It’s time to celebrate a milestone birthday for the most iconic kids’ sports participation program in Australia – NAB AFL Auskick!
This season marks 30 years since NAB AFL Auskick became a national program, uniting thousands of children around the country to create the biggest, most awesome team of all, our Auskickers.
Since the program’s inception in 1995 more than two million Auskickers across 3,500 centres have pulled on their boots, made new friends, worn grass stains with pride and most importantly, plenty of smiles.
As the introductory program for children to connect with Australian football, NAB AFL Auskick is tackle-free and is all about being active, having fun and learning new skills in an inclusive environment.
The milestone birthday follows two consecutive record-breaking years for Auskick after more than 126,000 registered participants signed up in 2023 and more than 141,000 last year – with the goal in 2025 to grow our Auskick community to 150,000 and beyond.
From the tip of Cape York in far north Queensland to Bruny Island in the South of Tasmania and Exmouth in the west, thanks to NAB and the dedicated Auskick team, the scale and reach of NAB AFL Auskick has never been greater or more accessible for families around Australia – and even overseas!
In 2024 there were more than 1,400 Auskickers in Asia, with standalone centres in Singapore, Hong Kong and the Middle East, as well as participants in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Auskickers celebrate 30 years of NAB AFL Auskick with their favourite GIANTS stars, Kieren Briggs, Darcy Jones, and Josh Kelly. - Photo by Phill Hillyard.
On hand for the birthday celebrations in Melbourne, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon thanked everyone who has shaped NAB AFL Auskick over the past 30 years – making the program what it is today.
“On behalf of the AFL I’d like to thank every child, parent and volunteer coordinator who has participated and experienced NAB AFL Auskick, we’re incredibly proud of this program and the way it connects children and families to our game,” Dillon said.
“Over the 30 years Auskick has continued to evolve to keep up with families and modern lifestyles, whilst always maintaining the essence of what makes the program successful – making sure children have fun, keep active and learn new skills, and not just footy skills but life skills too.
“NAB AFL Auskick isn’t just for kids who want to grow up and become elite footballers, it’s for all children to have a go, make new friends and be part of the footy community. As we head into the 2025 season, we’re already up eight per centon Auskick registrations compared to this time last year, which is great for our game, with more than 34,000 Auskickers ready to go.
“We don’t take these milestones for granted and know there’s a whole team who are constantly ensuring we’re providing the best experience for our Auskickers and their families, along with thousands of volunteer coordinators who run the sessions each week, and we can’t thank them enough for their dedication.
“I’d also like to recognise and thank NAB for its continued support of Auskick over nearly two decades, their team has been a tremendous partner and many of the experiences available to participants are thanks to NAB’s commitment and passion for the program.”
Young Auskicker Wyatt Court, celebrates 30 years of Auskick with GIANTS player, Kieren Briggs. - Photo by Phill Hillyard.
NAB Group Chief Operating Officer Les Matheson said NAB was incredibly proud of its long-standing partnership with the AFL and the Auskick program to help grow the game in communities around the country.
“NAB is proud to join AFL in celebrating the 30th birthday of the Auskick program. Auskick is where kids develop their love for the game and start their footy journey.
“It’s a program where parents and volunteers come together with their local community each week to watch kids develop their skills and their aspiration to go from grass roots to the big time.
“We love footy as much as the Auskickers and our customers do and that’s why we continue to back this program and help take it to more communities around the country.”
The AFL’s investment in grassroots footy will hit $1 billion over the next 10 years as it strives to have one million registered participants by 2033, with NAB AFL Auskick and local footy playing a key role to strengthen the foundation of our game and achieve this ambitious target.
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.
For more information about NAB AFL Auskick and to register visit: play.afl/auskick