Sydney Swans co-captain Kieren Jack and St. Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt in Wellington ahead of today's historic first AFL match in New Zealand. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: The Daily Telegraph
SWANS co-captain Kieren Jack believes rugby-loving New Zealanders can fall for AFL football just like he did.
Today's history-making Anzac Day match in Wellington is expected to draw more than 20,000 fans to Westpac Stadium, home of rugby's Hurricanes.
"I tried a range of different sports and fell in love with AFL at 12 in an AusKick competition which is similar to KiwiKick over here," Jack said.
"I grew up in a very traditional rugby league background and didn't really come across the game of AFL until then.
"My passion just grew from there, it encompassed a lot of the skills and still had the same toughness levels and I really enjoyed that.
"As I started to grow older the passion really grew for AFL."
The AFL established KiwiKick in 35 New Zealand primary schools in 2009. That number has grown to 133 in 2012. Participation has gone from 1145 to 25,449 over that time with coaching numbers going from 44 to 628.
Jack believes bringing a competition game to Wellington will give New Zealand's rugby devotees a chance to make sense of what looks like a mystery sport on television.
"The more people come out that's where it starts, they come out and watch and develop an appetite," Jack said.
"Some kids might come out and watch and take it up and that's positive for the game and it's growth and hopefully we can put on a good show and people really enjoy it."
Saints co-captain Nick Riewoldt believes having the match on Anzac Day will add enormously to the sense of occasion for the locals and players alike.
"To play on Anzac Day in another country the first time in the history of the sport is a momentous occasion," Riewoldt said.
"Having been in the system for a long time I've always admired Collingwood and Essendon and they've had a mortgage on the day and represent the spirit of the day.
"As a playing group we feel really privileged to be doing that and our effort come game day will reflect that."
Westpac Stadium is home to the Hurricanes and the A-League's Wellington Phoenix but is configured in a perfect oval shape and is just 50cm shorter and wider than Etihad Stadium.
Swans coach John Longmire believes that makes it perfect for Aussie Rules.
"I don't think there's a bad seat in the house, to be able to sit there and watch a game of AFL football at a fantastic venue like this is a wonderful opportunity," Longmire said.
"You're right on top of the action and you'll be able to not only see what happens you'll be able to hear what happens. That's part of being able to come and see AFL live."
Longmire has made two changes to the team which lost to Geelong by 21 points.
Andrejs Everitt and Craig Bird come into the side for the injured Lewis Roberts-Thomson, while Mitch Morton has been dropped.
There are currently 14 players with New Zealand heritage playing in the AFL including Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn), Simon Black (Brisbane) and Karmichael Hunt (Gold Coast).
Five New Zealand-born players also hold AFL International scholarships.
The teams will play for the Simpson Henderson trophy which will be presented by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key.
Private John Simpson (Simpson and his donkey) served with the Australian Army Medical Corps and was killed in action at Gallipoli. Private Richard Henderson, a stretcher-bearer in the New Zealand Medical Corps, took over from Simpson.
Wellington's hotels have been completely booked out with 1500 Swans fans making the trip from Sydney and another 2500 of the St Kilda faithful travelling from Melbourne for the match.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Jack says AFL will win over Kiwis
Dengan url
http://sudahterlupakan.blogspot.com/2013/04/jack-says-afl-will-win-over-kiwis.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Jack says AFL will win over Kiwis
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Jack says AFL will win over Kiwis
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar