The AFL has announced a raft of changes to the 2013 edition of the Foxtel Cup.
The number of teams has been reduced to ten (down from sixteen), with less qualifiers per competition making the cut. This means that instead of four matches required to win the competition it will take three.
Qualifiers will be the top two teams from the VFL/SANFL/WAFL, the NT Thunder, the top team from the TFL, NEAFL East and NEAFL North. This should also reduce the number of blowouts.
At the same time, there are some absolute cracker matches that will go a long way. Port Melbourne v West Adelaide, and Norwood v East Fremantle hold the most promise before the finals with none of these teams being AFL reserves sides (Werribee alone this year holds that dubious privilege).
Prize money is also up, with competition winners now taking home $100,000 (up from $60,000).
The competition will shift to a midweek tournament, instead of occupying a saturday afternoon slot. Matches will still have shorter quarters than normal games in order to fit into the allocated two hour broadcast slot.
The changes evidently have suited the top SANFL clubs, as they will compete in the competition for the first time.
New Teams
Clubs appearing for the first time in the competition include Norwood from the SANFL (founded 1878, 28 SANFL premierships including 2012), Queanbeyan (founded 1925, 13 premierships in various leagues), Southport (founded 1961, 21 premierships – 13 in the QAFL).
Claremont will be returning to defend their Cup title in 2013.
The Fixture
The Fixture will begin with qualifying rounds between the NEAFL and Tasmanian Teams, with the winners of those matches making it into the Cup proper. This is a great move after some of the blowouts from last season’s competition. Even better, these matches will be played in a legitimate home territory.
The Qualifying rounds will be shown on Fox Sports 3.
■ Sat, Apr 13 – Queanbeyan v NT Thunder (Manuka, Canberra)
■ Sat April 20 – Southport v Burnie (Carrara, Gold Coast)
The Cup proper shifts to a week night competition for the first time. These matches will all be shown on Foxfooty and all start at 8.35pm EST. All matches will be on a Tuesday.
■ Tue, May 21 – Norwood v East Fremantle (AAMI Stadium)
■ Tue, May 28 – Werribee v Qualifier one winner (Etihad)
■ Tue, Jun 11 – Port Melbourne v West Adelaide (MCG)
■ Tue, Jun 18 – Claremont v Qualifier 2 winner (Patersons Stadium)
Semi finals and the final will all be held on a Tuesday night and broadcast on Foxfooty.
chappelli
Guest
Legs were missing 9 run on players.they tanked the matchagainst Sharks. Good to c sa n wa getn teams in a comp like this. I HATE VICTORIANS
chappelli
Guest
Legs were missing 9 run on players.they tanked the matchagainst Sharks. Good to c sa n wa getn teams in a comp like this. I HATE VICTORIANS
The Bloodline
Guest
Norwood are gone, east freo knocked them out!! Go you bloods cant wait to see us play at the'G
The Bloodline
Guest
Cant wait to watch the mighty BLOODS run out on the MCG against port melbourne who have about 5 players that have played for westies
Brewski
Roar Rookie
I remeber it well, having played at football park many times, and had a beer or 2 after some games :) My memories are of players such as Jimmy Black and Edney Blackaby, but i may be wrong, and ex VFL players who were Captain Coaching ACTAFL sides around that time such as Cowboy Neale and Paul Feltham, whom may also have been playing for the ACT. Maybe Tony Wynd was playing. Can't find that team anywhere !!.
TC
Guest
Brewski You might recall the old grandstand at Phillip, where ACTAFL used to have its offices, and there was a large bar area upstairs, around there somewhere was a photo of the ACT team that won that day with all their names. Of the known VFL players, I can recall Jezza, Ian Low and Robert Anderson, but I'm pretty sure there would have been a few others. TC
Brewski
Roar Rookie
Thanks TC, although i would be more impressed if you could find the actual playing list of the teams, i have found them previously, but can't seem to now. :) From memory those VFL teams included many players who under normal SOO rules would have been ineligble ...... plenty of WA, SA , Tassie boys playing for the VFL teams, although i stand corrected on this.
