Australian Football League pre-season competition
Encyclopedia
The Australian Football League pre-season competition, which is known at present as the NAB
National Australia Bank
National Australia Bank is one of the four largest financial institutions in Australia in terms of market capitalisation and customers. NAB is ranked 17th largest bank in the world measured by market capitalisation...
Cup, is a competition held before the beginning of the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL) premiership season. It is currently a four round competition held before the start of the premiership season, involving the 17 AFL clubs and Greater Western Sydney
Greater Western Sydney
Greater Western Sydney is a term used to describe the western region of the metropolitan area of Sydney, Australia. The University of Western Sydney defines Greater Western Sydney as comprising 14 local government areas...
(which is due to enter the AFL for the 2012 season
2012 AFL season
The 2012 Australian Football League season is the 116th season of the Australian rules football competition. It is the first season in which the new will compete, bringing the number of teams in the competition to a record high eighteen....
).
Current Format
Prior to 2011, the competition had been played as a simple sixteen-team knockout tournament; however, the expansion of the league to seventeen teams (and eighteen for 2012) forced a change of format. Under the current format, the first round sees the eighteen teams divided into six pools of three teams; each pool then plays a round robin of half-length games played on a single night. Each team then plays two full-length matches over the following two weekends, and the two teams with the best records over the four matches will play off in a Grand Final.Most games and the final are night matches. Normal games are typically played slightly short of full length (quarters lasting 17½ or 18 minutes plus time on instead of the normal 20), and with an extended interchange bench of six or eight players to offer less physically demanding conditions for the pre-season games.
When the competition was played as a knock-out tournament, teams which had been eliminated from the preseason competition played practice matches against each other. These practice matches were known as the 'NAB Challenge', and were often played outside the major capital cities.
Particularly in the 21st century, the pre-season competition has been used as a location to trial new rule changes before they are introduced into the premiership season.
History
The current pre-season competition has its origins in a post-season competition which began in 1956 as the VFL Night Premiership. The Night Series was originally contested by the eight teams that missed the VFL finals. After a hiatus, the Night Series returned in a completely new format, as a mid-season competition with some pre-season games, and able to be contested by teams from outside the VFL. Eventually, as this format fell out of favour, the entire competition was switched to the pre-season.As such, even though there are three completely different eras of the Night Series/Pre-Season, all three formats are considered to be historically equivalent; that is, a team will usually speak of its night premierships and pre-season premierships collectively, despite the widely different formats under which they were won. In all three formats, the night or pre-season premiership is considered significantly less prestigious than the main competition premiership.
1956–1971: First Night Series (post-season)
The Night Premiership was first instituted in 1956, contested in September as a three round knock-out tournament amongst the eight VFL teams who did not make the final four. Games were played at the Lake OvalLake Oval
The Lake Oval was an Australian rules football and cricket stadium located in Albert Park, Victoria. It was the home of the South Melbourne Football Club from 1878 until their relocation to Sydney in 1982 , and also of the South Melbourne Cricket Club...
, Albert Park
Albert Park
Albert Park may refer to:In Australia:* Albert Park, Lismore, home to international baseball stadium Baxter Field* Albert Park, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne** Albert Park and Lake, the park itself...
, then the home ground of South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
, as it was the only ground equipped to host night games. Despite the fact that not all VFL teams participated, the first season's average crowd was 20,000 for the seven matches played, while a crowd of 33,120 watched the first night Grand Final.
As a once-off in 1957, teams which contested the VFL finals entered the Night Series after they were eliminated from the VFL premiership race. This was ultimately not successful, and the VFL elected to return to the original format in 1958.
The format was based upon a similar post-season competition which began in the SANFL in 1954.
1972–1976: No competition
In 1972, the VFL switched from a final four to a final five playoff system. With only seven teams available to contest it, the Night Premiership ended.1977–1987: Second Night Series
The Night Series was revived in 1977 using a different format, with games played under floodlights at VFL ParkWaverley Park
Waverley Park was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian based Victorian Football League/Australian Football League clubs. However, during the 1990s it became the home ground of...
. Games were televised midweek with some played in the pre-season and the rest played during the home-and-away season. The tournament was largely a knock-out format but featured qualifying rounds, lucky losers and first round byes in various years (see below).
From 1978 until 1986 the tournament included non-Victorian based clubs: the ten SANFL teams, the eight WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
teams, and state representative teams from Tasmania, New South Wales, the A.C.T. and Queensland. However, the Victorian teams dominated, and only three non-VFL teams ever reached Night Series semi-finals (East Perth 1979, Claremont 1980, North Adelaide 1986); none made it through to the Grand Final.
In 1987 the combined pre-season/mid-season format reverted to only the VFL teams – including newcomers Brisbane and West Coast – taking part.
| Year | Teams | VFL | SANFL | WAFL | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 12 | All 12 | – | – | – |
| 1978 | 13 | All 12 | – | – | Tasmania |
| 1979 | 23 | All 12 | – | All 8 | Tasmania, N.S.W., A.C.T. |
| 1980 | 34 | All 12 | All 10 | All 8 | Tasmania, N.S.W., A.C.T., Queensland |
| 1981 | 34 | All 12 | All 10 | All 8 | Tasmania, N.S.W., A.C.T., Queensland |
| 1982 | 18 | All 12 | Glenelg, Norwood Norwood Football Club Norwood Football Club, nicknamed, Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia... , Port Adelaide Port Adelaide Football Club The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League... |
Claremont Claremont Football Club The Claremont Football Club, nicknamed the Tigers, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . Its official colours are navy blue and gold.... , South Fremantle South Fremantle Football Club The South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League... , Swan Districts Swan Districts Football Club The Swan Districts Football Club, nicknamed the Swans, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The club is based at Bassendean Oval, in Bassendean, an eastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia... |
– |
| 1983 | 17 | All 12 | Glenelg, Norwood | Claremont, West Perth West Perth Football Club The West Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Falcons, is an Australian rules football club located in Joondalup, Western Australia, competing in the West Australian Football League . It is the oldest existing Australian rules football club in Western Australia. It competes in the West Australian... |
Tasmania |
| 1984 | 17 | All 12 | Sturt Sturt Football Club Sturt Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League. The club is best known for its period of dominance from 1966–76 under legendary coach Jack Oatey, during which it revolutionised the style of play by emphasising teamwork and accurate ball... , West Adelaide West Adelaide Football Club West Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League . Commonly known as The Bloods and Westies, the clubs home base is City Mazda Stadium located in Richmond, an inner-western suburb of Adelaide.-Early Years :West Adelaide was formed in... |
Claremont, South Fremantle | Queensland |
| 1985 | 17 | All 12 | Norwood, Port Adelaide | East Fremantle East Fremantle Football Club The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval... , Swan Districts |
Queensland |
| 1986 | 14 | All 12 | Glenelg, North Adelaide | – | – |
| 1987 | 14 | All 14 | – | – | – |
1988–present: Pre-season cup
In 1988 the competition moved entirely to the pre-season and winning teams subsequently became known as the "pre-season premiers".In 1992 the competition introduced the Michael Tuck Medal
Michael Tuck Medal
Since 1992, the Michael Tuck Medal has been awarded to the best-and-fairest player in the AFL Pre-season Cup Final. It is named after Michael Tuck, the current AFL games record holder who played 426 senior matches for the Hawthorn Hawks between 1972 and 1991....
for the best player in the grand final.
