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.
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 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.
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
