Team NAB AFL Auskick has named its seventh recruit of the year, with eight-year-old Josefina ‘Josie’ Birchall Pacheco from Wests Juniors AFC Auskick Centre in Brisbane joining the team.
The 2025 Team NAB AFL Auskick coaches Nick Daicos and Katie Brennan encourage all registered Auskickers to enter via submitting a video online for a chance to join the team. They are on the lookout for NAB Auskickers who show teamwork, dedication, and passion.
Selected Auskickers will have the opportunity to invite an Auskick teammate of their choice to join them for a remarkable experience, attending the 2025 Toyota AFL Grand Final.
Eleven lucky winners will be announced during the Seven Network’s AFL match broadcast, with Josie being the fourth winner to join the team accompanied by her chosen teammate – her twin brother Jack.
Josie and Jack will join their fellow Team NAB AFL Auskick recruits at the MCG in Melbourne for a once-in-a-lifetime Grand Final experience, where they will take centre stage and present the winning team with their premiership medallions.
Josie is a big Brisbane Lions fan, with Lachie Neale being her favourite player. She loves having fun at Auskick and her favourite way to celebrate a goal is doing cartwheels!
When she’s not playing footy, Josie loves cooking with her dad and has perfected scrambled eggs, she can make them all on her own now. She also loves pranking her family on April Fools Day and will get up in the middle of the night to set up her pranks.
Josie chose her twin brother Jack as her teammate and is super excited to hand out premiership medals with him on Grand Final day. When Jack started playing footy he was never sure which was his preferred kicking foot and would alternate between left and right. He’s settled on his left foot for now and is very skilled at handpassing with both hands. When he’s not playing footy, Jack loves riding his bike.
As part of being selected as a Team NAB AFL Auskick recruit, Josie has the chance to be crowned the 2025 NAB AFL Auskicker of the Year which will be announced during Toyota AFL Grand Final Week.
The lucky NAB AFL Auskicker of the Year will receive a remarkable $5,000 prizemoney thanks to NAB and will have a year full of unique experiences, including meeting AFL and AFLW players and attending AFL games and special events.
If your Auskicker would like a chance to join Team NAB AFL Auskick and have a Grand Final experience of a lifetime, visit nab.com.au/Auskick to enter.
About NAB AFL Auskick
• NAB AFL Auskick is an introductory program for kids to connect with Australian Football while having lots of fun and being active – smiles and grass stains are guaranteed!
• In weekly sessions, kids focus on building football skills and playing in a safe and super fun setting. Expect small groups, heaps of games and parent/guardian involvement.
• NAB AFL Auskick invites all children aged 5-12 no matter their knowledge, skill or ability, to participate in the tackle-free program.
• NAB AFL Auskick offers an inclusive environment for everyone to get involved, with optional ‘All Girls’ Auskick programs and All-Abilities Auskick centres available.
• More than 141,000 boys and girls participated in NAB AFL Auskick programs at more than 3,500 centres across the country in 2024 – setting a new record!
• Auskick participants have the chance to feature in mini games during halftime at elite AFL and AFLW matches throughout the season. A once-in-a-lifetime experience for many kids!
• Upon signing up, all Auskickers get an awesome pack filled with cool footy goodies not available anywhere else.
• Visit play.afl/auskick for more details.