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Auckland Stadiums' director Paul Nisbett confirmed discussions have been taking place with both the AFL and St Kilda.
"Those discussions included the proposed redevelopment of Western Springs into an oval sports facility catering for cricket, AFL and other events," Nisbett told AFL.com.au.
"The possible redevelopment is in its early stages, but there is a strong desire to accommodate AFL as part of Auckland's event programme in future years."
Last edited by Con Gorozidis on Thu 04 May 2017 10:24pm, edited 1 time in total.
AFL NZ U18 Academy boys trained with us today ahead of their game against the U17 Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League this Friday pic.twitter.com/z1kiDD4Yd3
Great news IMHO. Not only will NZ secure our club but it will make us the biggest club in the AFL.......
1. Within 20 years I can see 15,000 kiwi based 2 game members.
2. Most kiwi's already living in Australia will start barracking for St Kilda.
3. Every kiwi that emigrates to Australia will 'automatically' barrack for St Kilda.
Blue skies, shinning on NZ...nothing but blue skies, from now on.
saintbrat wrote:making sure we have local support-
St Kilda FCVerified account @stkildafc
AFL NZ U18 Academy boys trained with us today ahead of their game against the U17 Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League this Friday pic.twitter.com/z1kiDD4Yd3
Are the NZ Saints going for a look alike team to us?
On the bottom row I can see Webster on the right, then Jackie boy second from right, Dunstan next to him, Goddard next to him in the centre, Jack Lonie between those two, Meatball standing up behind Jack with his eyes closed, Blake Acres' cousin standing up on the right, I think Holmes is one of those blokes bottom row on the left and McQualter standing up on the left.
As ex-president Peter Summers said:
“If we are going to be a contender, we may as well plan to win the bloody thing.”
St Kilda has renewed its connection with New Zealand, this time travelling across the Tasman on a recruiting mission as part of the AFL Academy’s level one program.
The Saints recruiters, along with 11 other AFL clubs, travelled to Wellington recently to interview, observe and analyse the future stars of our game.
Across a week long mission in New Zealand, St Kilda interviewed all 30 players on the camp, watched training sessions and observed how each boy interacted with others on the trip, as well as taking in a game against an overage Kiwi representative team.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
After playing the first ever exhibition match in New Zealand in 1991, St Kilda took the first game for premiership points across the pond on Anzac Day in 2013, where Sydney narrowly beat the Saints in the first of three consecutive Anzac Day fixtures.
While games haven’t been played in New Zealand since 2015, St Kilda is working closely with the city of Auckland to host more games in the future.
Saints State Recruiting Manager Chris Toce said it was clear the game was cutting through on their shores with AFL New Zealand holding a combine with 30 of their most talented prospects while the recruiters were in town.
“AFL is definitely growing over there,” Toce said. “AFL New Zealand handpicked roughly 30 players to test at the Combine and they run their own Combine in Wellington a few days before the game. It’s the same testing as the AFL version, focusing on speed, agility, endurance.”
The Saints opened up their doors to the AFL New Zealand under-17 team when they travelled to Melbourne last week, providing them with an insight into how an AFL club functions. This is part of a broader partnership the club has forged with AFL New Zealand, including become a major partner of AFL New Zealand’s KiwiKick and Secondary School programs.
“We offered them an opportunity come here and train and experience an AFL environment and the facilities that come with that. They got to experience the boys’ captains run and what comes into preparing before a game which was a good experience,” Toce said.
The Saints will provide similar support later this year to the New Zealand national team during this year’s International Cup.
magnifisaint wrote:Relocate Nth Melbourne to Canberra and let St Kilda play in Tassie.
No way.
Anyway when the western sydney experiment crashes and burns, GWS will be relocated to our national capital at a new purpose built stadium with a closed roof.
citywest wrote:Great news IMHO. Not only will NZ secure our club but it will make us the biggest club in the AFL.......
1. Within 20 years I can see 15,000 kiwi based 2 game members.
2. Most kiwi's already living in Australia will start barracking for St Kilda.
3. Every kiwi that emigrates to Australia will 'automatically' barrack for St Kilda.
Blue skies, shinning on NZ...nothing but blue skies, from now on.
citywest wrote:Great news IMHO. Not only will NZ secure our club but it will make us the biggest club in the AFL.......
1. Within 20 years I can see 15,000 kiwi based 2 game members.
2. Most kiwi's already living in Australia will start barracking for St Kilda.
3. Every kiwi that emigrates to Australia will 'automatically' barrack for St Kilda.
Blue skies, shinning on NZ...nothing but blue skies, from now on.
What are you smoking?
Not smoking anything....NZ will make us the biggest club in the AFL.
saynta wrote:Sorry, Kiwis will simply not be interested in aussie football. Not their game.
Giant mistake, imho.
Agree
Launching into a disinterested, small market..... not strategic
At least if PA pull off 00000.001% in China it'll dwarf anything we do in NZ
Blunder
Tiny market. Every young kid in NZ wants to be an All Black. Very little interest in the general population. The best athletes go to rugby. From a potential player perspective, we'll get the dregs from what is a very small pool. 15,000 members? That has to be the funniest thing I've heard on here. Apart from your assertion, CW, that Shane Savage is the best kick in the competition. Two classics for today. Savage isn't even the best kick at Sandy, let alone the whole competition, although I'm all ears if you'd care to provide the logic behind either of your assertions.
I started with nothing and I've got most of it left!
citywest wrote:Great news IMHO. Not only will NZ secure our club but it will make us the biggest club in the AFL.......
1. Within 20 years I can see 15,000 kiwi based 2 game members.
2. Most kiwi's already living in Australia will start barracking for St Kilda.
3. Every kiwi that emigrates to Australia will 'automatically' barrack for St Kilda.
Blue skies, shinning on NZ...nothing but blue skies, from now on.
What are you smoking?
Not smoking anything....NZ will make us the biggest club in the AFL.
I think its a good idea but they will have nothing to do with making us the biggest club in the AFL.
