The Lions will face both Essendon and St Kilda on the night of February 18 at Etihad Stadium in an exciting new pre-season format which consists of 60 minute matches.
The new round-robin style of consecutive group matches will also form the focus of the AFL community’s support for the rebuilding of local football clubs affected by the recent floods.
As well as the triangular match-ups between three competing AFL clubs in each of the six Round One NAB Cup fixtures, a series of fundraising activities - including special nine-a-side Legends and Celebrity matches - will be staged as part of football’s response to the floods.
AFL Chief Operating Officer Gillon McLachlan and AFL Players’ Association General Manager of Player Relations Ian Prendergast today announced that each match in Round One of the 2011 NAB Cup will raise funds for those community football clubs who had facilities damaged by floods.
Organising activities at the Round One matches is in response to calls from AFL players, clubs and supporters for the football industry to come together and show a united response to those communities affected by the floods, and in particular the sporting clubs that have been impacted.
The money raised from the fundraising initiatives will be in addition to the AFL players, the clubs and the competition earlier this month committing a combined $650,000 to the Queensland Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal.
The 2011 NAB Cup is being played under a new format, following the introduction of the Gold Coast Suns and the GWS Giants, as the competition’s 17th and 18th sides. Each of the 18 clubs has been divided into six pools of three for Round One in which each club will play two matches in their pool against the other two sides, and Mr McLachlan and Mr Prendergast said each of the Round One matches would now feature an expanded program on match-day to enable the wider football community, and fans across the country, to support those affected by the recent floods.
· Past club legends and celebrities will play nine-a-side matches in the breaks between the various Round One NAB Cup games;
· Non-playing team members on the day will be available for autograph sessions with supporters;
· A 15 per cent contribution from the gate receipts for all round one matches of the NAB Cup (around $3 per adult ticket) will be used to support needy community football clubs hit by the floods;
· On-ground supergoal contests during half-time breaks of matches;
· All children under the age of 18 who register on-line in advance for round one tickets, will be admitted free;
Mr McLachlan said it was hoped the excitement of the new format, with three matches on the day for fans, and the opportunity to support the flood-hit communities would bring a significant return, with the process for the distribution of funds to needy community clubs to be modelled along the lines of support that was provided to those clubs that were affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires. At this point, more than 60 clubs in Queensland and Victoria are being assessed for damages caused by the floods.
“Australians have been deeply affected by the floods that have impacted so many Australians in different parts of our country,” Mr McLachlan said.
“Our players, our clubs, our partners, our supporters and the wider football community have all been seeking ways that we can support those Australians and their communities who have been badly affected by this natural disaster, with many great suggestions coming to us over the last few weeks.
“There have been a number of responses by individuals, by clubs and by players but by using all matches across Round One of the NAB Cup, football supporters in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia are all able to make a contribution, simply by attending a match, while all parts of the football community are able to be involved in this effort," he said.
Ian Prendergast said AFL Players’ Association members were proud to be assisting in the flood relief effort, having already donated $150,000 to the cause.
“We have many members who live in, or originate from, flood-affected communities. But all players, not just those affected, are determined to assist the relief and recovery effort in any way they can,” Prendergast said.
“Because this is about players from across our membership getting involved, those not playing in Round 1 NAB matches will be participating in autograph sessions. Past players will also be part of nine-a-side footy matches on the ground during breaks between the matches.”
Mr McLachlan said the format for the 2011 NAB Cup had already been altered last year, to formally celebrate the importance of community to the AFL, and he wished to again thank NAB for its immediate support of football's efforts to aid affected communities.
"The support of NAB for a competition-wide approach to the flood disaster has been tremendous and has enabled us to work around the country."
NAB Group Executive, Corporate Affairs & Marketing, Andrew Hagger, said NAB felt it was extremely important that all matches across Round One be able to assist the rebuild effort.
"The ability to take the AFL to communities that can’t easily access football at the elite level is one of the features of the NAB Cup that we value most,” Mr Hagger said.
“Australian communities mean a lot to us and at this time we're committed to supporting those that have been impacted by the recent floods.
“We are particularly proud to be working with the AFL to activate the flood relief round, and we look forward to watching the on-field action, as the revised format rolls out," he said.
Mr McLachlan said he hoped all football supporters would make the effort to attend a round one match, to show their support for those communities across several states hit by the floods.
"In so many regions and small communities across our country, sporting facilities are the hub of activity within the region and an integral part of daily life - a place for people to meet and engage with each other. It is vital for people they are not isolated from each other and are able to resume their daily activities and continue with their lives," Mr McLachlan said.
"It is particularly important that children be able to play sport and enjoy themselves. Throughout the NAB Cup there is a focus on connecting AFL to the community, and our players, clubs and supporters have made clear that they want an opportunity to demonstrate their support.”
“It was our combined view, after the initial contribution to the Flood Relief Appeal, that it was most important for football to be able to contribute to the rebuild of sporting facilities and ensure that clubs were again functioning, so that a sense of normality can return to affected areas as quickly as possible.”
Players not playing in matches will be involved in autograph sessions while each club is engaging former club stars and celebrity supporters to be part of nine-a-side footy matches on the ground during breaks between the matches. Fans will also be given the opportunity to be part of the nine-a-side matches.
Mr McLachlan said the response from the entire football community to provide support, had been overwhelming.
Affected Regions, Clubs and Grounds:
Queensland - Murray Sports Complex (Townsville), Panthers (Rockhampton), Brothers (Rockhampton), Maryborough, Gympie, Nambour, Noosa, Maroochydore, Dalby AFC, Lockyer Valley AFC, Warick FC, Yeronga AFC, Sherwood, Kenmore Seniors, Jindalee, Moorooka AFC, Pine Rivers, Redcliffe, Mogill, Western Taipans, AFL Brisbane Juniors.
Victoria - Dereel, Haddon, Inverleigh, Linton, Ross Creek, Shelford, Smythesdale, Creswick, Rainbow, Jeparit, Dimboola, Horsham, Halls Gap, Avoca, Lake Goldsmith, Brim, Rupaynup, Beulah, Charlton, Culgoa, Newbridge, Pyramid Hill, Carisbrook, Lockington, Calivil, Rochester, Echuca, Castlemaine, Kerang, Cohuna, Panmure, Cape Clear, Clunes Great Western.
