Foxtel Cup

The Leagues Championship Cup,[1] officially branded under the sponsor's name as the Foxtel Cup,[2] was an annual Australian rules football club knockout cup competition involving clubs from the various state league competitions from around Australia. The tournament was organised by the Australian Football League (AFL), and was held annually between 2011 and 2014.

Foxtel Cup
Most recent season or competition:
2014
SportAustralian rules football
Inaugural season2011
Ceased2014
No. of teams16 (2011-12),
10 (2013),
9 (2014)
CountryAustralia
Last
champion(s)
Williamstown
Most titlesWilliamstown (2)
QualificationInvitation
TV partner(s)Fox Sports Australia

The competition was first held in 2011, featuring sixteen teams from around the country who qualified based on their finishing positions in their previous state league season. In 2011 and 2012, matches were played mostly as curtain-raisers to AFL Saturday night games, or occasionally as a stand-alone game in the same timeslot;[3] in 2013 and 2014, matches were mostly played as stand-alone games on Tuesday nights.[4] In both cases, matches were televised on subscription television provider and competition naming rights sponsor Foxtel; and clubs played matches on or adjacent to bye weeks in their respective state league fixtures. Total annual prize money for the competition was about $250,000, with $40,000 going to the winner.[5]

Williamstown was the inaugural Foxtel Cup champions when it defeated Claremont by 21 points in the 2011 Grand Final.[6] Claremont went one better the following year to become 2012 Foxtel Cup Champions defeating Werribee by 44 points.[7] West Adelaide defeated East Fremantle by four points in the 2013 Grand Final. Williamstown won its second Foxtel Cup championship in 2014 by beating West Perth by 63 points.

Qualification

For the inaugural Foxtel Cup in 2011, the AFL invited the highest three ranked teams from the South Australian National Football League, the Victorian Football League and the West Australian Football League; the top two teams from the Queensland Australian Football League; and the top team from AFL Sydney and the Tasmanian Football League – based on those leagues' 2010 seasons. The Greater Western Sydney Giants (which was playing in the NEAFL in 2011 as preparation for entering the Australian Football League in 2012), and the Northern Territory Football Club received special invitations.[8][9]

However, despite the SANFL signing on to be part of the Cup competition, its top three clubs – Central District, Norwood and Woodville-West Torrens – all rejected their invitations to compete,[10] citing lack of prize money, sponsorship conflicts, salary cap implications, schedule concerns and removing the focus from their SANFL premiership ambitions.[11] Eventually, the SANFL positions in the competition were taken up by West Adelaide, North Adelaide and Port Adelaide Magpies, none of whom even reached the SANFL finals in 2010.[12] In 2013 it was announced that the SANFL's top three teams of the 2012 season, Norwood, West Adelaide and North Adelaide, had committed to play in the Foxtel Cup in 2014. At the time of the announcement midway through the 2013 SANFL season the three teams were again the top three on the SANFL premiership ladder, showing that among South Australian clubs, the Foxtel Cup was gaining recognition.

In 2013 and 2014, the scale of the competition was reduced from sixteen teams to nine or ten. In those seasons, the WAFL, SANFL and VFL each contributed two teams to the competition, who entered the competition at the quarter-final stage; and the remaining teams came from the NEAFL and TFL, who contested pre-qualifying rounds before entering the quarter-finals.

The AFL announced on 1 August 2011 that public interest and television audiences well-supported the inaugural year of the Foxtel Cup and as a result the competition would continue for the next five years.[13] However, following the heavy burden of playing mid-week games on the competing clubs, the decision was made to cease the Foxtel Cup after its fourth season, 2014.[14]

Results

2011 Foxtel Cup

Grand Final

GF (AFL Rd 20) 6 August 2011
3:05 pm WST[15]
Claremont 38–59
stand alone game
Williamstown Subiaco Oval, Perth

match report

 
1.2 (8)
2.2 (14)
5.5 (35)
5.8 (38)
match report 2.1 (13)
4.3 (27)
6.4 (40)
9.5 (59)
Attendance: 1,405
    Goals  
Beau Wilkes 2, Jack Bradshaw,
Chad Jones, Gerrick Weedon
  Nathan Djerrkura 2, Christian Howard 2,
Jordan Roughead 2, Ed Barlow,
Andrew Hooper, Jason Tutt
    Bests  
Kane Mitchell, Andrew Foster,
Gerrick Weedon, Brett Jones
Lewis Stevenson, Thomas Swift
  Ben Jolley, Jordan Roughead,
Mitch Wallis, Christian Howard,
Nathan Djerrkura 2, Matthew Panos

