Swans and GIANTS gear up for NAB Cup

Whether it’s a rookie selected early in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft or those established players who have moved clubs via free agency in the off-season, this year’s NAB Cup once again provides the first chance to ‘see how they shape up’ ahead of the Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

The Sydney Swans and GWS GIANTS will kick off their NAB Cup campaigns against Carlton at Blacktown International Sportspark from 4.40pm on Sunday, February 24.

The 2013 NAB Cup will once again take elite level football to numerous regional areas around the country, including Wangaratta (Vic), Townsville (Qld), Wagga (NSW), Renmark (SA), Mandurah (WA) and Alice Springs (NT).

The 2013 NAB Cup will again comprise of a triangular format during the first round only, with three teams competing at the one venue on the same day.

The first round will again feature pools of three teams with each club playing two shortened matches comprising of 20-minute halves across a three-hour window. The remaining rounds will be full-scale matches.

The NAB Cup will head to Wagga Wagga for the first time in over a decade in Round 2 as the GIANTS take on the Brisbane Lions at Robertson Oval at 7.00pm on Saturday March 2.

The GIANTS will then travel to Manuka Oval in Canberra for the first AFL game under lights when they clash with the Essendon Bombers on Friday March 8 at 6.10pm.

The Sydney Swans will return to Blacktown in Round 3 for a contest with the Gold Coast Suns at 7.00pm on Saturday March 9 at Blacktown International Sportspark.

The two best-performed teams in the opening three rounds will compete in the NAB Cup Grand Final on either Friday March 15 or Saturday March 16.

AFL Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Demetriou, said the NAB Cup provides an ideal link between the elite level of the game and the community.

“The NAB Cup has always had a very deliberate focus on the community and strong community support is the backbone of our game,” Mr Demetriou said.

“For fans there is always a great deal of excitement around the NAB Cup because it offers the chance to see how their team is tracking at the start of the year following the introduction of some new faces and new game plans.

“This year is no different as we look forward to the debut of a number of exciting new recruits whether they are new coaches, those young players coming direct from the NAB AFL Draft or those players who will debut in new club colours via free agency.

This year’s NAB Cup will again see nine points awarded for a NAB Supergoal kicked from outside the 50m arc. For every NAB Supergoal kicked, NAB will donate $500 worth of Sherrins to the goal kicker’s junior football club.

Tickets to all Round 1-3 NAB Cup matches are now on-sale through Ticketek (Manuka Oval), Ticket Shop (Townsville) and Ticketmaster for all other venues. Ticket offers for children under 15 will be available around NAB Cup matches in rounds 1-3. For more details visit www.afl.com.au

NAB Cup in NSW/ACT

ROUND 1

GWS GIANTS VS SYDNEY SWANS VS CARLTON
Sunday February 24th, 4:40pm at Blacktown International Sports Park, Rooty Hill

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ROUND 2

GWS GIANTS VS BRISBANE LIONS
Saturday March 2nd, 7:00pm at Robertson Oval, Wagga Wagga

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ROUND 3

GWS GIANTS vs ESSENDON
Friday March 8th, 6:10pm at Manuka Oval, ACT

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SYDNEY SWANS vs GOLD COAST SUNS
Saturday March 9th, 7:00pm at Blacktown International Sportspark, Rooty Hill

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