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.

Providing the best possible experience for each Auskicker as they form a connection to our game has, and will always be, at the heart of the program. Over 30 years the evolution of Auskick has seen the introduction of packs full of goodies – which are now available in your choice of team colours – opportunities to play at half time during AFL and AFLW matches, and thanks to NAB, the chance to present players with their premiership medallions on Grand Final day.

As modern families and lifestyles continue to change, Auskick has also found new ways to fit into busy schedules and fully integrate into schools. A structured before and after school program now runs across the country which allows Auskick to take place in more locations and provide experiences to children who may be new to the game. Boosted by appearances from AFL and AFLW players these sessions complement the traditional early morning weekend timeslot by creating more flexibility and options for families.

The creation of new offerings through NAB AFL Auskick has also seen dedicated all girls and all ability sessions grow throughout Australia, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to participate and connect with Australian football. Heading into this season, girls make up one in four participants, 4.2 per cent of current Auskickers identify as living with a disability, while Auskickers who have a parent born overseas make up more than a quarter of the overall total which is currently more than 34,000.

AFL Talent Ambassador, Kevin Sheehan, who was the League's former Development Manager and oversaw Game Development including Auskick, recalls how Auskick was created back in the '90s.

"Before Auskick started, most state and territories had their own participation program, so they were all run a bit differently," Sheehan said.

"Then in 1994, the late, great Ray Allsopp, who really was the father-figure of Auskick, came in and helped develop and create the national program to bring everyone together. He, along with David Parkin and Mick Daniher saw the importance of educating volunteer coaches on the fundamentals of the game and making sure kids love of footy grew from an early age.

"To see how it has grown over the 30 years and the number of kids who have taken part is astounding. It's a testament to the experience the kids receive – from the fun they have, friends they make and the skills they learn from passionate volunteers and coordinators at local centres."

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."

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.

For more information about NAB AFL Auskick and to register visit: play.afl/auskick

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.