Tigers start with:
Hawthorn v Richmond Telstra Dome (Double-Header) 25 February Saturday 16:10 16:10____________________
Carrara to host NAB Cup opener
2:59:35 PM Wed 9 November, 2005
Ashley Browne
Sportal for afl.com.au
The first official AFL game on the Gold Coast for 14 years will open the 2006 NAB Cup, following the announcement by the AFL on Wednesday of the pre-season fixture for next year.
The Brisbane Lions will make the short trip down the highway to Carrara to take on Essendon on Friday night, 24 February, with the Western Bulldogs clashing with Melbourne at their adopted home ground of Marrara Oval in Darwin later that evening.
The Lions met Essendon at Carrara in a practice match before the 2005 season, in front of more than 15,000 fans. The AFL expects a sell-out crowd for the match - which will be televised by Channel Nine – for what will be the first time the Lions have played on a Friday night (excluding finals) since round 13 of 2001 when they hosted Hawthorn at the Gabba.
The AFL has again scheduled a Telstra Dome double-header on the Saturday. Hawthorn will meet Richmond at 4.10pm, followed by Carlton starting its pre-season premiership defence against Geelong, at 7.40pm. Earlier that day, the Kangaroos clash with Sydney at Manuka Oval at 2.10pm.
The three Sunday matches should all attract large crowds. Adelaide and Port Adelaide play an afternoon clash at AAMI Stadium, while West Coast and Fremantle play a late afternoon-clash at Subiaco. Sandwiched in between is a Collingwood-St Kilda clash at Telstra Dome at 4.40pm, which should attract more than 25,000 fans.
Six states and territories will host games over the opening weekend.
The National Australia Bank will replace Wizard as the naming-rights sponsor for the pre-season competition in 2006. The competition will be formally launched in December, during which the new trophy will be displayed and the different rules for the 20006 competition confirmed.
AFL Broadcasting, Strategy and Major Projects General Manager Ben Buckley, said the knockout format was a clear preference for fans, while the AFL had also sought to reduce the travel load for non-Victorian teams in the early part of the season and to allow Victorian clubs to play in their home market, or a key secondary market outside Victoria, wherever possible.
"The NAB has been an outstanding supporter of AFL football at grassroots level and through the pathways program, and we are delighted they have expanded their commitment to Australia's number one sporting code," he said.
"We believe the opening round to the 2006 NAB Cup will have fans eagerly awaiting the return of football early next year," he said.
The Friday night quarter-final will take place at Telstra Dome, while Aurora Stadium in Launceston and Cazaly Stadium in Cairns will host the Saturday night matches in the second week. Either Collingwood or St Kilda will play Fremantle or West Coast in the fourth quarter-final on the Sunday at Subiaco.
The venues for the semi-finals and grand final have yet to be determined, however the final will again be staged in the home state of whichever team has kicked the most goals on the way to the grand final.
The AFL has confirmed that Telstra Dome is available to host the grand final in the event of a Victorian-based club earning the right to host the game, even though it will take place during the opening weekend of the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Channel Ten will televise the game.
Match No. WEEK ONE – February 24-26
1 Brisbane Lions v Essendon Carrara 24 February Friday (N) 19:40 20:40
2 Western Bulldogs v Melbourne Marrara 24 February Friday (N) 20:10 21:40
3 Kangaroos v Sydney Manuka Oval 25 February Saturday 14:10 14:10
4 Hawthorn v Richmond Telstra Dome (Double-Header) 25 February Saturday 16:10 16:10
5 Carlton v Geelong Telstra Dome (Double-Header) 25 February Saturday (N)19:40 19:40
6 Adelaide v Port Adelaide AAMI Stadium 26 February Sunday 13:40 14:10
7 Collingwood v St.Kilda Telstra Dome 26 February Sunday 16:40 16:40
8 West Coast v Fremantle Subiaco
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=236573
