The New Zealand Hawks have gone down to the AIS Under 17 squad in a close match, with the AIS 4.16.40 defeating New Zealand Hawks 5.6.36.
Justin Davies is the coach of the New Zealand Hawks, which played out a thriller agains the AIS Academy Under 17s at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday.
A former Frankston Dolphins player in the VFA, he also coached Frankston YCW and Red Hill in the Mornington Peninsula Football League before moving to New Zealand in 2005.
Justin was the assistant coach of the Hawks during their International Cup campaign in 2008 when New Zealand came second to Papua New Guinea. He took over the senior coaching reigns the following year.
New Zealand play the AIS side annually, in a game which Justin says is used to gauge the progress of the New Zealand sides development. He sways that the last three years have shown that the sides are getting closer and closer.
This year the margin was just four points.
The team went into this year’s match with the goal of negating the perceived edge the AIS side had in skill and speed, and deliberately tried to play a more defensive, congested style of football. This was reflected in the match reports which all agree that the game was very defensive in nature. Justin says the tackling pressure from the Hawks was fantastic.
Justin tells me that the New Zealand side has great strengths in fitness and endurance, and that the team excels in man on man defence. Conversely, they lack something in general football skills, awareness and occasional inconsistency which can cause good play to come undone.
For this match, the New Zealand side had the assistance of Andrew Congalton (NZ), as well as Paul Hudson (St Kilda), Mark Mckenzie (Hawthorn) and Andrew Cadzow (AFL). Justin says that the involvement and assistance of these organisations and personnel is having a tangible effect on the development of both coaches and players alike.
Justin says that this year’s standout performers for New Zealand were Khan Haretuku (Frankston VFA), Cameron Illett (NT Thunder) and Andrew Howison. Joe Baker-Thomas, listed last year by St Kilda, played well up forward, while. Cam Bailey, a New Zealand player featured prominently in the Hawks defence, and Justin says that he’s going to be one to watch in the future.
This years team was notable for having several Australian based players who didn’t come through the AFL New Zealand system, including Haretuku, Illett, Matt and Lachie Argus. Justin says these players (all play NEAFL/VFL) add experience and leadership to the side.
Justin believes that the result this year is indicative that the New Zealand side is getting closer in skill to its Australian counterpart, and that the number of players linked to AFL clubs is indicative of that. There are four New Zealand players from the AFLNZ system on AFL clubs lists (three at Hawthorn, one at St Kilda), with West Perth in the WAFL having also signing Tamati Young.
There is another half dozen or so players eligible for New Zealand playing in state level clubs in the NEAFL and VFL that didn’t come through the New Zealand system, but combined they are poised to give the international cup in Melbourne a good run.
Final Score
Australian under-17 4.16 (40) defeated New Zealand Hawks 5.6 (36)
Goal kickers
Australian under-17: Sushames, Mathieson, Hagan, Burton
New Zealand Hawks: Clark, Baker-Thomas, Morton, Christensen, Butler
Best
Australian under-17: Tahana, Weitering, Stewart, Hopper, Dunkley, Sullivan, Mills, Tucker
New Zealand Hawks: Howison, Haretuku, Ilett, Christensen, Miller, McKenzie
Mal
Guest
You would hope so - it's kids vs men.
TW
Guest
Here is the official video of the game in 4 parts. There is no kick by kick commentary. The Kiwis lived up to their promise to try and close the game down defensively. The margins in these particular games have been shrinking each time. So what does that mean -The AIS standard is slipping each time and the Kiwis are staying the same - Doubt it. The Hawks are getting better and the majoritory are from the NZ based High Performance program. http://aflnz.co.nz/video-of-new-zealand-hawks-vs-ais-afl-academy-2014/
Bruce
Guest
Gee, 16 year old kids against grown men, that makes the whole exercise pretty meaningless. Its looks like the Kiwis best players were heitage players who live and play here as well. I don't think you can gauge too much about NZ AFL on this game.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Inaccurate kicking or a lot of rushed behinds/touched kicks?
