After a friend encouraged him to give Australian Rules Football a try to improve his game fitness, former Lincoln Club Senior Rugby player Kris Wilder, 27, played five games for the Christchurch University Cougars. Then he got selected for the New Zealand AFL draft in November!
Wilder says that the games he played for the Cougars obviously warranted his getting on the draft radar, and although it cost NZ$600 to enter, selection meant that 10 weeks of flights to Auckland, ice-baths, kit, meals, and warm-ups would be covered. He said that the best way to describe the set-up is as a professional one, much like the Mitre 10 Cup Rugby division.
Wilder says, however, that going professional is a very risky venture, not just for him but for most players from New Zealand. He said that his current goal is simply to make the Academy team by the end of the season because by that time an Australian team will be here on tour and he would like to see how he fares against them.
He described the difference between AFL players from Australia and New Zealand as massive, saying that the Aussies make short work of the Kiwis for the most part. He added that, at this point, it is not about the money for him, and that he plans to keep playing Senior Rugby, bringing up his total games for the Lincoln Premier team to 100.
Wilder said that he’s already gone a lot further than he ever dreamed possible and that his main goal is still to just be a better, fitter, Rugby player.
| # | Site | Bonus | Bet | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Ladbrokes |  | 5/5 | 100% Match up to $250 NZD | Bet now Review |
| 2 |  | Betway | | 4.9/5 | Up to $60 NZD | Bet now Review |
| 3 |  | Palmerbet | | 4.8/5 | 100% Match | Bet now |
| 4 |  | Picklebet | | 4.7/5 | Login to see promotions | Bet now |
More About Trent Wilson
Trent Wilson is OnlineBetting.nz’s resident sports news expert. He draws on his extensive sporting knowledge, his qualification in sports management and his passion for betting to provide the latest, most up to date information on sporting events in New Zealand and across the globe. Trent is a veritable treasure trove of sports information and has been betting online for several years. He prides himself in keeping his readers informed, and in always offering an unbiased standpoint that reflects exactly what’s going on in the sports world.
View Posts - Visit WebsiteYou May Also Like:
Demons Win First AFL Grand Final In 57 Years
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin says the Demons’ first AFL Grand final win in 57 years isn’t the end of anything, but rather the beginning of many more great things to come. The Demons on Saturday night made for a thrilling grand final at the Optus Stadium in Perth by making ….
Lachie Whitfield Happy With New Role
Lachie Whitfield, of Greater Western Sydney, has seen a new level of success in his career in the AFL thanks to a new position within The Giants, and the player couldn’t be more thrilled. The No. 1 draft pick of 2012 has played in 90 games so far in his ….
Eagles Win Against The Power
Jeremy McGovern earned a name for himself thanks to his legendary save at the end of the Port Adelaide vs West Coast game that almost saw the Eagles heading home empty-handed. McGovern managed a match-winning kick that he sent off after the Siren had gone off, and earned a huge ….
Tigers Banking On A Final Home Advantage
The Crows Are Back In Town You know you’re heading towards an AFL final when the local council has contingency plans in place for the closing of roads after the game, in the event that “that team” should win. Tiger mania is sweeping through the streets of Melbourne – with ….
A Time Of Injuries For Beloved Hawks
AFL 2017 – Hawks Plagued By Injuries Camp Hawks has been plagued by injuries – mainly knee injuries – all year long, and this has yet to let up. Both Ben Stratten and Grant Birchall have been ruled out of Saturday’s game as a result of injuries – and what’s ….