World Footy News

West Adelaide and East Fremantle will contest the Grand Final for the 2013 FOXTEL Cup at AAMI Stadium tomorrow night, August 6, for bragging rights as the best state-league team in the national knock-out competition.

West Adelaide, under the tutelage of former Hawthorn premiership player Andy Collins, are currently third on the SANFL ladder after qualifying for the Foxtel Cup by reaching last year’s Grand Final, while East Fremantle, under former All Australian captain Steve Malaxos, are also in third position on the WAFL ladder.

The Foxtel Cup brings together the best state league teams from each state across the country and West Adelaide is bidding to be the first SANFL winner after Williamstown (VFL) won the inaugural competition in 2011 and Claremont (WAFL) claimed victory last year. Tuesday’s victor will claim a prize of $100,000 and AFL General Manager National and International Development Andrew Dillon said the AFL was delighted with the standard of play in this year’s competition along with the continued opportunities it had provided for state league players to further press for higher honours, and for state league clubs to develop their experience around travel and match-day preparation.

“The Foxtel Cup over the last two years has seen 19 players on show who were subsequently chosen by AFL clubs at either the NAB AFL Draft or the NAB AFL Rookie Draft, among them Claremont’s Tom Lee, Port Magpies’ Tim Broomhead, West Perth’s Mark Hutchings, West Adelaide’s Stephen Morris, North Adelaide’s Mitch Clisby, East Perth’s Nick Kommer and Williamstown’s Brett Goodes.

“With the great support of Coles, Foxtel, Fox Sports and Burley-Sekem, the Foxtel Cup continues to meet its primary goals 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.

Tuesday’s final at AAMI Stadium, to commence 8:05 local time, will consist of four quarters of eighteen (18) minutes set time, plus time-on from the last 3 minutes only (20 minutes approximately total per quarter).

West Adelaide claimed its place in the final with victories over Port Melbourne and Claremont while East Fremantle secured its place in the final with victories over Norwood and Werribee.

The 2013 FOXTEL Cup Grand Final will be broadcast live nationally on FOX FOOTY at 8.30pm AEST. ABC Radio will also broadcast the match live on Grandstand Digital across the country from 8.30pm AEST.