6 1 , ▁the ▁Melbourne ▁Football ▁Club ▁tou red ▁New ▁Zealand ▁during ▁its ▁off ▁season , ▁becoming ▁the ▁first ▁V FL / AF L ▁club ▁to ▁do ▁so . ▁ ▁Modern ▁Compet ition ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 4 , ▁senior ▁compet itions ▁began ▁in ▁Christ ch urch ▁( The ▁Can ter bury ▁Australian ▁R ules ▁Football ▁Association ), ▁A uck land ▁( A uck land ▁Australian ▁Football ▁League ) ▁and ▁Well ington . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 5 , ▁the ▁competition ▁had ▁grown ▁sufficiently ▁strong ▁to ▁field ▁a ▁national ▁team , ▁the ▁Fal cons . ▁ ▁The ▁A raf ura ▁Games ▁gave ▁the ▁side ▁the ▁first ▁opportunity ▁to ▁comp ete ▁at ▁an ▁international ▁level . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 5 , ▁ 1 9 9 7 ▁and ▁ 1 9 9 9 , ▁New ▁Zealand ▁took ▁the ▁silver ▁medal ▁in ▁Australian ▁Football ▁at ▁the ▁event ▁in ▁Dar win , ▁Northern ▁Territ ory , ▁running ▁second ▁to ▁Pap ua ▁New ▁Guinea . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 7 , ▁the ▁New ▁Zealand ▁Australian ▁Football ▁Development ▁Foundation ▁( N Z AF DF ) ▁was ▁formed . ▁▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁saw ▁the ▁debut ▁of ▁New ▁Zealand ▁born ▁Tr ent ▁Cro ad ▁into ▁the ▁Australian ▁Football ▁League , ▁the ▁beg inn ings ▁of ▁what ▁is ▁a ▁successful ▁career ▁at ▁el ite ▁level . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 9 , ▁N Z AF DF ▁incorpor ated ▁as ▁gover ning ▁body ▁and ▁was ▁renamed ▁New ▁Zealand ▁A FL .