Falcons flying east for Foxtel Cup

WEST Perth is preparing to commence its 2014 FOXTEL Cup campaign next Tuesday, May 6 against Box Hill at Etihad Stadium.

The 2013 WAFL Premiers will be joined in the 2014 competition by Grand Final rivals East Perth, reigning Foxtel Cup winners West Adelaide (SANFL) and state league premiers Norwood (SANFL) and Box Hill Hawks (VFL).

Williamstown (VFL), Western Storm (TSL) and Aspley (NEAFL) have earned the final positions among the leading eight state league sides in the country.

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Twenty-five players from the FOXTEL Cup have been drafted to AFL clubs since the competition started three years ago. Players include Sam Dwyer (Collingwood), Brett Goodes (Western Bulldogs), Nick Kommer (Essendon), Dane Rampe (Sydney Swans) and Steven Morris (Richmond).

AFL General Manager Broadcasting, Scheduling and Major Projects Simon Lethlean said the AFL was delighted with the continued strength of the teams that would contest the fourth season of the FOXTEL Cup, with one title now having been claimed by an SANFL club (West Adelaide, 2013), a WAFL club (Claremont, 2012) and a VFL club (Williamstown, 2011) since the competition’s launch in 2011.

All matches in round one, the semi finals and the Grand Final will again be played on Tuesday nights, to maximise exposure for competing clubs and players.

Mr Lethlean said the winning team will claim a first prize of $100,000, while the format of three matches to win the title will again ensure the competition should complement the state league seasons and not compromise any team’s pursuit of its state league premiership with too many extra matches.

“All 2014 FOXTEL Cup matches will be broadcast on FOX FOOTY in the prime time slot of 8.30pm EST on Tuesday nights,” Mr Lethlean said.

“The FOXTEL Cup will again have all the best state league teams on show, and these games continue to provide opportunities for state league teams to increase their professionalism, while allowing further chances for state league players to push for opportunities with AFL clubs,” he said.

All matches will again consist of four quarters each of eighteen (18) minutes set time, plus time-on from the last three minutes only (20 minutes approximately total per quarter), to lessen the load on players as well as to enable games to fit into a two-hour broadcast window.