NOT content with a cabinet bursting with silverware, North Ballarat wants to add two more Cups this season to its bulging collection. Obviously, a record equalling fourth successive VFL premiership is the priority, but right behind that is the inaugural Foxtel Cup.
North Ballarat coach Gerard FitzGerald views the Foxtel Cup, which brings together clubs from every State and Territory, as an “exciting addition” not a distraction as other clubs in other States may perceive it.
The Roosters, Northern Bullants and Williamstown are the three invited VFL clubs to compete in the 16-club knockout competition, which begins this Saturday when North Ballarat travel to West Australia to play East Perth at Patersons Stadium, Subiaco.
Williamstown also heads west to play Swan Districts, also at Patersons Stadium, on April 9 while Northern Bullants takes on Kevin Sheedy’s Greater Western Sydney at the MCG on April 30.
Other clubs in the competition are Morningside, Labrador (Queensland), NT Thunder (Northern Territory), West Adelaide, Port Adelaide Magpies, North Adelaide (South Australia), Ainslie (ACT), Clarence (Tasmania), Claremont (West Australia), East Coast Eagles (AFL Sydney).
The Foxtel Cup follows a simple format: win and advance to the next round, lose and you’re eliminated.
All Foxtel Cup games will be televised in a two hour package on Foxtel and telecast on the day of the match. Most games will be shown on Foxtel between 5pm and 7pm or 6pm and 8pm leading into a live AFL match.
Venues for the Qualifying, Semi and Grand Finals have yet to be finalised. The Grand Final is on Saturday, August 6.
FitzGerald said North Ballarat jumped at the chance to participate when the competition was mooted late last year.
“We would have said ‘yes’ within a minute of the invitation being here. We didn’t even need to have a committee meeting or whatever to discuss it,” FitzGerald said.
“For anyone at the club whether it is the coach, the administration, a player you would have to be excited by it.
“It’s a great chance to showcase not only your State, but also your club.”
Grab a copy of the new AFL Victoria Record this weekend at VFL and TAC Cup matches to read the full interview with FitzGerald.
Last Modified on 30/03/2011 17:08