Hawthorn FC President Jeff Kennett, AFLNZ Chairman Geoff Dickson and the AFL’s Community Development Manager Dean Warren launched the program in New Zealand on Wednesday evening with the help of Hawthorn’s Kiwi players Trent Croad, Brent Renouf and Shane Savage.
Three New Zealand-born Hawks: Shane Savage, Brent Renouf and Trent Croad.
This unprecedented alliance between Hawthorn FC and AFLNZ has been agreed for an initial three year period (until the end of 2012) with the option for the Hawks to extend it through to the end of 2018. It will see Hawthorn promote AFL football in New Zealand through a variety of activities including ‘KiwiKick’, the Hawks Cup, Trent Croad Scholarship Scheme and annual skills clinics featuring Hawks players.
The ‘Hawks Kids’ television program will also be produced with local content to be broadcast during the season on television throughout New Zealand while a significant number of Hawthorn matches will be televised live into the country from 2010 onwards.
In another initiative, all New Zealand AFL teams participating from U/16 to senior level will now play under the banner of the ‘NZ Hawks’ with their official uniforms displaying the Hawks emblem.
The program will also include a national talent identification network which will identify young sportsmen suitable to be signed under the AFL International Scholarship Scheme. Kurt Heatherley, from Tauranga - 220km SE of Auckland, will become the first of these young players to join the Hawks. A highly regarded young sportsman in New Zealand, Kurt will undertake specialist training and coaching with the Hawks - both in Australia and New Zealand - between 2010-2012.
Kurt will participate in various AFLNZ player programs at U/16 and U/18 levels in the Oceania Region ahead of being eligible to be listed as a player with Hawthorn in 2013.
Chris Pelchen presents Kurt Heatherley with his first Hawks guernsey.
A dedicated website has also been established to keep all Hawks supporters in Australia and New Zealand up-to-date with the latest activities surrounding the HANZ-UP! AFL Program - hanzup.co.nz
Jeff Kennett said the HANZ-UP! AFL Program will assist with the growth of Australian Rules football in New Zealand.
"Today we plant an acorn, from which will grow a mighty force, the Tasman Triangle. The partnership between Hawthorn Football Club in Victoria, with New Zealand and Tasmania, will offer and develop the Australian football code, giving young people the choice to play the game, from which talented players might find a professional career,” Kennett said.
“Hawthorn comes to New Zealand not to challenge any existing competition, but to provide added choice and excitement,” he said.
AFLNZ Chairman Geoff Dickson said Hawthorn’s presence in New Zealand will help further integrate AFL into the local sporting community.
“AFLNZ is delighted to be partnering with Hawthorn Football Club and we are committed to making Australian football a New Zealand game,” Dickson said.
This relationship represents a big step forward for Australian football in New Zealand. An important feature of this agreement is its emphasis on developing the game. It will assist AFLNZ to grow the game through the ‘KiwiKick’ program for primary schools and ‘KiwiKick Pro’ program for intermediate schools.
The AFL’s Community Development Manager, Dean Warren, said the HANZ-UP! AFL Program is an exciting part of the AFL’s international vision for the game.
“AFL clubs and their players are Australian football’s biggest promotional assets, and to have one of the AFL’s most recognised and successful clubs supporting AFLNZ and the growth and development of the game in New Zealand is very exciting,” Warren said.
“The AFL is delighted that Hawthorn Football Club genuinely shares our international vision.”
Hawthorn FC, in association with AFLNZ, looks forward to the development of AFL football in New Zealand and the opportunity for further promotion of the Hawks brand throughout the ‘Tasman Triangle’.
It’s time for the Kiwis to put their HANZ-UP! for the Hawks!
Visit the HANZ-UP! page to find out more.
