME

CLUB

1

Zach

Inglis

Eastern Blues

2

Stefan

van Gruting

Christchurch Bulldogs

The Canterbury Cobras will have a point to prove after having their title snatched by Auckland at home in 2013. After three years in a row of NPC titles between 2010 and 2012, the Cobras will be desperate to return to their winning ways.

3

Levi

Inglis

Eastern Blues

4

Kyle

Smith

Christchurch Bulldogs

5

Josh

Robles

Mid Canterbury Eagles

6

Chris

Leader

Eastern Blues

Their squad features plenty of Eastern Blues and Christchurch Bulldogs, the two teams who contested the Canterbury AFL Grand Final in 2014. Further key players from the Ashburton Eagles and University Cougars will be in attendance.

7

Jamie

Exeter

Christchurch Bulldogs

8

Louis

Watt

Eastern Blues

10

Todd

Andrews

Christchurch Bulldogs

11

Steve

McCarron

University Cougars

12

Sam

Burdett

Christchurch Bulldogs

13

Jonty

Hall

Christchurch Bulldogs

14

Jared

Percival

Christchurch Bulldogs

15

Toby

Foley

Christchurch Bulldogs

16

Richie

Heazlewood

Mid Canterbury Eagles

18

Cam

Bailey

Eastern Blues

17

Jared

Court

Eastern Blues

20

Brad

Mavor

Christchurch Bulldogs

21

Cam

Lubransky

Eastern Blues

22

Lawrence

Babe

Eastern Blues

23

Chris

Morel

Mid Canterbury Eagles

24

Matt

Crighton

Mid Canterbury Eagles

25

Dan

Talo

Eastern Blues

28

Ricky

van Olphen

Mid Canterbury Eagles

Many players in the squad have represented New Zealand, and their experience will be key in the big matches at the NPC. Coach Harry Peterson is returning from 2013, and bringing with him many of the same players. The Canterbury Cobras look like being the team best placed to take the title off Auckland, who they will play in the final match of the tournament.

COACH

Harry Peterson

ASSISTANT COACH

Ricky van Olphen

MANAGER

Ricky van Olphen

OTAGO The Otago Riot are the newest team in the NPC, having only competed at two previous tournaments. Every year the sport grows in the deep south, and the Riot are better placed than ever to win their first ever NPC match in 2014.

AFL in Otago is organised by stalwarts Michael Bruhn and Warwick Kain, who are leading the campaign in 2014. The impact of key players will be crucial for the Riot. Current New Zealand Hawk Logan Toomer is captaining their side, and is joined by a small group of NZ Hawks and High Performance players. Otago has a relatively young squad, and the test for the Riot will be in depth and bench strength. If they can get good performances from the whole squad, they could be the surprise package of the 2014 NPC.

FIRST NAME

SURNAME

1

Mark

Jahn

2

Ali

Cargo

5

Dan

Benny

6

Mick

Bruhn

7

Michael

Coventry

9

Lachlan

Eade

10

Antony

Stadnyk

11

Logan

Selvadurai

14

Conor

O'Fee

15

William

Dickinson

16

Sam

Shearer

17

Aaron

ONiel

18

Nic

McDonald

19

James

Nind

20

Andrew

Miller

21

Logan

Toomer (Capt)

22

Robert

Middlemiss

24

Andrew

Ashton

25

Tom

McBride

26

Rhys

Cunningham

33

Tom

Bekkers

COACH

Warwick Kain

ASSISTANT COACH

Michael Bruhn

MANAGER

Michael Bruhn

34

George

Read

MEDIC (QUALIFIED PHYSIO)

Cape Physio Dunedin

37

Phil

Crowe

WELLINGTON FIRST NAME SURNAME

CLUB

3

Blair

Mills

Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs

7

Matthew

George

Hutt Valley Eagles

8

Jack

Green

North City Demons

12 Jared

Burns

Wellington City Saints

14 Mikey

Smith

Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs

15 James

Kusel

Hutt Valley Eagles

19 Nathan

Lenihan

Hutt Valley Eagles

The Wellington AFL is made up of 4 clubs, with the Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs the recent winners of the 2014 Premiership. Wellington is fortunate to have a strong group of players to select from, after a season of full squads at each club vying for selection in the NPC team.

23 James

Terry (Captain) Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs

26 Brendan

Jessup

Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs

31 Craig

Morgan

Hutt Valley Eagles

36 Alex

Awatere

North City Demons

45 Ryan

Roselli

Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs

The Wellington Tigers will also be boosted by a mid-season match against Auckland, in which the Tigers exceeded expectations by coming within 6 points of the highly regarded Aucklanders.

With players who can stand up at important moments of matches, Wellington are the dark horse of the 2014 NPC.

48 Guy

Ferguson

Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs

49 Connor

McGeough

Hutt Valley Eagles

52 Jason

Wozniak

Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs

53 Hayden

Mourits

Wellington City Saints

54 Liam

Townsend

Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs

55 Jason

Cox

Wellington City Saints

56 Waylon

Baker

North City Demons

57 Thomas

Delaney

Wellington City Saints

58 Rhylee

Ioane-Fidow

Hutt Valley Eagles

59 Sam

Green

North City Demons

61 Tim

McBride

Wellington City Saints

63 Peter

Halstead

Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs

69 Troy

Lavery

Hutt Valley Eagles

77 Ryan

McLean

Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs

88 Stanley

Chung

Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs

The Wellington Tigers are the hosts of the 2014 NPC, and will make the most of the often difficult home conditions. After a difficult campaign in 2013, hopes are high in the capital that the Tigers can improve on their 3rd place.

COACH

Jason Wozniak

ASSISTANT COACH

John Jackson

MANAGER

Margaret Lavery

RUNNER

Fletcher Barclay

PHYSIOS

David Candy and Peter Halstead

AFL CLASSIC MATCH REPLAY Wednesdays, from 4.00pm every week SOMMET SPORTS IS NEW ZEALAND'S ONLY FREE TO AIR SPORTS CHANNEL

DURING THE AFL SEASON SOMMET SPORTS TELEVISES EVERY GAME, INCLUDING LIVE COVERAGE OF 6 GAMES A WEEK

Itinerary Saturday December 6th 1.00pm

Wellington vs Auckland

GAME 1

Q1

Q2

Q3

FULLTIME

Q2

Q3

FULLTIME

WELLINGTON AUCKLAND

2.30pm

Canterbury vs Otago

GAME 1

Q1

CANTERBURY OTAGO

4.30 – 5.30pm

NPC Function. Pelorus House, adjacent to the playing fields.

Sunday December 7th 9.30am

Auckland vs Otago

GAME 1

Q1

Q2

Q3

FULLTIME

Q2

Q3

FULLTIME

Q2

Q3

FULLTIME

Q3

FULLTIME

AUCKLAND OTAGO

11.00am Canterbury vs Wellington GAME 1

Q1

CANTERBURY WELLINGTON

12.30pm Lunch 1.30pm Wellington vs Otago GAME 1

Q1

WELLINGTON OTAGO

3.00pm

Canterbury vs Auckland

GAME 1

Q1

Q2

CANTERBURY AUCKLAND

4.30pm Games conclude and Presentations Best player for each team | Leading Goal Kicker | Tournament Best Player | Tournament winner

5.00pm Tournament Concludes