Between 1988 and 2010 (except for between 2000 and 2002) it was run as a knock-out tournament where winning teams move through to the next round and losing teams are eliminated. During 2000–2002 a round-robin format was trialled. The sixteen teams were divided into groups of four and played their round robin matches over three weeks. The winner of each group then progressed to the semi-final stage of the competition.
In 2011, with the addition of the Gold Coast Suns
Gold Coast Suns
The Gold Coast Suns were one of the eight original franchises that began play in the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989. The club split their home games between Miami and Pompano Beach, FL and hired future Hall of Famer Earl Weaver as manager. In the league's inaugural season, the...
and Greater Western Sydney Giants, first round of the NAB Cup was changed to a lightning-match round-robin, where groups of three teams compete against each other in half-length matches on the same night. The winners of each of the six groups, and the two teams with the next best records, advanced to an eight-team knock-out tournament of full-length games.
Under the current knock-out format, eliminated teams continue their preparation for the Premiership season via the "Regional Challenge" series of practice matches (see below).
Evolution of the series
1957The VFL Final four entered the night competition when they were eliminated from the premiership – the only year this took place.
South Melbourne knocked out Carlton (4th) and Essendon (2nd) on their way to back-to-back night premierships. Footscray eliminated Hawthorn (3rd) and Melbourne (VFL Premiers) before being defeated in the semi-final stage.
1964
Footscray won their second straight night premiership.
1966
North Melbourne won their second straight night premiership.
1969
Hawthorn became the fourth team to win back-to-back night premierships.
1971
Melbourne won the final night premiership of the era. The series was disbanded the following year due to the introduction of the final five in the premiership competition.
1976
The NFL's 12-team Wills Cup competition was played under lights in Adelaide. A round-robin format involved four groups of three teams. The four group winners advanced to the knockout semi-final and final. Teams involved were: (VFL) Carlton, Footscray, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Richmond; (SANFL) Glenelg, Norwood, Port Adelaide, Sturt; (WAFL) South Fremantle, Swan Districts, West Perth. Won by Hawthorn, the success of this series inspired the VFL to set up their own competition in 1977.
1977
VFL Night Series relaunched. First two matches played under lights at Lake Oval while the construction of light towers at VFL Park was completed. St Kilda and North Melbourne advanced to the quarter finals as the highest scoring first round losers.
1978
The 1977 winner, Hawthorn, received a first round bye. Geelong advanced to the quarter finals with the lowest first round losing margin (1 point). They eventually bowed out in the semi-final stage. Tasmania – featuring legendary full forward, Peter Hudson – became the first non-VFL team to take part in the series.
1979
The format changed with the initial Round of 12 being expanded into two qualifying rounds. Round 1 of qualifying featured the VFL teams that finished 6th–12th in the premiership in 1978; the WAFL teams finishing 4th–8th in 1978 and the two lowest ranked state teams of 1978 (NSW and Tasmania).
Round 2 of qualifying involved the VFL's top five of 1978 plus the five VFL teams that progressed through round 1; the WAFL's top three of 1978 plus their two surviving qualifiers and the top ranked state team of 1978 (ACT).
By the quarter finals 6 VFL and 2 WAFL teams remained. This was cut to 3 VFL teams and 1 WAFL team at the semi-final stage. The final was won by Collingwood (VFL 3rd seed) over Hawthorn (VFL 1st seed).
1980
The inclusion of the 10 SANFL clubs saw a third round added to the preliminary stages. Round 1 of qualifying featured the VFL teams that finished 7th–12th in 1979; the SANFL teams that finished 3rd–10th in 1979; the WAFL teams that finished 3rd–8th in 1979; plus a playoff between the four minor states (Queensland d. Tasmania / NSW d. ACT).
Round 2 of qualifying involved all six VFL teams that survived round 1; the two surviving SANFL teams; the two surviving WAFL teams and the two remaining minor state teams (Queensland & NSW).
In round 3 the VFL's top six of 1979 joined their four surviving qualifiers from rounds 1 and 2; the SANFL's top two of 1979 joined their sole qualifier and the WAFL's top two joined their remaining qualifier.
As with the previous championships, 6 VFL and 2 WAFL teams progressed to the quarter finals. As before, 3 VFL teams and 1 WAFL team made it to the semi-final stage. The final was won by North Melbourne (VFL 2nd seed) over Collingwood (VFL 3rd seed).
1981
The format was modified further this season. Round 1 of qualifying saw the VFL teams that finished 7th–12th in 1980 face off – the three winners advanced directly to the 3rd round, the highest placed loser (Footscray) moved to a 2nd round playoff against the remaining minor states team and the two lowest-ranked losing teams were eliminated.
All 10 SANFL teams locked horns with the biggest winner (South Adelaide) advancing directly to the 3rd round, the other winners moved to the 2nd round and the losing teams were eliminated. Things were slightly less complicated for the 8 WAFL teams – the four winners advanced to the 2nd round, the losers were eliminated. The four minor state teams also played off with Tasmania and the ACT proceeding to the 2nd round.
Round 2 featured matches between four SANFL teams, the winners joining South Adelaide in the next round. The four remaining WAFL teams played each other with the two winners and the highest-ranked loser (East Fremantle) advancing to the third round. The two remaining minor state teams clashed, with the winner (ACT) taking on Footscray for the right to advance.
Round 3 saw the introduction of the VFL's top six from 1981 alongside the four surviving VFL teams. They eliminated the three remaining SANFL teams and the last three WAFL teams.
This meant the finals were an all-VFL affair with Essendon (VFL 7th seed) eventually claiming the title from Carlton (VFL 4th seed).
1982
The Night Series was streamlined with only the top three SANFL and WAFL teams joining the 12 VFL sides in the competition. The SANFL and WAFL top teams entered the main draw directly, whilst their 2nd and 3rd placed teams played qualifying matches for the remaining two spots. The minor state teams were moved to a separate competition named the Escort Shield.
The St Kilda v Sydney quarter final scheduled for 22 June was moved forward a fortnight as the two teams were due to meet in the premiership competition on the 20th. This meant Richmond v Swan Districts was pushed back a fortnight from 8 June.
In protest, Swan Districts coach John Todd sent a team of colts and reserves players instead of his senior line-up. His protest backfired when the young squad lost by a record margin of 186 points; the AFC later banned Swan Districts from the competition for two years.
