128,000 Register For NAB AFL Auskick - a new record

[The_Wookie]

4.08.24 The most awesome club just got bigger! More than 128,000 children around Australia have joined the biggest, most awesome club of all in 2024 – NAB AFL Auskick – to break the program’s all-time registered participation record. Surpassing last year’s record total figure of 126,245, the milestone number will continue to climb before the season officially closes on October 31, with registrations for NAB AFL Auskick now open for terms three and four. The new record follows last week’s announcement that registered participation in Australian Rules Football has hit an all-time high, sitting at more than 530,000 across the country. NAB AFL Auskick participation is up seven per cent nationally compared to this time last year, with girls now accounting for nearly 25 per cent of the overall total – up eight per cent from 2023. Traditional footy heartland states including Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania have all broken participation records for NAB AFL Auskick this season, as well as Queensland, while Western Australia is right on the cusp of achieving a new milestone in 2024. The SANFL revealed last week they have hit more than 12,000 Auskickers (up eight per cent) to surpass 2019’s record year, while AFL Victoria has eclipsed more than 43,000 participants (up eight per cent) and AFL Tasmania has reached more than 2,800 Auskickers for the first time (up 21 per cent) – a pleasing sign as the next generation aspire to play for the Tassie Devils.

​ Lauderdale Auskick Centre in Tasmania has nearly doubled in participants this season, growing to almost 120 NAB AFL Auskickers. Photo: Linda Higginson

Queensland has also broken its all-time participation record for NAB AFL Auskick – surpassing more than 30,000 Auskickers and up 13 per cent on last year. There’s been a 15 per cent increase in girls participation in the sunshine state, with girls making up nearly 32 per cent of the overall total equating to 10,000 players. Spotlighting footy in the Northern Territory during Sir Doug Nicholls Round and committing to more AFL matches in the NT has no doubt been a catalyst for the Top End’s participation spike. AFLNT has seen a jump of 45 per cent so far this year, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players accounting for nearly 50 per cent of the overall total and girls almost 40 per cent. The introduction of all-girls Auskick centres across the country has helped connect more girls to the game, providing inclusive environments for all ages and abilities. This year South Australia and Western Australia have run a combined 130 all-girls centres and have both achieved growth in girls’ participation – with WA on track to reach a record 3,000 girls who have pulled on their favourite footy colours and boots. Meanwhile, Tasmania, Queensland and Victoria have also seen an increase in girls’ participation, jumping 24, 14 and eight per cent respectively, attributing to more than 18,500 Auskickers. Game promotion initiatives sparked from the Fan Hub in Greater Western Sydney, coupled with AFLW and AFL Community Camps in New South Wales and ACT, has seen a jump in participants with a parent born overseas – now making up nearly 30 per cent of their overall total – while Isaac Heeney 5 Isaac Heeney Age 28 Ht 185cm Wt 88kg Pos. M/F Career Season Last 5 D 18.2 5star K 10.4 4star HB 7.7 5star M 4.9 5star T 4.1 5star CL 2.2 4star D 14.3 3star K 8.8 4star HB 5.5 3star M 4.8 4star T 2.5 3star CL 0.8 3star D 10.4 3star K 7.2 3star HB 3.2 3star M 2.8 3star T 2.4 4star CL 0.8 3star country on the Hunter Central Coast is tracking 17 per cent higher compared to 2023. Wheelchair Auskick Centres continue to pop up across the country, helping grow the game and making it more accessible for all children.

​ Queensland has broken its NAB AFL Auskick registered participation record this year, soaring past 30,000 participants. Photo: AFL Photos / Dylan Burns

Executive General Manager of Game Development, Rob Auld, said grassroots participation is key to sustaining the game for future generations. “I’d like to thank every NAB AFL Auskicker who has picked up a footy, pulled up their socks and given Australian Rules Football a go this season – it’s all about having fun and positive experiences with your friends and family,” Auld said. “It’s an incredible time to celebrate our Auskick community as it continues to grow, and for the second consecutive year break its all-time participation record. It’s an achievement that wouldn’t be possible without all the club volunteers, parents and helpers who run clinics each week. “It’s been pleasing to see more all-girls Auskick centres offered around the country as well the addition of Wheelchair Auskick and all-abilities sessions. It’s these opportunities and providing more ways to play which will help us grow the game as we strive to keep grassroots footy strong and have footy in every home. “Running sessions after school and giving more flexibility to suit families and their busy schedules also enables more children to get involved – and the parents! “NAB has been an invaluable partner of NAB AFL Auskick for almost two decades and I’d like to thank their team for their continual support and commitment to helping instil a love of footy in children around the country.” NAB Group CEO Andrew Irvine congratulated the communities involved in breaking the record. “It’s brilliant to see NAB’s partnership with the AFL Auskick program making a mark, with a record number of kids taking to the field again this year. “The program builds friendships and community connections around local footy ovals that can last a lifetime. We’re proud to play a role in empowering the next generation of players, their coaches and the volunteers that bring this game to life. “It’s fantastic to see a growing number of girls lacing up their boots, now making up a quarter of teams across the country and counting. I can’t wait to see the 23 lucky kids from the Team NAB AFL Auskick competition running alongside their heroes onto the MCG to present them their medals on 2024 Toyota AFL Grand Final Day.”

