2013 NAB Cup dates announced
The AFL today said the 2013 NAB Cup would run across a five-week period, incorporating three rounds and a stand-alone Grand Final, commencing from the weekend of February 15-17, 2013.
AFL General Manager Broadcasting, Scheduling and Legal Affairs Simon Lethlean said the AFL would again use the format that was introduced in 2011 for the opening round, in which the competition will be divided into six divisions of three teams apiece, to play two short-form games, to reduce the pre-season load on players.
The 18 Clubs will then all play two full-scale matches on the weekends of March 1-3 and March 8-10, before the NAB Cup Grand Final on the weekend of March 15-16.
Mr Lethlean said the Triangular Format matches in round one would be hosted at Etihad Stadium, Patersons Stadium and AAMI Stadium on the weekend of February 15-17 and at Etihad Stadium, Blacktown International SportsPark and Metricon Stadium on the weekend of February 22-24.
“The Triangular format will feature in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland, to open the NAB Cup competition across Australia, with the aim to balance club travel loads as best as practically possible in conjunction with the Premiership Season,” Mr Lethlean said.
“Each of these match-ups will be scheduled in the twilight / night slots in their respective states, to avoid any early-season heat concerns.”
The full fixture will be completed and formally announced by the end of this month, with the finalists for the NAB Cup Grand Final again determined on the basis of a mini-ladder taking into account the four matches (two short-form and two full games) played by each club.
Mr Lethlean said the full-scale matches in Rounds Two and Three would be split between metropolitan and regional venues (to be determined) to maximise the game’s exposure into areas that don’t usually host AFL games, and will cover every state and territory.
FOX FOOTY will exclusively broadcast a number of matches in Rounds 1, 2 and 3, while the NAB Cup Grand Final will be broadcast live by both FOX FOOTY and the Seven Network.
Please click here to view the competition structure.
