Students enjoy thrills of AFL

Almost 50 Featherston Primary School pupils scored free tickets to the premier Aussie Rules Anzac Day game at Westpac Stadium in the capital today.

Australian Football League New Zealand gave the tickets to the pupils to help promote the organisation's AFL KiwiKick in schools, says Sam McKenzie, AFLNZ national play AFL community centre co-ordinator.

The Featherston children had already sampled the sport at the Pelorus Trust Stadium Sports Festival in March, where they learned the steps on the Westpac Stadium ground, the same arena at which the big game will be decided today.

However, the game today between St Kilda Saints and the Sydney Swans was only a curtain-raiser for the Wairarapa children to learn more about the fun, new, fast-paced sport, Mr Menzies said.

Featherston Primary School is now in line for a KiwiSport-funded AFL KiwiKick taster for its pupils.

"During AFL KiwiKick tasters they will be taught the fundamental skills of kick, catch, pass and bounce," says Mr McKenzie.

"These are basic ball skills which can be built on playing AFL or can transfer to a wide range of other sporting codes."

More than 20 greater Wellington schools - almost 1000 pupils and parents - took up the offer of free tickets to the Anzac Day clash, joining the crowd of more than 20,000 at the match.

The halftime games featured five additional Wellington schools that have graduated from the AFL KiwiKick programmes, as well as high profile sports stars and local celebrities.

Mr McKenzie, a New Zealand Hawks player, says the ticket offer was a great opportunity to thank the local community for its support and give people the experience of the fun and excitement of an AFL game on a big stage. "We're on target to see an amazing growth of kids playing AFL over the next three years in the region."

More AFL Anzac matches in Wellington could only grow that increase and interest, he said.

KiwiSport funding of $65,000 over three years, through Sport Wellington, launched AFL KiwiKick into the region in last year.

Hundreds of Wellington children have already completed the sport tasters.