TC
Guest
Brewski this wikipedia page has all the interstate games going way back: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_matches_in_Australian_rules_football So on 6 July 1980, at Manuka, the ACT defeated Victoria 13.17 (95) to 11.16 (82) in front of 10,600 patrons. The Vics fielded 3 rep teams that weekend, with the first team taking on WA, but the remainder would have been evenly split across the other two. The other Vic team defeated Qld by 12 goals at the Gabba in front of 16,000 patrons. The Canberra game was the only one the Vics lost that weekend. TC
Brewski
Roar Rookie
Well in their defence it was their 3rds, or so they claimed .......Jezza was Canberra's captain coach. While looking for the ACTAFL and Victorian teams at the time, i stumbled on Collingwood as we have never seen them !!!!! ...... Eddie must really hate this video. :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vHeYrfgFm0&feature=player_embedded
Strummer Jones
Guest
The Vics will always tell you "we didn't really care about that game" which is complete BS!!!
Brewski
Roar Rookie
Nice footage strummer, perhaps i should not mention it but i was at the game when the ACTAFL defeated the VFL in 1980 at Manuka Oval in the ACTAFL's finest hour, ..... i was very young !. Those scenes replicate the scenes after North Adelaide beat carlton in 1972. Dont know the crowd, but the previous year the ACTAFL GF had over 10k, pretty sure it was bigger than that, Canberra was a country town back then on reflection.
TC
Guest
Surely Centrals would have something to say about that! TC
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Interesting because Glenelg is being touted as being essentially he home of SA state cricket from 2014. As for Norwood, the AFL has already learnt that going for established teams doesnt work - polarises oo many locals. Port people wont support it, and it would cannibilse crows support. Its part of the reasoning behind the Suns being setup instead of using Southport despite them being one of the richest sporting clubs in the country - and possibly the richest outside the AFL.
Strummer Jones
Guest
Apparently SA played WA at the Glenelg Oval this year and the ground was in really bad nick. This "might" be why they are playing at West Lakes. On another note, with Norwood entering the comp, could this be the beginning of their push to replace Port Adelaide in the AFL?
Strummer Jones
Guest
I think that comp was called the "NFL" back then. In any case, here's North Adelaide beating Carlton in the official AFL Grand Final of 1972 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15lK6HH3A78
cos789
Guest
Wookie, WAFL and SANFL grounds have historically had radio and TV broadcast facilities most recently for the ABC so i don't see that as a problem. Lighting and ground appearance maybe. It's still better than having a small crowd in a large stadium. Even if they only use one designated local ground like the Fremantle ground instead of individual local grounds.
Brewski
Roar Rookie
Would have to agree. It says 2 things IMO, SA parochialism and hate of anything Victorian, which is good for state rivalry, and a strong belief in the strength of the SANFL comp. Of course it could also represent quite a narrow insular attitude as well. Perhaps a mixture !!. .... and i think that 3 things as well.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
on face value, and since they've used it as a primary justification for not competing, Id have to say yes. Im not saying that it is, Im saying they think it is. Remember that the SANFL is like a fly caught in amber a bit, still trying to prove its worthy of independence by paying a salary cap its clubs cant afford just so it can thumb its nose at the AFL.
Brewski
Roar Rookie
Wookie, are you saying that SANFL teams value the SANFL premiership more than the WAFL or VFL value their own premierships ?, or even the QAFL or AFL Sydney or Canberra ?.
Brewski
Roar Rookie
I very rarely go to AFL games, but i normally go to West Perth FC home games, and enjoy having a kick at 1/4 time, half time etc , or listen to the coach at the breaks, a foxtel game at a suburban ground would bring in a decent crowd IMO. A West Perth, East perth derby can bring in a crowd of 7k +, depending on ladder postions. A foxtel game against interstate teams would bring 5k to somewhere like the Arena joondalup, and maybe more at Leederville. You get a completely different set of fans at Leederville for a West Perth/East Perth derby, than at the Arena, although both maybe home games for West Perth.