1983
Further changes meant the SANFL and WAFL's top two teams entered the competition directly. Due to the aforementioned ban, on the WAFL side of the draw Swan Districts (1st) were replaced by West Perth (3rd).
A qualifying match was introduced giving the winner of the previous season's Escort Shield a chance to enter the main draw by defeating the VFL's last place team of the previous year. Tasmania (1982 Escort Shield winner) took on Footscray (1982 VFL 12th) but was unable to qualify, losing by 108 points at North Hobart Oval.
1984
For the first time in this era the format remained unchanged. Swan Districts (WAFL 1st) remained ineligible and were replaced by South Fremantle (WAFL 3rd). Queensland (1983 Escort Shield winner) took on St Kilda (1983 VFL 12th) but fell short of the main draw by just 7 points.
The only fixture change saw the Fitzroy v Sydney 1st round match moved to 22 May after a flight delay resulted in the Swans arriving late for the original clash on 17 April.
1985
Swan Districts' ban expired, meaning they could finally claim their spot in the competition. However, their return was short-lived, suffering a 91 point thrashing in their Round 1 encounter with Fitzroy.
St Kilda (1984 VFL 12th) again survived a qualification match against Queensland (1984 Escort Shield winner), this time getting home by a far more comfortable margin of 60 points.
1986
More changes with the WAFL no longer taking part, leaving the SANFL's top two teams as the only interstate sides involved in the competition. The qualifying match between the Escort Shield winner and the VFL's last-placed team was also scrapped.
Subsequently, the "lucky loser" spot returned allowing the team with the lowest losing margin in the 1st round to advance to the Quarter Finals. However, at the end of the 1st round Sydney and Collingwood both qualified with a lowest losing margin of 26 points. A lucky loser playoff, held on 22 April, resulted in a Collingwood victory by 37 points and a trip to the next round.
North Adelaide became the last of only three interstate sides to make the semi-finals in this era; the Roosters finally bowing out to Hawthorn to the tune of 90 points.
1987
The SANFL teams followed the lead of their WAFL counterparts the year before and ended all involvement with the series.
This marked the first time since 1977 the competition had been contested solely by VFL teams. Fledgling outfits the Brisbane Bears and West Coast Eagles made their VFL debuts, the Bears losing to Sydney in Round 1 while the Eagles sent shockwaves through the competition by reaching the semi-final stage. Fitzroy advanced to the quarter-finals as the lucky loser after an 11 point loss to Carlton.
Melbourne claimed the last of the mid-season night premierships with a stirring 4 point upset of Essendon on 28 April – the Dees' first silverware since their 1971 night triumph.
1988
The start of the modern era, this was the first of the night premierships to be played entirely in the pre-season. The lucky loser spot was scrapped with both Grand Finalists from the 1987 competition granted a first round bye instead. Hawthorn went on to claim the first pre-season cup with a thrilling 3 point victory over Geelong.
1989
The reigning Grand Finalists, Geelong and Hawthorn received a first round bye, the Cats progressing to their second Cup final in a row. This time, however, it was Melbourne denying them the title as the Demons claimed a 9 point victory – their second flag in three years.
1990
The Demons and Cats received the first round bye, but it was West Coast who received the luckiest break. After losing to Essendon by 3 points, the Eagles received another chance in the first round when Brisbane withdrew from the competition due to financial problems and a player's strike. West Coast stepped in to play North Melbourne on 21 February but their luck ended there, going down to the Kangaroos by just 2 points.
Essendon vs Fitzroy (Feb.28) was the first VFL/AFL match to be decided using extra-time – the Bombers getting home by a goal in overtime then winning their next two matches to claim the title.
1991
The addition of Adelaide to the AFL increased the participating teams to 15, meaning a first round bye was now only awarded to the reigning pre-season premier, and forcing the runner-up to enter the fray in the 1st round.
1992
Collingwood and West Coast played the first pre-season cup match in Darwin on 9 February. Reigning premier Hawthorn received a first round bye, helping them on their way to back-to-back pre-season premierships; the Hawks overcame the surprise Grand Finalist Fitzroy by 65 points.
1993
Problems with new turf at Waverley Park forced the relocation of three matches – Melbourne v Collingwood (Feb.17) was moved to Princes Park, whilst Essendon v Brisbane (Feb.27) and Footscray v Fitzroy (Feb.28) were moved to Kardinia Park.
Reigning premier Hawthorn received a first round bye but it was Essendon who clinched the trophy with a 23 point triumph over Richmond. A record night series/pre-season Grand Final crowd of 75,533 fans jammed into Waverley Park for the match.
1994
Reigning premier Essendon received a first round bye and took full advantage, winning back-to-back titles with a 34 point defeat of Adelaide in the final.
1995
The addition of Fremantle to the AFL raised the number of teams to 16, thus removing the need for a bye in the opening round. The Dockers made their debut at Fremantle Oval on 24 February but it was St Kilda claiming victory with a 35 point win over the new team.
1996
Opening round matches were held in Adelaide, Melbourne, Darwin, Canberra and Brisbane, with St Kilda progressing to win their first pre-season final.
Prior to the start of the Cup competition, the first Lightning Premiership competition since 1953 was held at Waverley Park in early February to launch the AFL's centenary season. All games were played over two 17.5 minute halves and Essendon beat Brisbane in the final.
1997
The Grand Final was held at the MCG to capitalise on Grand Prix weekend in Melbourne – the first title match to be played away from Lake Oval/Waverley Park. A near-record crowd of 74,786 watched Carlton romp home by 57 points against a disappointing Geelong.
1998
Pre-Season football went international for the first time with Brisbane defeating Fremantle in Cape Town, South Africa (Feb.22) followed by a young Melbourne team upsetting Sydney in Wellington, New Zealand (Mar.1).
1999–2000
After criticism that the knock-out format limited the preparation of the losing teams, a round-robin format was introduced. The sixteen teams were split into groups of four, each playing three pool matches with the winner of each group advancing to the knockout semi-final stage. The public reaction to the change was mixed. With the pool games becoming glor,ified practice matches the atmosphere at some of these early games was noticeably flat compared to previous years.
In other developments Carlton and Collingwood played the earliest season-opener in VFL/AFL history – a one-off New Year's Eve match played 31 December 1999 at the MCG. A sparse crowd watched the Blues get home by 88 points in the "Millennium Challenge", with a young Brendan Fevola
Brendan Fevola
Brendan Fevola is a professional Australian rules footballer. He played with the Carlton and Brisbane Lions football clubs in the Australian Football League....
starring with 12 goals, the most ever in a pre-season/night series match. A second match was played in New Zealand following the initial foray overseas in 1998, the Western Bulldogs defeating Hawthorn by 47 points in Wellington. The 2000 Ansett Cup also featured the last matches played at Waverley Park prior to the launch of the new Docklands Stadium.