2012 Foxtel Cup

Grand Final

Grand Final (AFL Rd 19) 2 August 2012
19:35 WST
Werribee 55 - 99
stand alone game
Claremont Subiaco Oval, Perth

match report

 
3.0 (18)
5.4 (34)
5.4 (34)
8.7 (55)
match report 4.3 (27)
7.3 (45)
11.7 (73)
15.9 (99)
    Goals  
Ben Warren 3, Levi Greenwood, Leigh Harding,
Ben McKinley, Scott Sherlock, Ben Speight
  Thomas Lee 6, Jack Bradshaw 2, Nick Suban 2,
Alistair Gillespie, Alroy Gilligan, Jeremy McGovern,
Jarryd Morton, Ian Richardson
    Bests  
Levi Greenwood, Ben Speight, Matthew O'Dwyer,
Ben Warren, Leigh Harding, Ben Ross
  Thomas Lee, Nick Suban, Jeremy McGovern,
Alroy Gilligan, Rory Walton, Ian Richardson

2013 Foxtel Cup

Grand Final

Grand Final 6 August 2013
20:35 EST
East Fremantle 28 - 32
stand alone game
West Adelaide Football Park, Adelaide

match report

 
0.3 (3)
0.4 (4)
1.10 (16)
2.16 (28)
match report 1.2 (8)
4.5 (29)
4.7 (31)
4.8 (32)
    Goals  
Hancock, Stephen   Beech 2, Silverlock, Still
    Bests  
Peake, O’Brien, Bayliss, Stephen, Dodd   Schmidt (Coles Medalist), Beech, Mangan, Silverlock, Caire

2014 Foxtel Cup

Grand Final

Grand Final 22 July 2014
20:35 EST
West Perth 8 - 71
stand alone game
Williamstown Kardinia Park, Geelong

match report

 
0.2 (2)
0.2 (2)
0.2 (2)
1.2 (8)
match report 5.4 (34)
5.9 (39)
7.11 (53)
10.11 (71)
    Goals  
C.Chalmers   C.Nastasi 2, S.Clouston 2, J.Johnstone 2,
J.Owen, J.Dorgan, K.Lambert, S.Tighe
    Bests  
A.Strijk, R.Kerr, L.Tedesco   B.Davies, K.Lambert, S.Tighe, N.Sing,
D.Fahey, J.McKenzie, S.Clouston

Coles Medal

The Coles Medal was awarded to the best player onfield in the Foxtel Cup Grand Final.

Year Coles Medallist Club
2011 Ben Jolley Williamstown Football Club
2012 Thomas Lee Claremont Football Club
2013 Chris Schmidt West Adelaide Football Club
2014 Ben Davies Williamstown Football Club

List of participants

Guernsey Club Nickname Location State League Cup championships Cup appearances
Ainslie Football Club[16]
Tri-colours
Ainslie, Australian Capital Territory 0 2011–2012
Aspley Football Club[17]
Hornets
Carseldine, Queensland 0 2014
Belconnen Football Club[18]
Magpies
Belconnen, Australian Capital Territory 0 2014
Box Hill Hawks Football Club[19]
Hawks
Box Hill, Victoria 0 2014
Burnie Dockers Football Club[20]
Dockers
Burnie, Tasmania 0 2012–2013
Claremont Football Club[21]
Tigers
Claremont, Western Australia 1 2011–2013
Clarence Football Club[22]
Kangaroos
Clarence, Tasmania 0 2011
East Fremantle Football Club[23]
Sharks
East Fremantle, Western Australia 0 2013
East Perth Football Club[24]
Royals
Leederville, Western Australia 0 2011, 2014
Greater Western Sydney Giants[25]
Giants
Blacktown, New South Wales 0 2011
Labrador Australian Football Club[26]
Tigers
Labrador, Queensland 0 2011
Launceston Football Club[27]
Blues
Launceston, Tasmania 0 2012
Morningside Australian Football Club[28]
Panthers
Hawthorne, Queensland 0 2011–2012
Mount Gravatt Football Club[29]
Vultures
Mount Gravatt, Queensland 0 2012
North Adelaide Football Club[30]
Roosters
North Adelaide, South Australia 0 2011
North Ballarat Football Club[31]
Roosters
Ballarat, Victoria 0 2011
Northern Bullants Football Club[32]
Bullants
Preston, Victoria 0 2011
Northern Territory Football Club[33]
Thunder
Darwin, Northern Territory 0 2011–2013
Norwood Football Club[34]
Redlegs
Norwood, South Australia 0 2013–2014
Port Adelaide Football Club[35]
Magpies
Alberton, South Australia 0 2011–2012
Port Melbourne Football Club[36]
Borough
Port Melbourne, Victoria 0 2012–2013
Queanbeyan Football Club[37]
Tigers
Queanbeyan, New South Wales 0 2013
South Adelaide Football Club[38]
Panthers
Noarlunga Downs, South Australia 0 2012
Southport Australian Football Club[39]
Sharks
Southport, Queensland 0 2013
Subiaco Football Club[40]
Lions
Subiaco, Western Australia 0 2012
Swan Districts Football Club[41]
Swans
Bassendean, Western Australia 0 2011
Sydney Hills Eagles Australian Football Club[42]
Eagles
Rouse Hill, New South Wales 0 2011–2012
Werribee Football Club[43]
Tigers
Werribee, Victoria 0 2012–2013
West Adelaide Football Club[44]
Bloods
Richmond, South Australia 1 2011–2014
West Perth Football Club[45]
Falcons
Joondalup, Western Australia 0 2012, 2014
Western Storm Football Club[46]
Storm
Prospect, Tasmania 0 2014
Williamstown Football Club[47]
Seagulls
Williamstown, Victoria 2 2011 - 2012, 2014