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
I believe so. So yes, this does take a little of the lustre off the performance, however its still the closest match these sides have had, and on that basis I think the improvement tag is warranted.
Bruce
Guest
Was the NZ team open age ?
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
I believe Cameron uis currently captain of the thunder. I dont know who the NZ captain is.
Rising Power
Guest
Would the captain have been Cam Illett? He played a few games for the Port Adelaide Magpies a few years ago before going on to play in the ACT and then the NT Thunder. Pretty sure he's also played in NEAFL rep teams too. His older brother Jared is/was captain of the Thunder too.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
They full side plays generally one or two games annually. They play a pacific islands team in april this year, and then the international cup
Bruce
Guest
They wouldn't want to promote this game - the standard would be atrocious.
Chocco
Roar Rookie
Very grass roots orientated, so i am not sure whether the intention is to really promote, certainly the AFL will be keen to promote their league, and in particular Hawthorn which has 2 Kiwis on their list, and St Kilda which has a couple of kiwis as well.
Go warriors
Guest
It is a shame this match was not televised or promoted in NZ. Us Kiwis love sport and will support NZ in any sport. The NRL 9s has already sold out Eden Park the largest stadium in NZ. It is going to be massive. It was very well promoted. If this match could be promoted better and televised this could also be a success.
Simmo
Guest
How many games per year does the NZ Hawks play?
TW
Guest
Wookie and Chocco, I will post the following comments by AFLNZ Chairman Geoff Dickson which he made after the match. They are music to my ears and are very true due to the finite talent base in Australia. The current talent base IMHO is as good as it will get. So what is the alternative- International of course which is now only being searched in a semi serious manner in limited markets. I realise currently most AFL fans could not care less about the international game but we cannot do much about that now. As quoted - The afternoon concluded with a message from AFL New Zealand Chairman Geoff Dickson, who asked the AIS players and staff to carry a message back to Australia with them. “The one weakness in AFL is the lack of international representative football. Our boys are proud and passionate to represent their country, and we want you to aspire to represent your country too.” Quote courtesy of the AFLNZ website.
Chocco
Roar Rookie
Not sure whether Kiwi Adam Campbell is still playing, but the former Docker was a bit stiff IMO at getting a regualr AFL gig.
Chocco
Roar Rookie
"One wonders how a full strength Ireland would go against a full strength New Zealand" I guess we will not really find out, as probably all AFL listed players won't be playing in the INTERNATIONAL CUP 2014 ......but some answers will be revealed from August 9th to 23rd. http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20130618220908857
Ben
Guest
Must have been a bumper crowd for such a big match!
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
A few minor corrections after this was submitted: 1. Justin Davies had a coaching role at Frankston YCW and Red Hill - he just wasnt THE coach. 2. Melbourne also had an international scholarship player in this team, meaning all three current scholarship holders from NZ participated in this event. There are currently fourteen NZ players in either the AFL or state competitions at this time. Half of whom have come through the AFLNZ local system. From this years squad: State listed Cameron Illett (NT Thunder, NEAFL) Matthew Argus (NT Thunder, NEAFL) Lachlan Argus (NT Thunder, NEAFL) Brendon Clark (NT Thunder, NEAFL) Khan Haretuku (Frankston, VFL) Andrew Howison (Collegians, VAFA) Andy Christenson (unknown) (Tamati Young wasnt named in this years side, but is signed to West Perth for the coming season.) * Im told the Captain of the side will be training with Sandringham..im just not sure who the Captain is. AFL listed Siope Ngata (Auckland) - Hawthorn International Scholarship Joe Baker Thomas (Wellington) - St Kilda International Scholarship Not included Kurt Heatherly (Hawthorn) - promoted to full rookie list Shem Tatupu (Hawrhtorn) - promoted to full rookie list Maiai Westrup (Melbourne) - International scholarship holder Thats fourteen players right there, the kiwis are coming. Slowly but surely. One wonders how a full strength Ireland would go against a full strength New Zealand.