2001
History was made as Port Adelaide took on Brisbane in the first VFL/AFL Grand Final played outside Victoria. It also marked the first Grand Final between two non-Victorian clubs in the League's history. In front of their home crowd at Football Park, the Power romped home by a record margin of 85 points.
The same two teams would play in the 2004 AFL Grand Final, with the Power also winning.
2003
The competition reverted to a knockout format and the "super goal" was introduced. Any goal kicked from outside the 50 metre line (or from a 50 metre penalty awarded outside the line) was now worth 9 points. Additionally, rushed behinds were worth 3 points in a rule designed to deter backmen who used the goals as an "out" when under defensive pressure. Adelaide won the trophy against Collingwood at the Telstra Dome.
2006
A new rule was introduced to determine the venue of the pre-season Grand Final. The team scoring the most goals in the first three rounds would host the title match. If two teams were tied after the semi-finals the number of super goals kicked would act as a tie-breaker.
This followed debate over Port Adelaide (2002 vs Richmond), Adelaide (2003 vs Collingwood) and West Coast (2005 vs Carlton) having to play the Grand Final at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne despite a superior record in that year's tournament to their opponent.
The new rule allowed the high-scoring Adelaide team to host the 2006 final at Football Park against Geelong. However, the Cats clinched the title on the road by 8 points.
2008
A fourth international match took place with Adelaide defeating Collingwood by 81 points at a remodelled polo ground in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Following North Melbourne's decision not to relocate to the Gold Coast, the AFL altered the pre-season fixture; Essendon took North Melbourne's place at Carrara against Brisbane, meaning the Kangaroos had to play the Western Bulldogs in Darwin instead.
2011
As the league expanded to eighteen teams, the first round of the tournament was adapted to a series of six round-robin tournaments, each featuring three teams playing half-length matches on a single night. The winner of each pool, and the two teams with the next-best records, then progressed to an eight-team knock-out tournament.
2012
In a new format, each of the eighteen teams was pre-scheduled with four matches: two half-length matches played on one night in the first round (as per 2011), then two full-length matches on the next two weeks. After this, the teams with the best two records, based on those four matches, will play off in the Grand Final.
New rule trials
The pre-season competition has been a place where the AFL has trialled new rules. The NAB Cup has the intentions of being modern and promoting a fast-paced pre-season competition.Most of the rules are included as a trial to determine their appropriateness for the regular season, with the obvious exception of the Supergoal. However, the shortness of the pre-season makes it difficult for the AFL to evaluate how coaches will tactically handle rule-changes it makes.
New rules introduced/trialled include:
2003
- Nine points for a goal kicked from outside of the 50 metre arc, known as a Super GoalSuper GoalA Super Goal is an innovation used in the Australian Football League's pre-season competition in the sport of Australian rules football.The Super Goal was introduced before the 2003 Wizard Cup, and is awarded nine points instead of the regulation six. For a goal on the run to be considered a Super...
. - Three points for a deliberate rushed behind.
2005
- After a behind is scored, no requirement to wait for the goal umpires to wave their flags before kicking out .
- Extra players on the interchange bench, although this is intended mainly so that coaches can try extra players, and ensure that none are over-worked, during the pre-season.
- A larger centre circle.
- 4 field umpires
- Umpires coming in 10m from the boundary line to throw in the ball.
- Play on if the ball hits the goal post and bounces back into the field of play.
2006
- Play on called for backward kicks, except when that kick takes place within the attacking team's forward 50m.
2007
- Video replay umpire for goals. Ability for goal umpire decisions to be overruled by video umpire.
- All nine umpires able to pay free kicks (includes boundary and goal umpires) (Trialled only in Melbourne vs Hawthorn Round 1 NAB Cup 2007)
- Play on called for backward kicks, only in the defensive half of the field.
- Kick must travel 20m to be paid a mark.
2008
- Eight players on the interchange bench, only 16 interchanges permitted each quarter.
- 2.5m x 6.5m "no-go" area around the centre bounce, where players are prohibited before and during the bounce until the umpire clears the area.
- Centre bounces only at the start of a quarter and after goals, ball is thrown up otherwise.
2009
- A line going through middle of ground
- Kick must go 20 metres for a mark
- If the ball is hand-passed or kicked for a rushed behind the opposition receives a free kick (this rule was later introduced in the 2009 AFL season2009 AFL season-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:...
)
2010
- Players can determine if there is an advantage in play
- 18 minute quarters
2011
- A Super Goal is no longer awarded when a 50m penalty moves a set shot from outside 50m to inside 50m; instead, the player either chooses to take a nine-point shot from the 50m line, or a six-point shot from inside 50m.
See AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
for more
Naming rights sponsors
- Golden Fleece Night Premiership (1965–69)
- Radiant Night Premiership (1970)
- HeinzH. J. Heinz CompanyThe H. J. Heinz Company , commonly known as Heinz and famous for its "57 Varieties" slogan and its ketchup, is an American food company with world headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Perhaps best known for its ketchup, the H.J...
Night Premiership (1971) - Amco-Herald Cup (1977–78)
- Escort Championships (1979–82)
- Sterling Cup (1983–84)
- Foster'sFoster's GroupFoster's Group is a beer group with interests in brewing and soft drinks. Foster's Group is the brewer of the Foster's Lager. Foster's Group Limited is a publicly-listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange and is based in Melbourne, Victoria...
Football Cup (1985–86) - National PanasonicNational (brand)National was a brand used by Panasonic Corporation to sell home appliances, personal appliances, and industrial appliances and was the first name used by Konosuke Matsushita's electric firm to sell his battery-powered bicycle lamps, hoping that they would be a product used by all of Japan, hence...
Cup (1987) - PanasonicPanasonicPanasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Panasonic Corporation, which was formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd...
Cup (1988–89) - Foster'sFoster's GroupFoster's Group is a beer group with interests in brewing and soft drinks. Foster's Group is the brewer of the Foster's Lager. Foster's Group Limited is a publicly-listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange and is based in Melbourne, Victoria...
Cup (1990–94) - Ansett AustraliaAnsett AustraliaAnsett Australia, Ansett, Ansett Airlines of Australia, or ANSETT-ANA as it was commonly known in earlier years, was a major Australian airline group, based in Melbourne. The airlines flew domestically within Australia and to destinations in Asia during its operation in 1996...
Cup (1995–2001) - Wizard Home Loans Cup (2002–05)
- NABNational Australia BankNational Australia Bank is one of the four largest financial institutions in Australia in terms of market capitalisation and customers. NAB is ranked 17th largest bank in the world measured by market capitalisation...
Cup (2006–present)
A "lightning premiership" (sponsored by Coca-Cola) was also held in 1996 (see below).
Notes:
– The competition sponsor for 1979–1984 was actually the cigarette manufacturer W.D. & H.O. Wills
W.D. & H.O. Wills
W.D. & H.O. Wills was a British tobacco importer and cigarette manufacturer formed in Bristol, England. It was one of the founding companies of Imperial Tobacco.-History:...