Stadiums

Adelaide Adelaide Blacktown Darwin
Football Park
Capacity: 51,224
Adelaide Oval
Capacity: 53,000
Blacktown ISP Oval
Capacity: 10,000
Marrara Oval
Capacity: 15,000
Geelong Gold Coast Hobart Launceston
Kardinia Park
Capacity: 33,500
Carrara Stadium
Capacity: 25,000
Bellerive Oval
Capacity: 16,200
York Park
Capacity: 20,000
Melbourne Melbourne Perth Sydney
Docklands Stadium
Capacity: 56,347
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Capacity: 100,018
Subiaco Oval
Capacity: 43,500
Sydney Cricket Ground
Capacity: 46,000

See also

  • NFL Night Series and AFC Night Series, similar interstate Australian rules football club competitions which operated from 1976–1979 and from 1977–1987 respectively.

References

  1. Reid, Russell (15 October 2010). "WAFL backs State leagues knockout comp". The West Australian.
  2. "Foxtel Cup". Australian Football League. 9 February 2011. Archived from the original on 12 February 2011.
  3. "GWS Giants to play in planned champions league". Herald Sun. 25 November 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  4. McNicol, Adam (3 December 2012). "Trimmer Foxtel Cup in 2013". afl.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  5. Paton, Al (8 December 2010). "Draft fixture reveals match-ups in new Leagues Championship Cups". Herald Sun.
  6. Schmook, Nathan (6 August 2011). "Seagulls swoop". afl.com.au. Melbourne: Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  7. Guthrie, Ben (2 August 2012). "Claremont belts Werribee in Foxtel Cup Grand Final". afl.com.au. Melbourne: Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  8. Morris, Grey (13 December 2010). "Should Thunder contest Champions League?". NT News. Darwin: News Limited. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  9. Barton, Joe (25 November 2010). "Greater Western Sydney Giants get nod for Champions League-style AFL competition in 2011". Fox Sports Australia. Premier Media Group. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  10. Morgan, Kym (9 December 2010). "SANFL may field second stringers". Adelaide Advertiser.
  11. Homfray, Reece (13 December 2010). "Top SANFL teams to snub new Leagues Champions Cup". Herald Sun. Melbourne. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  12. "SANFL Statement – League Club Championships". sanfl.com.au. Adelaide: South Australian National Football League. 15 December 2010.
  13. Hope, Shayne (2 August 2011). "Foxtel Cup here to stay". Perth: The West Australian. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  14. "Foxtel Cup not to continue in 2015 season". Australian Football League. 3 December 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  15. Foxtel Cup Grand Final fixture
  16. Ainslie Football Club Official Website
  17. Aspley Australian Football Club Official Website Archived 21 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  18. Belconnen Football Club Official Website
  19. Box Hill Hawks Football Club Official Website
  20. Burnie Football Club Official Website
  21. Claremont Football Club Official Website
  22. Clarence Football Club Official Website Archived 28 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  23. East Fremantle Football Club Official Website
  24. East Perth Football Club Official Website
  25. Greater Western Sydney Giants Official Website
  26. "Labrador Australian Football Club Official Website". Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  27. Launceston Football Club Official Website
  28. Morningside Australian Football Club Official Website Archived 4 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  29. Mount Gravatt Australian Football Club Official Website
  30. North Adelaide Football Club Official Website
  31. North Ballarat Official Website
  32. Northern Bullants Official Website
  33. Northern Territory Football Club Official Website
  34. Norwood Football Club Official Website
  35. Port Adelaide Magpies Football Club Official Website Archived 18 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  36. "Port Melbourne Official Website". Archived from the original on 5 September 2007. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
  37. Queanbeyan Football Club Official Website
  38. South Adelaide Football Club Official Website
  39. Southport Australian Football Club Official Website
  40. Subiaco Football Club Official Website
  41. "Swan Districts Club Official Website". Archived from the original on 27 November 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  42. Sydney Hills Eagles Football Club Official Website
  43. Werribee Official Website
  44. West Adelaide Football Club Official Website
  45. West Perth Football Club Official Website
  46. Western Storm Football Club facebook page
  47. Williamstown FC Sportingpulse Website
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