Juicy match-ups for Wizard Cup
5:03:11 PM Wed 29 September, 2004
Ashley Browne
Sportal
Traditional rivalries and some interesting reunions feature in the opening round of the 2005 Wizard Home Loans Cup, which was released by the AFL on Wednesday.
And in a marked departure from the last few years, the focus will be back on Victoria, with four games in the opening round set for decision either at Telstra Dome or Optus Oval.
The opening round of the pre-season competition will start on the weekend of 19 February.
Traditional rivals Carlton and Essendon will meet, as will Collingwood and Richmond. Last year's winner St Kilda and Hawthorn will also meet at the Dome, while Sydney travels to Melbourne to play the Western Bulldogs, who will be coached for the first time by former Swans coach Rodney Eade.
AFL Broadcasting, Strategy and Major Projects General Manager Ben Buckley, said a desire to draw large crowds and help clubs with membership sales was a reason behind changing the focus of the opening weekend of the Wizard Home Loans Cup.
"We wanted to minimise the travel and get as many teams playing in their home city to maximise access to their members to be able to sell seasons tickets," he said.
Port Adelaide and Adelaide will clash at AAMI Stadium, while West Coast and Fremantle will meet at Subiaco.
The two regional clashes in the first week will be at Manuka where the Kangaroos meet Geelong and Bundaberg Rum Stadium in Cairns, where the Brisbane Lions will meet Melbourne.
The winner of the Saints-Hawks clash will meet either the Bulldogs or the Swans at the newly-renamed Aurora Stadium in a quarter-final clash, while the winners of the Dockers-Eagles and the Magpies-Tigers clashes, will travel to Darwin to meet in a quarter-final at Marrara.
The exact dates for the opening weekend have yet to be determined, while the Grand Final of the Wizard Home Loans Cup will take place on 12 March. In 2004, the rules of the competition determined that the final would be played in the home state of the finalist that kicked the most goals in the lead-up.
The home and away draw will be released on Thursday.
Week One (Feb 19-21)
1.Hawthorn vs St Kilda, Telstra Dome
2. Western Bulldogs vs Sydney, Telstra Dome/Optus Oval
3. Brisbane vs Melbourne, Bundaberg Rum Stadium
4. Carlton vs Essendon, Telstra Dome
5. Fremantle vs West Coast Eagles, Subiaco
6. Collingwood vs Richmond, Telstra Dome
7. Kangaroos vs Geelong, Manuka Oval
8. Adelaide vs Port Adelaide, AAMI Stadium
WEEK Week Two (Feb 26-28)
9. Winner Match 1 vs Winner Match 2, Aurora Stadium
10. Winner Match 3 vs Winner Match 4, TBA
11. Winner Match 5 vs Winner Match 6, Marrara
12. Winner Match 7 vs Winner Match 8, TBA
Week Three (4-5 March)
13.1st Semi: Winner Match 9 vs Winner Match 10, TBA
14. 2nd Semi: inner Match 11 vs Winner Match 12, TBA
Grand Final (12 March)
15. Winner Match 13 vs Winner Match 14, TBA
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=173339
