▁were ▁later ▁invited ▁to ▁send ▁a ▁team ▁to ▁the ▁Australian ▁Country ▁Championships . ▁▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁saw ▁the ▁first - ever ▁live ▁regular ▁season ▁A FL ▁matches ▁on ▁television , ▁which ▁were ▁shown ▁by ▁SK Y ▁Network ▁Television . ▁ ▁In ▁November ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁ 1 7 - year - old ▁Li am ▁A ck land ▁was ▁invited ▁to ▁the ▁A IS / AF L ▁a cademy . ▁ ▁The ▁Haw th orn ▁Football ▁Club , ▁which ▁had ▁been ▁involved ▁in ▁New ▁Zealand ▁since ▁about ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁and ▁at ▁one ▁point ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁had ▁ 3 ▁players ▁from ▁New ▁Zealand ▁on ▁its ▁senior ▁list , ▁stepped ▁up ▁its ▁invol vement ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁with ▁development ▁fund ing ▁to ▁set ▁up ▁a ▁school ▁competition , ▁the ▁" H aw ks ▁Cup ", ▁for ▁rec ruit ing ▁and ▁talent ▁identification . ▁ ▁The ▁sport ▁bo omed ▁at ▁junior ▁levels ▁after ▁approved ▁by ▁the ▁New ▁Zealand ▁Second ary ▁Sports ▁Council . ▁Kurt ▁He ather ley ▁of ▁T aur anga ▁accepted ▁an ▁A FL ▁scholar ship ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 0 . ▁ ▁Part icip ation ▁ ▁The ▁New ▁Zealand ▁A FL ▁currently ▁has ▁around ▁ 6 0 0 ▁senior ▁players . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁the ▁A FL ▁hoped ▁to ▁increase ▁registered ▁secondary ▁school ▁participants ▁with ▁the ▁introduction ▁of ▁in - school ▁programs . ▁This ▁introduction ▁was ▁highly ▁successful ▁and ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁ 2