​ Participants are all smiles at an all-girls NAB AFL Auskick clinic in the Northern Territory. Photo: AFLNT

2024 NAB AFL AUSKICK STATS: South Australia has hit more than 12,000 NAB AFL Auskickers to break its registered participation record, surpassing last year’s total of 11,867. Tasmania has broken it’s NAB AFL Auskick participation record with more than 2,800 registered players, eclipsing its previous record of 2,491. Queensland has broken its all-time registered participation record hitting more than 30,000 players, with a boost of five per cent with participants with disability and girls accounting for nearly 32 per cent of the overall figure. Victoria has a new record of more than 43,000 Auskickers and has seen an eight per cent increase in girls participation. Western Australia has seen a 3.3 per cent increase in girls’ participation and is on track to record 3,000 young girls pulling on the boots. Nearly 30 per cent of New South Wales/ACT’s total Auskick participation figure has a parent born overseas. The Northern Territory has broken its all-time participation record for Auskick, with girls accounting for 40 per cent of the total. To find your awesome and join NAB AFL Auskick head to: play.afl/Auskick

 

[Chief]

Have to say the value for Auskick in Queensland is great. Not sure of the price these days but it is usually 1/4 or less than soccer, basketball, or league, and better organised.

 

[RedV3x]

Have to say the value for Auskick in Queensland is great. Not sure of the price these days but it is usually 1/4 or less than soccer, basketball, or league, and better organised.

Auskick, the below "modified" game, is a winner Australia-wide as it goes directly to the clubs and there are no costs.
I believe soccer fees are extremely high for political reasons.
Sports with courts have to pay for the court hire.
T-ball has to pay for field hire and cost of uniforms.

 

[Chief]

I believe soccer fees are extremely high for political reasons.

What would these be?

 

[Outtatym]

What would these be?

They're broke?

 

[RedV3x]

What would these be?

Amateur clubs are levied to support upper structure.

 

[Chief]

Amateur clubs are levied to support upper structure.

Basketball fees the same.

 

[RedV3x]

Basketball fees the same.

I know soccer fees are high. i don't know about basketball.

 

[Chief]

I know soccer fees are high. i don't know about basketball.

In my area, they are similar to soccer. The rep and higher teams, making up 10% or less of the player numbers, are heavily subsidised by the 90% of players in the divisional teams.

 

[errant bounce]

What would these be?

There is almost no unity between the national federation (which rebadges every ten years) and the states, let alone districts.

There is no clear pathway to the top level. you don't grow up knowing that you'll progress through your WAFL/SANFL/Coates club, play state 16s and 18s football, then get drafted to the AFL. the AIS Soccer program hasn't existed for years now with the funds being allocated to respective A-League clubs. these A-League clubs are independently ran in a splinter competition that has no relationship at all with the national association body.

Councils have better relationships with footy, cricket, netball and see it as a better use of money. soccer facilities are shithouse Australia-wide and generally self or part-self funded.

Participation rates are the highest in the game but they take into account its various forms: organised 11-a-side, senior semi-organised competitions, futsal, indoor, hybrid versions like astro... there's a body for all of these formats. it's not run through FA.

That national body, FA, is consistently broke, too. and the A-Leagues ones are, too. what they receive to run has dropped to about $250,000 or something nuts. the broadcast deal is ostensibly a goodwill agreement of 'you get content for your unfashionable platform and we get a TV deal' between the A-Leagues and Paramount.

In metro areas, you generally just go to your local club to enrol your kid. it is a club, not a program. that club has facilities it needs to pay off, runs it own lighting, and most importantly has wages to pay: people in admin and the players. most clubs, obviously, want to progress up the football pyramid – meaning bigger wages. your 10-year old kids $2,000 is paying a few weeks' match payments for a senior semi-pro.

These clubs are seen as a 'for profit' and therefore get minimal or no local council or state and federal handouts.

The game has been like this since the 80s, it's a miracle the Socceroos make World Cups. if it was half as organised and as cheap for kids as the AFL, we'd have a dozen guys in every major league and be pushing for semis in World Cups. the reason it was so prosperous in the late 90s through mid 2000s is most players came up through immigrant social clubs: your local soccer club was a Croatian or Italian meeting place that also played soccer. it was essentially free to play.

 

[Chief]

I don't get where the politics come into it.

All of that sounds economic or managerial.

 

[RedV3x]

I don't get where the politics come into it.

It's the politics of egos and empire-building.
It's the politics of nationalities.
It;s the politics of shoulda, woulda, gunna.

All of that sounds economic or managerial.

That's the resulting fallout.

 

[RedV3x]

These clubs are seen as a 'for profit' and therefore get minimal or no local council or state and federal handouts.

That's the same for virtually every other sporting club.
In Australian Rules Football the growth of women's Australian Football generally, the growth of Australian Football in Queensland and N.S.W. has produced dire shortages of infrastructure.