The AFL, in conjunction with Toyota Australia, is pleased to launch the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Cup Tour which will provide football fans across the country the opportunity to get up close and personal with one of Australia’s most prestigious pieces of silverware.
For the first time, the Tour will extend to a 21-day journey, travelling to a host of local communities and iconic destinations across four state and territories - New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory and regional Victoria.
Officially launching the Tour at Toyota’s Altona Centre of Excellence on Monday was four-time Hawthorn AFL premiership player Jordan Lewis, who has been named as the official 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Cup Tour Ambassador.
The 319-game AFL champion and 2014 All-Australian player said he was excited to be part of the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Cup Tour.
“I’m honoured to be named this year’s Toyota AFL Premiership Cup Tour Ambassador and play a role in bringing one of the game’s most prestigious pieces of silverware to AFL fans around the country,” Mr Lewis said.
“Having grown up playing football in Warrnambool and Geelong regions, I know how important Australian football is to people in regional towns and remote communities, and I’m excited to visit a few local football clubs along the way as part of the Tour.”
Commencing on August 29, the Cup will road-trip along the east coast of Australia in a convoy of Toyota vehicles beginning in Sydney and travelling to local football clubs in North Dalton Park, Maitland, Coffs Harbour and Lismore.
The Cup will then travel north to Queensland where it will make stops in Brisbane, Gympie, Jindalee and Jimboomba, before it travels to the Northern Territory to visit football fans in Darwin, Katherine, Uluru and Alice Springs.
Communities in regional Victoria will welcome the Cup in the final week of the Tour, with stops in Geelong, Ballarat, Shepparton, Kilmore, Latrobe Valley and Keysborough.
AFL Executive General Manager of Customer and Commercial Kylie Rogers said the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Cup Tour would be bigger and better than ever before.
“The 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Cup Tour is set to be the biggest one yet, with an extra week added this year to allow more Australians with a chance to get swept up in AFL Finals fever,” Ms Rogers said.
“With borders open, lockdowns lifted and the appetite for finals footy well and truly rising, the AFL is delighted to be taking the Cup to regional towns and remote communities in four state and territories this year, including those still recovering from the impacts of floods and bushfires.
“I’d like to thank our Premier Partner Toyota for their support of the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Cup Tour. Toyota has been supporting Australian Football for almost two decades and this initiative is a standup example of its commitment to extending the reach of the game beyond the ground and into the community.”
Toyota Australia Chief Marketing Officer, Vin Naidoo said the AFL Premiership Cup Tour is a fantastic opportunity for footy fans across the country to experience the finals atmosphere.
“Grassroots football clubs are the heartbeat of many communities in Australia, so Toyota is delighted to be supporting this initiative, and taking the Cup to these regions to thank them for their continued support of the game,” Mr Naidoo said.
“Toyota is proud to be supporting the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Cup Tour and look forward to seeing the Toyota vehicles on the roads carrying the iconic Cup throughout the country.”
The 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Cup will conclude in Melbourne on September 18, leading into the 2022 Toyota AFL Grand Final week celebrations.
Tour dates and locations
- Sydney: August 30
- North Dalton Park: August 31
- Maitland: September 1
- Port Macquarie & Coffs Harbour: September 2
- Lismore: September 3
- Jimboomba: September 4
- Jindalee: September 5
- Gympie: September 6
- Brisbane: September 7
- Darwin: September 8
- Katherine: September 9
- Uluru & Alice Springs: September 10-11
- Geelong: September 12
- Ballarat: September 13
- Shepparton: September 14
- Kilmore: September 15
- Latrobe Valley: September 16-17
- Keysborough: September 18