– "Escort" and "Sterling" were brand names used by the company during this period.
– The 1995–2001 competitions were officially named the "Ansett Australia Cup" but are more commonly referred to as the "Ansett Cup".
– Similarly, the 2002–2005 competitions were officially named the "Wizard Home Loans Cup" but are usually referred to as the "Wizard Cup".
– National Australia Bank
National Australia Bank
National Australia Bank is one of the four largest financial institutions in Australia in terms of market capitalisation and customers. NAB is ranked 17th largest bank in the world measured by market capitalisation...
currently hold naming rights for the competition until 2010, renaming it the "NAB Cup".
AFL pre-season cup winners
(Since 1990)| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Essendon | North Melbourne |
| 1991 | Hawthorn | North Melbourne |
| 1992 | Hawthorn | Fitzroy |
| 1993 | Essendon | Richmond |
| 1994 | Essendon | Adelaide |
| 1995 | North Melbourne | Adelaide |
| 1996 | St Kilda | Carlton |
| 1997 | Carlton | Geelong |
| 1998 | North Melbourne | St Kilda |
| 1999 | Hawthorn | Port Adelaide |
| 2000 | Essendon | North Melbourne |
| 2001 | Port Adelaide | Brisbane Lions |
| 2002 | Port Adelaide | Richmond |
| 2003 | Adelaide | Collingwood |
| 2004 | St Kilda | Geelong |
| 2005 | Carlton | West Coast |
| 2006 | Geelong | Adelaide |
| 2007 | Carlton | Brisbane Lions |
| 2008 | St Kilda | Adelaide |
| 2009 | Geelong | Collingwood |
| 2010 | Western Bulldogs | St Kilda |
| 2011 | Collingwood | Essendon |
Pre-season/night and premiership "double"
The night/preseason and premiership double has only been achieved seven times to date: twice in the second Night Series era (1977–1987) and five times in the Pre-Season era (1988-pres).- Essendon – Night: 1984; Pre-season: 1993, 2000
- Hawthorn – Night: 1986; Pre-season: 1988, 1991
- Geelong – Pre-season: 2009
The double could not be achieved during the first Night Series era (1956–1971) because only the teams who failed to reach the league finals competed in that era.
In 2007, any team achieving the pre-season/league premiership double would receive $1 million in bonus prize money from the competition sponsors, the National Australia Bank (see below). This offer was removed the next season.
Trophy
Trophy
A trophy is a reward for a specific achievement, and serves as recognition or evidence of merit. Trophies are most often awarded for sporting events, from youth sports to professional level athletics...
for the pre-season competition has varied greatly over the years.
When it was the Wizard Home Loans Cup it was affectionately known by fans as the "Wizard Wok" due to the shape of it being like a wok
Wok
A wok is a versatile round-bottomed cooking vessel originating in China. It is used especially in East and Southeast Asia.Woks are most often used for stir frying, but can also be used in other Chinese cooking techniques, such as in steaming, deep frying, braising, stewing, smoking, or making soup...
.
More recently it has taken the more traditional trophy shape.
Monetary prize
Prize moneyPrize money
Prize money has a distinct meaning in warfare, especially naval warfare, where it was a monetary reward paid out to the crew of a ship for capturing an enemy vessel...
is awarded to the winning club.
This is awarded by the National Australia Bank, the current sponsors of the competition.
The AFL announced prior to the 2007 season that if a club could win both the pre-season cup and premiership in the same season, that club would receive a bonus $1 million. Half would be distributed among the players and the other half going to the club. This offer was taken off the table the following year.
Recent attendances
- See List of Australian Football League night premiers for Grand Final crowds.
Although many clubs and coaches (especially the wealthier clubs) do not take the pre-season competition seriously and use the competition as a chance to test young and inexperienced players, the NAB Cup format has proven quite popular with spectators.
| Season | Total Attendance | Matches | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 2010 NAB Cup The 2010 NAB Cup was the Australian Football League pre-season competition that was played before the 2010 home and away season. The games were played between 12 February and 13 March, with the first match being between and at Subiaco Oval... |
227,481 | 15 | 15,165 |
| 2009 2009 NAB Cup The 2009 NAB Cup is the Australian Football League pre-season competition that was played before the Australian Football League's 2009 Premiership season begins. It culminated with the Final on 13 March 2009 played between Geelong and Collingwood and was won by Geelong... |
282,585 | 15 | 18,839 |
| 2008 2008 NAB Cup The 2008 NAB Cup was the Australian Football League pre-season competition played in its entirety before the Australian Football League's 2008 Premiership season began... |
244,103 | 15 | 16,274 |
| 2007 2007 NAB Cup -Knock-Out Chart:- Final Placings :1. Carlton 2. Brisbane 3. Geelong 4. North Melbourne 5. Port Adelaide 6. Hawthorn 7. Fremantle 8. Western Bulldogs 9. Adelaide 10. Essendon 11. St. Kilda 12. Melbourne 13. Sydney 14. Richmond 15. West Coast... |
246,321 | 15 | 16,421 |
| 2006 2006 NAB Cup The 2006 NAB Cup was held across Australia between 24 February and 18 March. The NAB Cup was won by Geelong who defeated Adelaide in the Grand Final of the knock-out pre-season competition.- Prize money :... |
235,980 | 15 | 15,732 |
| 2005 2005 Wizard Home Loans Cup The 2005 Wizard Home Loans Cup was the name of the AFL pre-season competition for 2005. The attendance for all matches was 317,761, with an average attendance of 21,184 per game. The Michael Tuck medal was awarded to Brendan Fevola of the Carlton Football Club... |
307,181 | 15 | 20,479 |
Lightning Premiership
The Lightning Premiership was held for the only time in the modern era in 1996 – the Centenary Season of the AFLAustralian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. It was a knock-out competition played from Friday, 9 February until Sunday, 11 February, with four games each evening at Waverley Park
Waverley Park
Waverley Park was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian based Victorian Football League/Australian Football League clubs. However, during the 1990s it became the home ground of...
, each consisting of two 17.5 minute halves.
The game trialled a number of highly experimental rules, including three points awarded both for deliberate rushed behinds and balls which hit the goalposts, and timekeepers not blowing the siren if scores were tied. However, the rule which altered play most significantly was the ball not being thrown in from the boundary line after travelling out of bounds, a free kick being awarded instead against the last team to touch the ball. Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
won the title defeating Brisbane by 17 points in the Grand Final.
Previous VFL/AFL Lightning Premierships were held in:
- 19401940 VFL Lightning PremiershipThe 1940 VFL Lightning Premiership was an Australian Football League knockout competition played entirely on Saturday 3, August. It was played during a weeks break of the Victorian Football Leagues's 1940 VFL season between rounds 14 and 15 with all games being played at the MCG. This was the first...
