▁▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁saw ▁the ▁successful ▁introduction ▁of ▁a ▁high - level ▁four - team ▁national ▁competition , ▁featuring ▁a ▁national ▁draft . ▁ ▁Ex hib ition ▁Match es ▁The ▁years ▁of ▁ 1 9 9 1 , ▁ 1 9 9 8 , ▁ 2 0 0 0 ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁saw ▁official ▁Australian ▁Football ▁League ▁exhibition ▁matches ▁st aged ▁in ▁New ▁Zealand ▁so ▁that ▁the ▁A FL ▁could ▁gauge ▁local ▁support . ▁ ▁International ▁Success ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁inaug ural ▁Australian ▁Football ▁International ▁Cup ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 2 , ▁New ▁Zealand ▁finished ▁ 3 rd . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 3 , ▁local ▁A uss ie ▁R ules ▁convert ▁Nick ▁Evans ▁deb uted ▁for ▁the ▁famous ▁All ▁Black s ▁rugby ▁union ▁side ▁against ▁England . ▁ ▁Since ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁there ▁have ▁been ▁tal ks ▁of ▁a ▁New ▁Zealand ▁Australian ▁Football ▁League ▁franch ise ▁or ▁club ▁re location ▁as ▁a ▁possible ▁expansion ▁plan ▁for ▁the ▁league . ▁ ▁New ▁Zealand ▁fields ▁teams ▁in ▁several ▁Australian ▁compet itions ▁in ▁other ▁football ▁codes ▁including ▁the ▁National ▁Rugby ▁League ▁and ▁A - Le ague . ▁ ▁The ▁country ▁came ▁to ▁be ▁regarded ▁as ▁an ▁Australian ▁state ▁by ▁the ▁Australian ▁Football ▁League ' s ▁international ▁development ▁department . ▁▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁was ▁a ▁huge ▁year ▁for ▁Australian ▁Football ▁in ▁New ▁Zealand . ▁ ▁The ▁national ▁team , ▁the ▁Fal cons ▁defeated ▁Pap ua ▁New ▁Guinea ▁to ▁win ▁the ▁International ▁Cup ▁and