NAB AFL Auskick participants from around Australia have won the opportunity of a lifetime to play on the MCG at the 2008 Toyota AFL Grand Final. The wait is over for thousands of children who have been anxiously waiting to see if they would be chosen to take part in one of the biggest competitions for children in the country, thanks to National Australia Bank and the AFL.
The 94 winners, accompanied by a guardian will travel to Melbourne to participate in Grand Final week activities, which commence on Thursday September 25. This will include the Toyota AFL Grand Final Parade and the pre-match entertainment as well as playing in the NAB AFL Auskick half-time grid game during the Toyota AFL Grand Final. From this group, 22 children will be selected to present the 2008 Toyota AFL Premiership players with Premiership Medals.
NAB AFL Auskick Ambassador Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico said being part of one of the biggest sporting events in Australia was an experience the lucky children from across Australia would never forget.
“Most supporters could only ever dream of what these 94 kids are about to embark on when they are flown to Melbourne to participate in the Toyota AFL Grand Final Parade, before taking to the MCG at half-time during the Toyota AFL Grand Final . It is a memory they will carry with them for the rest of their lives,” Dipper said.
In its fourth year, the NAB AFL Auskick Grand Final competition is one of the biggest kids’ competitions of its kind - a truly national program with a winner selected from each of the 94 development regions across Australia.
AFL General Manager of National & International Development David Matthews said the competition, which has become a key feature for children around the country, provided an opportunity for NAB AFL Auskick participants from all regions across Australia to be part of this amazing experience.
“Through NAB AFL Auskick, Australian Football continues to develop in all regions across Australia, increasing the game’s national footprint. This competition celebrates this and ensures that children from all 94 development regions are represented” Mr Matthews said.
Mr Matthews also highlighted the growing popularity of NAB AFL Auskick which introduces primary school-aged boys and girls and their families to Australian Football through a sequential program of skill activities, skill games and modified matches.
“The NAB AFL Auskick program offers both a safe and fun environment that the whole family can be involved in and continues to enjoy enormous growth throughout the country each year. Since 1990, participation has increased from 24,186 to an astounding 170,000. Interestingly the biggest growth has been in NSW which will have an estimated 41,000 participants in 2008,” Mr Matthews said.
How did the children get so lucky? Simply by registering in the 2008 NAB AFL Auskick program.
Every NAB AFL Auskick participant across Australia, aged between five and 12, was automatically entered into the competition, which was electronically drawn on Monday 4 August at AFL House in Melbourne. One winner from each of the 94 development regions across Australia was selected, demonstrating that NAB AFL Auskick is certainly a national program that benefits all participants regardless of their geographic location.
Winners
Northern Territory: Bradley Pearce, Joshua Denniss, Kyle Petith, Jack Hopkins, Christine Puruntatameri
Western Australia: Aiden Rose, Daniel Schmidt, Madison Birch, Digby Pink, Mitchell Thornton, Zack Alvey, Ashley Baker, Rylie Poultney, Teagan Pell, Zakary Dempsey, Charlie Paton, Cree Calderwood, Andrew Bott, Kayla Lyons, Ryan Frantom, Jack Pennings, Aaron Leagas
Tasmania: Jayden McHenry, Kristen Whitley, Jordan Stead, Chloe De-Haan, Connor Smith, Chelsea Ryan, Billy Meere, George Scott
South Australia: Matthew McNeil, Zachary Meyvogel, Hayden Krieg, Lewis Tonkin, Sarah Daunt, Adam Waters, Dillon Hill, Katie Dunstan, Dylan Skurray, Caleb Poulter, Tyler Kerkemeyer, Jack Trenorden, Isaac Attanasio, Alicia Reynolds, Ethan Murphy, Billy Taheny, Nicholas Croser, Oscar Ladd
Queensland: Matthew Lamb, Evan Cassie, Cameron Edwards, Alisha Sippitts, Jessica Hampton, Sarah Bradley, Brayden McWaters, Stephanie Lucas, Isaac Williams, Zachary Hokins, Thomas Akeroyd, Max Penny
New South Wales/ACT: Alexander Lawton, Jay Clatworthy, Isaak Wolff, Harry Penny, Hayden Wardius, Ed Hughes, Luke Etherington, Lachlan O’Brien, Skye-Kathleen Alley, Benn Cheney, Joshua Blake Oliver, Rory Symonds, Olivia Christie, Justin Praseuthsouk, Patrick Malloy
Victoria: Briley Patullo, Dane Holmberg, Joshua Langsam, Lance Malone, Christian Larizza, Mitchell Bown, Kaleb Collins, Josh Kunjka, Cooper Gretton, Leah Bartlett, Michael Blackmore, Ryan Watson, Thomas Geary, Megan Wearne, Sienna Courtney, Brady Rowles, Alex Menzel, Dakota Byrne, Charlotte Launder.