– won by St Kilda (the Saints' first VFL/AFL trophy) - 19411941 VFL Lightning PremiershipThe 1941 VFL Lightning Premiership was an Australian Football League knockout competition played entirely on Saturday 24, May. It was played during a weeks break of the Victorian Football Leagues's 1941 VFL season between rounds 4 and 5 with all games being played at the MCG...
– won by Collingwood - 19431943 VFL Lightning PremiershipThe 1943 VFL Lightning Premiership was an Australian Football League knockout competition played entirely on Saturday 24, July. It was played during a weeks break of the Victorian Football Leagues's 1943 VFL season between rounds 11 and 12 with all games being played at Princes Park. The...
– won by Essendon - 19511951 VFL Lightning PremiershipThe 1951 VFL Lightning Premiership was a Victorian Football League knockout competition played entirely on Wednesday, 9 May. It was played on the Jubilee Day holiday between rounds 3 and 4 of the Victorian Football Leagues's 1951 VFL season with all games played at the MCG. This was the fourth time...
– won by Collingwood - 19521952 VFL Lightning PremiershipThe 1952 VFL Lightning Premiership was a Victorian Football League knockout competition played entirely on Saturday, 24 May. It was played on the Empire Day holiday between rounds 5 and 6 of the Victorian Football Leagues's 1952 VFL season with all games played at the MCG. This was the fifth time a...
– won by Melbourne - 19531953 VFL Lightning PremiershipThe 1953 VFL Lightning Premiership was a Victorian Football League knockout competition played entirely on Tuesday, 2 June. It was played on the same day as Elizabeth II's Coronation between rounds 6 and 7 of the Victorian Football Leagues's 1953 VFL season with all games played at the MCG. This...
– won by Richmond
The Lightning Premiership match format is very close to the format currently seen in the first round of the expanded eighteen-team pre-season; in fact, the half-length format is often referred to as Lightning Football.
NAB Challenge
Since 2003, the AFL has run a series of pre-season practice matches called the "Regional Challenge" or "NAB Challenge" for clubs that are eliminated from the main pre-season cup competition.The AFL has several aims of the series. It provide eliminated teams with match practice before the main premiership season and brings the game to fans in remote areas and can gauge interest in new markets.
Venues are limited to those that are considered AFL standard. This requires surfaces that prevent injury to players, spectator facilities including grandstand seating and adequate lights for night matches. Many of the matches in this series are still played at current AFL and former AFL metropolitan venues, particularly since 2007 when the Victorian drought
Drought in Australia
Drought in Australia is defined as rainfall over a three month period being in the lowest decile of what has been recorded for that region in the past. This definition takes into account that drought is a relative term and rainfall deficiencies need to be compared to typical rainfall patterns...
made many regional grounds in Victoria either unavailable or unsuitable for AFL matches.
Although the games are informal and there is no actual winner or prize, they have attracted a large amount of interest in regional areas and grown in popularity.
While attendances for these matches are sometimes published in the media and the AFL carries match reports on all matches, the AFL does not always publish attendance for these matches as the attendances are quite low by AFL standards. In 2005, the total Regional Challenge attendance was 117,552, up from 87,000 in 2004 and 76,000 in 2003.
| Year | Date | City | State/Territory | Teams / Score | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 14 March | Bunbury Bunbury, Western Australia The port city of Bunbury is the third largest city in Western Australia after the State Capital Perth and Mandurah. It is situated south of Perth's central business district... |
Western Australia Western Australia Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east... |
Fremantle 20.6 (126) defeated Carlton 12.11 (83) | Hands Oval Hands Oval JE Hands Memorial Park, more commonly known as Hands Oval, is a stadium in South Bunbury, Western Australia. The ground is mainly used for cricket and football matches, but has also hosted soccer and rugby union games.-Australian rules football:... |
|
| 2009 | 14 March | Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater... |
Victoria Victoria (Australia) Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively.... |
Western Bulldogs 14.17 (101) defeated Melbourne 10.3 (63) | Casey Fields Casey Fields Casey Fields is a $30 million 70 hectare multi-sports complex in the City of Casey at Cranbourne East a southeastern suburb of Melbourne.The complex is home to Australian rules football, cricket, netball, tennis, cycling and golf.... |
2,500 |
| 2009 | 13 March | Bendigo | Victoria Victoria (Australia) Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively.... |
North Melbourne 17.15 (117) defeated Essendon 15.10 (100) | Queen Elizabeth Oval Queen Elizabeth Oval Queen Elizabeth Oval is an Australian rules football stadium located in Bendigo, Australia. The capacity of the venue is 18,000. In previous times more than 18,000 have flocked into the ground.... |
2,500 |
| 2009 | 7 March | Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... |
New South Wales New South Wales New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales... |
Sydney 16.12 (108) defeated Western Bulldogs 12.9 (81) | Bruce Purser Reserve Bruce Purser Reserve Bruce Purser Reserve is a sports facility in Kellyville, an outer suburb of Sydney, Australia. It was constructed in 2008 on the site of a former rubbish tip, at the corner of Commercial Road and Withers Road. Its main feature is a grassed oval constructed to competition standards for Australian... |
3,500 |
| 2009 | 7 March | Berri Berri, South Australia Berri is a town in the Riverland region of South Australia. It is 238 kilometres north-east of Adelaide, the capital of the state of South Australia. It is primarily an agricultural and viticultural town on the north bank of the Murray River... |
South Australia South Australia South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland... |
Adelaide 15.10 (100) defeated Hawthorn 5.3 (33) | Berri Oval | 7,200 |
| 2009 | 6 March | Shepparton | Victoria Victoria (Australia) Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively.... |
St.Kilda 16.13 (109) defeated Richmond 9.3 (57) | Deakin Reserve | 7,000 |
| 2009 | 6 March | Cairns | Queensland Queensland Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean... |
Melbourne 11.7 (73) defeated Brisbane 4.12 (36) | Cazaly Stadium | 4,000 |
| 2009 | 28 February | Canberra Canberra Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne... |
Australian Capital Territory Australian Capital Territory The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory... |
North Melbourne 23.11 (149) defeated Fremantle 8.4 (52) | Manuka Oval Manuka Oval Manuka Oval is a 13,550 capacity ground located in the suburb of Griffith, adjacent to Manuka, a business district of Canberra, Australia's capital.... |
1,661 |
| 2009 | 27 February | Alice Springs | Northern Territory Northern Territory The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions... |
Adelaide 15.5 (95) defeated West Coast 12.13 (85) | Traeger Park Traeger Park Traeger Park is a small stadium located in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia.The stadium hosts Australian rules football and cricket matches and has a capacity of 10,000.... |
|
| 2008 | 29 February | Narrandera Narrandera, New South Wales -Transport:Narrandera is well served for transport. The Sturt Highway and the Newell Highways cross, just south of Narrandera. Greyhound buses pass daily - note that the destination can be listed as Jillenbah.... |
