2012 NAB Cup Fixture Released

 The AFL’s newest Club – GWS GIANTS – will begin its path into the AFL competition in the opening week of the 2012 NAB Cup at Blacktown International Sportspark, meeting Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs on Saturday February 18 next year.

AFL Chief Operating Officer Gillon McLachlan today announced the fixture for the opening three weeks of the revised 2012 competition, including the six divisions of three teams apiece for round one, that was introduced in 2011.
 
The Giants, to be led by AFL Hall of Fame coach Kevin Sheedy, will face off against the Magpies and the Bulldogs while the other week one venues will see Hawthorn, Richmond and North Melbourne grouped together at Etihad Stadium on Friday February 17 and West Coast, Fremantle and Essendon grouped together at Patersons Stadium on Sunday February 19.
 
In the second week of round one match-ups, the Geelong Cats, St Kilda and the Sydney Swans will be grouped at Etihad Stadium on Friday February 24, the Gold Coast Suns, the Brisbane Lions and Melbourne will play at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast on Saturday February 25 and Port Adelaide, the Adelaide Crows and Carlton will play at AAMI Stadium on Sunday February 26.
 
In a new development for the 2012 NAB Cup, all 18 clubs have had all matches fixtured for the opening three rounds of competition. Each club will play two shortened matches in their week one pool against the other two sides, comprising two 20-minute halves (approximately) across a three-hour window for the three matches. Clubs will then play full-scale matches in weeks two and three of the NAB Cup. All matches across the three rounds (two shortened games and two full games) will count equally for four points and percentage, with the two best-performed teams over the opening three rounds to compete in the NAB Cup Grand Final on Saturday March 17. The 16 other clubs will play NAB Cup matches that weekend across March 16-17 in various metropolitan cities across the country.
 
Mr McLachlan said FOXTEL, AUSTAR and FOX SPORTS would kick off the new AFL television rights deal for 2012-2016 by exclusively covering all of the matches in round 1 of the NAB Cup live and a minimum of five matches live in each of rounds two and three, all in High Definition and uninterrupted siren to siren, while the NAB Cup Grand Final would be broadcast live by both FOX SPORTS and the Seven Network.  In addition, with the AFL’s new media partnership with FOXTEL and Telstra, one match per round will be available live on Telstra T-Box services and all matches broadcast by FOX SPORTS will also be available live on Telstra mobile.
 
Earlier this year, the AFL and NAB announced a new five-year partnership and Mr McLachlan said the AFL was delighted the 2012 competition had been designed to better assist all clubs’ preparation for the 2012 year.
 
“The introduction of our shortened games for the 2011 NAB Cup was a great success, with strong attendances for the three matches at each of our six venues, coupled with above-average viewer numbers across television,” Mr McLachlan said.
 
“The shortened format enables clubs to use their senior players as they see fit for the opening to the season, as well as offering the flexibility to provide opportunities for new players and rookies that is such a key feature of the NAB Cup.
 
“In 2012, we have now fixtured each club’s matches for both rounds two and three of the competition, so clubs are aware of their travel schedule and can fully plan their preparation and training workload as they build up to the start of the premiership season. In rounds two and three, we will mix matches across both regional venues and our major AFL venues, so that we continue to promote our game into areas that don’t normally host AFL football.
 
“All matches will count for four points and the two-best performed sides will compete in the NAB Cup Grand Final on March 17,” he said.
 
National Australia Bank’s General Manager of Brand & Sponsorship, Kevin Ramsdale, said NAB was delighted that the NAB Cup would again extend to reach many Australian communities.

“The great thing about the NAB Cup is that it allows us to take the AFL to thousands of people around the country who don’t often get a chance to experience footy at this level. I know our employees and customers in regional towns such as Wangaratta, Mandurah and North Ballarat will be pleased to see the game heading their way,” Mr Ramsdale said.

“The NAB Cup also provides an opportunity to see the young stars debut on the big stage.
 
“This is particularly exciting with the Giants joining the competition in 2012.
 
“Last year we saw Gold Coast debut the likes of David Swallow and Zac Smith, so we look forward to seeing what the Giants have in store given they have 11 of the first 14 picks in the 2011 NAB AFL Draft,” he continued.
 
A full fixture for rounds 1-3 is attached. NAB Cup matches in rounds two and three will go to regional venues in all states and territories while FOX SPORTS has committed to broadcasting the North Melbourne / Western Bulldogs encounter at North Ballarat Oval on Sunday March 11 – a first for the venue.
 
The match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Geelong Cats on Friday March 2 will be the first Friday night match at the venue while Blacktown International Sportspark will also host matches in rounds one and potentially round four, depending on match schedule.
 
“The Giants have worked extremely hard over the last year to prepare for their AFL debut and will recruit the cream of this year’s young talent at next month’s NAB AFL Draft.
 
“It makes perfect sense to place the Giants at home in Blacktown for their first steps, while our fans will again be able to start the season with a different format where they can see their team play twice and, all up, be able to watch three matches played during a three-hour period,” he said. 
 
Click here to view the full 2012 NAB Cup fixture