NSW/ACT Auskickers kicking goals

By Alison Zell

44 players from the Sydney Swans and Hawthorn will run on to the MCG on Saturday afternoon for their shot at Premiership glory, but another 22 young budding AFL stars will make also their Grand Final debuts this weekend.

22 NAB AFL Auskickers were chosen from more than 7000 entrants in the NAB AFL Auskicker of the Year competition and will share the experience of a lifetime at the 2012 AFL Grand Final.

NSW’s James Kenny, Caleb Walker and Joven May will be part of an unforgettable three-day AFL Grand Final experience as they get to participate in the Grand Final Parade and play in the NAB AFL Auskick games before the Grand Final.

They also get the chance to present the Premiership medallions to the players from the winning team.

James, 7, from the Emu Plains/Glenmore Park Lions will be hoping for a Sydney win so the young Swans fan can present the medallion to his hero, Swans captain Adam Goodes.

Caleb, 6, from the Wagga Swans and Joven, 8, from the Gungahlin Jets are the other representatives from NSW/ACT.

The three NSW/ACT boys and the 19 other winners were chosen for demonstrating the values at the core of the Auskick spirit: teamwork, dedication, commitment and passion.

They are just a few of more than 180,000 children and their parents who head to one of 2800 NAB AFL Auskick centres around the country to participate in NAB AFL Auskick each weekend.

2012 has seen the most successful year of Auskick in NSW/ACT with the introduction of the GWS Giants meaning more live AFL in NSW/ACT and giving more than 3000 kids the chance to play Auskick at half time of AFL games.

These school holidays will see the NAB Roadshow hit regional NSW, featuring legendary Hawks player and Auskick ambassador ‘Dipper’ with special guests, Swans star Gary Rohan and Giants young guns Tomas Bugg and Jonathan Patton.

AFL NSW/ACT congratulates James, Caleb and Joven on their outstanding Auskick seasons and wishes them luck for their AFL Grand Final experience this weekend!