New South Wales New South Wales New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales... |
Richmond 17.11 (113) defeated Sydney 13.10 (88) | Narrandera Sports Ground | 8,296 |
| 2008 | Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs, South Australia Noarlunga Downs is a metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It lies within the City of Onkaparinga and has postcode 5168.-History:... |
South Australia South Australia South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland... |
||||
| 2008 | Albany Albany, Western Australia Albany is a port city in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, some 418 km SE of Perth, the state capital. As of 2009, Albany's population was estimated at 33,600, making it the 6th-largest city in the state.... |
Western Australia Western Australia Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east... |
8,000 | |||
| 2008 | Alice Springs | Northern Territory Northern Territory The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions... |
Traeger Park Traeger Park Traeger Park is a small stadium located in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia.The stadium hosts Australian rules football and cricket matches and has a capacity of 10,000.... |
6,000 | ||
| 2008 | 2 March | Bendigo | Victoria | Western Bulldogs 14.9 (93) defeated Melbourne 9.9 (63)1 | Queen Elizabeth Oval Queen Elizabeth Oval Queen Elizabeth Oval is an Australian rules football stadium located in Bendigo, Australia. The capacity of the venue is 18,000. In previous times more than 18,000 have flocked into the ground.... |
7,000 |
| 2008 | Shepparton Shepparton, Victoria Shepparton is a city located on the floodplain of the Goulburn River in the north east of Victoria, Australia approximately north-east of Melbourne. It is the fifth largest city in Victoria, Australia. The estimated population of Shepparton's statistical area is 48,926.It began as a sheep station... |
Victoria | Collingwood 16.12 (108) defeated Hawthorn 13.12 (90) | Deakin Reserve | ||
| 2008 | Casey City of Casey The City of Casey is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the outer south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Casey is Victoria's most populous municipality, with a 2006 census population of 214,960. The municipality's population growth rate during both 1996-2001 and 2001-2006 was... |
Victoria | Casey Fields Casey Fields Casey Fields is a $30 million 70 hectare multi-sports complex in the City of Casey at Cranbourne East a southeastern suburb of Melbourne.The complex is home to Australian rules football, cricket, netball, tennis, cycling and golf.... |
|||
| 2008 | Carlton Carlton, Victoria Carlton is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne... |
Victoria | Princes Park Princes Park, Carlton Princes Park is a 38.6 hectare park in the inner-Melbourne suburb of Carlton North, Victoria. It is located directly north of the University of Melbourne and bounded on its eastern and western sides by Melbourne General Cemetery and Royal Parade respectively... |
1,500 | ||
| 2008 | Canberra Canberra Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne... |
Australian Capital Territory Australian Capital Territory The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory... |
Manuka Oval Manuka Oval Manuka Oval is a 13,550 capacity ground located in the suburb of Griffith, adjacent to Manuka, a business district of Canberra, Australia's capital.... |
2,264 | ||
| 2008 | Cairns | Queensland Queensland Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean... |
Cazaly's Stadium Cazaly's Stadium Cazaly's Stadium, also known by its sponsorship name as Bundaberg Rum Stadium, is a sports stadium in Cairns, Australia, that is named after former VFL legend Roy Cazaly.... |
4,134 | ||
| 2008 | 29 February | Gold Coast Gold Coast, Queensland Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous... |
Queensland Queensland Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean... |
Brisbane Lions 13.14 (92) defeated Geelong Cats 7.10 (52) | Carrara Stadium Carrara Stadium Carrara Stadium is a sporting venue on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, located in the suburb of Carrara.... |
4,134 |
| 2007 | 9 March | Narrandera Narrandera, New South Wales -Transport:Narrandera is well served for transport. The Sturt Highway and the Newell Highways cross, just south of Narrandera. Greyhound buses pass daily - note that the destination can be listed as Jillenbah.... |
New South Wales New South Wales New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales... |
Sydney 19.9 (123) defeated Collingwood 10.7 (67) | Narrandera Sports Ground | 10,979 |
| 2007 | 9 March | Alice Springs | Northern Territory Northern Territory The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions... |
West Coast 12.12 (84) defeated Adelaide 11.11 (77) | Traeger Park Traeger Park Traeger Park is a small stadium located in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia.The stadium hosts Australian rules football and cricket matches and has a capacity of 10,000.... |
11,000 |
| 2007 | 3 March | Mount Gambier Mount Gambier, South Australia Mount Gambier is the largest regional city in South Australia located approximately 450 kilometres south of the capital Adelaide and just 17 kilometres from the Victorian border.... |
South Australia South Australia South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland... |
Adelaide 14.16 (100) defeated Melbourne 6.8 (44) | Blue Lake Sports Park | 5,471 |
| 2007 | Geelong | Victoria | 3,365 | |||
| 2007 | Mildura | Victoria | Richmond defeated Collingwood | Quandong Park | 10,733 | |
| 2007 | Canberra Canberra Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne... |
Australian Capital Territory Australian Capital Territory The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory... |
Manuka Oval Manuka Oval Manuka Oval is a 13,550 capacity ground located in the suburb of Griffith, adjacent to Manuka, a business district of Canberra, Australia's capital.... |
|||
| 2006 | Gold Coast Gold Coast, Queensland Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous... |
Queensland Queensland Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean... |
Carrara Stadium Carrara Stadium Carrara Stadium is a sporting venue on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, located in the suburb of Carrara.... |
6,277 | ||
| 2006 | Gold Coast Gold Coast, Queensland Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous... |
Queensland Queensland Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean... |
Carrara Stadium Carrara Stadium Carrara Stadium is a sporting venue on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, located in the suburb of Carrara.... |
10,117 | ||
| 2006 | Shepparton Shepparton, Victoria Shepparton is a city located on the floodplain of the Goulburn River in the north east of Victoria, Australia approximately north-east of Melbourne. It is the fifth largest city in Victoria, Australia. The estimated population of Shepparton's statistical area is 48,926.It began as a sheep station... |
Victoria Victoria (Australia) Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively.... |
4,500 | |||
| 2006 | Bendigo | Victoria | Queen Elizabeth Oval Queen Elizabeth Oval Queen Elizabeth Oval is an Australian rules football stadium located in Bendigo, Australia. The capacity of the venue is 18,000. In previous times more than 18,000 have flocked into the ground.... |
11,000 | ||
| 2006 | Mildura | Victoria | Essendon defeated Richmond 2 | Quandong Park | 10,000 | |
| 2006 | Mandurah | Western Australia Western Australia Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east... |
8,283 | |||
| 2006 | Albury Albury, New South Wales Albury is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia, located on the Hume Highway on the northern side of the Murray River. It is located wholly within the boundaries of the City of Albury Local Government Area... |
New South Wales New South Wales New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales... |
Lavington Sports Ground Lavington Sports Ground Lavington Sports Ground is an Australian rules football stadium located in Hamilton Valley, a suburb on the north-west fringe of Albury, New South Wales, Australia. The capacity of the venue is estimated at around 20,000... |
5,151 | ||
| 2005 | Port Lincoln | South Australia South Australia South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland... |
Adelaide 12.16 (88) defeated Geelong 13.8 (86) | Centenary Oval | 7,662 | |
| 2005 | Joondalup Joondalup, Western Australia Joondalup is a regional metropolitan city within Perth, Western Australia, approximately north of Perth's central business district.It acts as the primary urban centre in Perth's outer northern suburbs.-History:... |
Western Australia Western Australia Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east... |
Fremantle 14.12 (96) defeated Hawthorn 4.8 (32) | The Arena The Arena, Joondalup Arena Joondalup is a multi-purpose stadium sport, recreation and aquatic centre located in Joondalup, Western Australia. It is located on 35 ha of parkland approximately 25 km north of Perth. It was officially opened in 1994... |
10,127 | |
| 2005 | 5 March | Gold Coast Gold Coast, Queensland Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous... |
Queensland Queensland Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean... |
Brisbane 11.11 (77) defeated Essendon 9.9 (63) | Carrara Stadium Carrara Stadium Carrara Stadium is a sporting venue on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, located in the suburb of Carrara.... |
16,591 |
| 2005 | Alice Springs | Northern Territory Northern Territory The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions... |
Richmond 7.9 (51) defeated Fremantle 7.7 (49) | Traeger Park Traeger Park Traeger Park is a small stadium located in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia.The stadium hosts Australian rules football and cricket matches and has a capacity of 10,000.... |
7,506 | |
| 2005 | Albury Albury, New South Wales Albury is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia, located on the Hume Highway on the northern side of the Murray River. It is located wholly within the boundaries of the City of Albury Local Government Area... |
New South Wales New South Wales New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales... |
Melbourne 14.9 (93) defeated St Kilda 12.11 (83) | Lavington Sports Ground Lavington Sports Ground Lavington Sports Ground is an Australian rules football stadium located in Hamilton Valley, a suburb on the north-west fringe of Albury, New South Wales, Australia. The capacity of the venue is estimated at around 20,000... |
12,157 | |
| 2005 | Newcastle Newcastle, New South Wales The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas... |
New South Wales New South Wales New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales... |
Collingwood 16.9 (105) defeated Sydney 16.7 (103) | No.1 Sports Ground | 3,256 | |
| 2005 | Bendigo | Victoria | Geelong 14.6 (90) defeated Essendon 12.7 (79) | Queen Elizabeth Oval Queen Elizabeth Oval Queen Elizabeth Oval is an Australian rules football stadium located in Bendigo, Australia. The capacity of the venue is 18,000. In previous times more than 18,000 have flocked into the ground.... |
13,000 | |
| 2005 | Morwell Morwell, Victoria -Transport:The main form of transport in Morwell is the automobile. The Princes Freeway now bypasses the town to the south while the old Princes Highway which once passed through east-west through its centre is now Princes Drive and Commercial Road. The highway connects Morwell with other... |
Victoria | Richmond 20.18 (138) defeated Essendon 10.6 (66) | 10,127 | ||
| 2004 | 28 February | Morwell Morwell, Victoria -Transport:The main form of transport in Morwell is the automobile. The Princes Freeway now bypasses the town to the south while the old Princes Highway which once passed through east-west through its centre is now Princes Drive and Commercial Road. The highway connects Morwell with other... |
Victoria | Kangaroos 11.13 (79) drew with Hawthorn 11.13 (79) | Morwell Football Ground | 4,500 |
| 2004 | Alice Springs | Northern Territory Northern Territory The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions... |
Port Adelaide 15.15 (105) defeated Collingwood 14.7 (91) | Traeger Park Traeger Park Traeger Park is a small stadium located in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia.The stadium hosts Australian rules football and cricket matches and has a capacity of 10,000.... |
10,000 | |
| 2004 | Shepparton Shepparton, Victoria Shepparton is a city located on the floodplain of the Goulburn River in the north east of Victoria, Australia approximately north-east of Melbourne. It is the fifth largest city in Victoria, Australia. The estimated population of Shepparton's statistical area is 48,926.It began as a sheep station... |
Victoria Victoria (Australia) Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively.... |
Western Bulldogs 20.13 (133) defeated Carlton 17.15 (117) | Deakin Reserve | 3,000 | |
| 2004 | Coorparoo Coorparoo, Queensland Coorparoo is a southern suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, located approximately four kilometres from the city. Surrounding suburbs include Camp Hill, Holland Park, Greenslopes, East Brisbane, Norman Park and Seven Hills.-Aboriginal history:... |
Queensland Queensland Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean... |
Brisbane Lions 13.9 (87) defeated Richmond 11.12 (78) | 5,000 | ||
| 2004 | Kadina Kadina, South Australia Kadina is a town located on the Yorke Peninsula of South Australia, approximately 144 kilometres north-northwest of the state capital of Adelaide. The largest town of the Peninsula, Kadina is one of the three Copper Triangle towns famous for their shared copper mining history... |
South Australia South Australia South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland... |
Adelaide 9.18 (72) defeated Port Adelaide 10.5 (65) | 8,905 | ||
| 2004 | Newcastle Newcastle, New South Wales The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas... |
New South Wales New South Wales New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales... |
Sydney 17.14 (116) defeated Essendon 9.10 (64) | No.1 Sports Ground | 3,405 | |
| 2004 | Mandurah | Western Australia Western Australia Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east... |
Kangaroos 18.12 (120) defeated Fremantle 15.8 (98) | Rushton Park Rushton Park Rushton Park, officially called Bendigo Bank Stadium, is an Australian rules football ground located in Mandurah, Western Australia. The ground is currently used as a home ground by three clubs: the , competing in the West Australian Football League , the Mandurah Mustangs, competing in the Peel... |
8,283 |
1 Match ended early due to a blackout
2 Match was played as a memorial to local teenagers that died in a Mildura road accident
Note: Only matches at non-AFL grounds are listed
See also
- List of Australian Football League pre-season and night series premiers
- Michael Tuck MedalMichael Tuck MedalSince 1992, the Michael Tuck Medal has been awarded to the best-and-fairest player in the AFL Pre-season Cup Final. It is named after Michael Tuck, the current AFL games record holder who played 426 senior matches for the Hawthorn Hawks between 1972 and 1991....
, awarded to the best player in a night series grand final - Championship of AustraliaChampionship of AustraliaThe Championship of Australia was the name given to an Australian rules football tournament which was contested between football clubs from the Victorian, South Australian and West Australian football leagues. The Championship took place three times in the 19th century and then from 1907 to 1914...