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NIGHT SERIES / PRE-SEASON CUP:

FACTS & FIGURES

  • NAMING RIGHTS SPONSORS
  • SERIES OVERVIEW (No. of teams/games, crowds, format, etc.)
  • PRIZEMONEY
  • TROPHIES
Picture

NAMING RIGHTS SPONSORS

YEAR

COMPETITION NAME

SPONSOR

NOTES

1956-63

VFL Night Premiership

(none)

Due to a lack of sponsorship, prizemoney was provided by the VFL

1964-69

Golden Fleece Night Premiership

Golden Fleece

The AFL's annual stats guide incorrectly has Golden Fleece commencing in 1965. Consequently, the 1965 start date appears across a number of other sources.

1970

Radiant Night Premiership

L. J. Morgan Pty. Ltd.

Radiant was a brand of stainless steel industrial kitchen products.

1971

Heinz 'Big Red' Night Premiership

H. J. Heinz Company

Big Red was Heinz's iconic tomato sauce and tomato soup brand.

1976

NFL-Wills Cup

W.D. & H.O. Wills

Tobacco company, Wills sponsored the NFL series 1976-79
as well as the AFC series 1979-84.

1977-78

Amco-Herald Cup

Amco Jeans and the
Herald & Weekly Times

Many sources incorrectly list jeans brand Amco as "Amoco"
(which was a petrol company).

1979-82

Escort Championships

W.D. & H.O. Wills

Escort was one of Wills' major cigarette brands at this time. The series is frequently referred to as the "Escort Cup" which was actually the name of the NFL's 1979 series and later SANFL series.

1983-84

Sterling Cup

W.D. & H.O. Wills

Benson and Hedges Sterling was a new brand of cigarette
launched by Wills.

1985-86

Foster's Football Cup

Elder's Brewing Group

Foster's Lager was the major beer brand of C.U.B.
(purchased by Elders in 1983).

1987

The VFL Cup

(none)

The opening match (Collingwood-Geelong) was sponsorless.

National Panasonic Cup

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co

National Panasonic was sponsor from the 2nd match until the final.

1988-89

Panasonic Cup

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co

Matsushita renamed their Australian division "Panasonic" in 1988.

1990-94

Foster's Cup

Foster's Brewing Group

In 1990 C.U.B.'s parent company Elder's Brewing was renamed Foster's Brewing.

1995-01

Ansett Australia Cup

Ansett Australia

This series was usually referred to as simply the Ansett Cup.

2002-05

Wizard Home Loans Cup

Wizard Home Loans

This series was usually referred to as simply the Wizard Cup.

2006-13

NAB Cup

National Australia Bank (NAB)

NAB also sponsored the AFL's pre-season practice matches
(the NAB Challenge).

 

Picture

SERIES OVERVIEW

YEAR

TEAMS

GAMES

CROWDS

AVG.

CLUBS

NOTES

1956

8

7

143,820

20,546

VFL bottom-eight

Consolation series featuring teams that missed the VFL finals

1957

12

11

187,200

17,018

All 12 teams

The VFL's top-four teams joined the series as they finished finals

1958

8

7

109,150

15,593

VFL bottom-eight

Return to a consolation series

1959

8

7

76,300

10,900

VFL bottom-eight

Crowd numbers crashed due to atrocious weather throughout

1960

8

7

93,100

13,300

VFL bottom-eight

-

1961

8

7

152,019

21,717

VFL bottom-eight

-

1962

8

7

111,710

15,959

VFL bottom-eight

-

1963

8

7

99,392

14,199

VFL bottom-eight

-

1964

8

7

128,360

18,337

VFL bottom-eight

-

1965

8

7

153,635

21,948

VFL bottom-eight

Crowds boosted by NM winning their first senior VFL flag

1966

8

7

94,900

13,557

VFL bottom-eight

-

1967

8

7

93,888

13,413

VFL bottom-eight

-

1968

8

7

89,469

12,781

VFL bottom-eight

-

1969

8

7

79,631

11,376

VFL bottom-eight

-

1970

8

7

72,732

10,390

VFL bottom-eight

-

1971

8

7

77,953

11,136

VFL bottom-eight

-

YEAR

TEAMS

GAMES

CROWDS

AVG.

VFL

SANFL

WAFL

STATE

1976

12

15

106,054

7,070

1975 top four + 7th

1975 top four

1975 top three

-

1977

12

13

99,514

7,654

All 12 teams

-

-

-

1978

13

13

156,714

12,055

All 12 teams

-

-

TAS

1979

23

22

unknown

unknown

All 12 teams

-

All 8 teams

TAS,ACT,NSW

1980

34

33

169,218

5,127

All 12 teams

All 10 teams

All 8 teams

TAS,ACT,NSW,QLD

1981

34

35

216,776

6,193

All 12 teams

All 10 teams

All 8 teams

TAS,ACT,NSW,QLD

1982

18

17

100,406

5,906

All 12 teams

1981 top three

1981 top three

-

1983

17

16

115,989

7,249

All 12 teams

1982 top two

1982 2nd/3rd*

TAS

1984

17

16

104,266

6,516

All 12 teams

1983 top two

1983 2nd/3rd*

QLD

1985

17

16

94,222

5,888

All 12 teams

1984 top two

1984 top two

QLD

1986

14

15

111,620

7,441

All 12 teams

1985 top two

-

-

YEAR

TEAMS

GAMES

CROWDS

AVG.

CLUBS

NOTES

1987

14

14

137,953

9,853

All 14 teams

SANFL & WAFL clubs replaced by Brisbane and West Coast

1988

14

13

155,035

11,926

All 14 teams

-

1989

14

13

195,090

15,007

All 14 teams

-

1990

13

13

216,946

16,688

13 of 14

Brisbane banned due to financial issues
(Eagles played twice in Rd.1)

1991

15

14

220,847

15,775

All 15 teams

Adelaide joined the AFL

1992

15

14

238,919

17,066

All 15 teams

Michael Tuck Medal introduced for Grand Final B.O.G.

1993

15

14

215,351

15,382

All 15 teams

-

1994

15

14

251,736

17,981

All 15 teams

-

1995

16

15

250,103

16,674

All 16 teams

Fremantle joined the AFL

1996

16

15

279,200

18,613

All 16 teams

-

1997

16

15

296,589

19,773

All 16 teams

Fitzroy merged with Brisbane, Port Adelaide joined the AFL

1998

16

15

299,075

19,938

All 16 teams

First overseas pre-season matches played

1999

16

15

274,488

18,299

All 16 teams

-

2000

16

27

325,736

12,064

All 16 teams

Format changed to four round-robin groups followed by SF & GF

2001

16

27

398,557

14,761

All 16 teams

-

2002

16

27

398,309

14,752

All 16 teams

-

2003

16

15

267,016

17,801

All 16 teams

Format reverted to a traditional knockout structure
(Rd.1/QF/SF/GF)

2004

16

15

259,128

17,275

All 16 teams

-

2005

16

15

307,181

20,479

All 16 teams

-

2006

16

15

235,036

15,669

All 16 teams

-

2007

16

15

242,179

16,145

All 16 teams

-

2008

16

15

244,103

16,274

All 16 teams

-

2009

16

15

282,930

18,862

All 16 teams

-

2010

16

15

227,481

15,165

All 16 teams

-

2011

18

25

256,342

19,718**

All 17 + GWS

GC & GWS joined - Rd.1 changed to six groups of three
(round robin format)

2012

18

36

262,209

10,925**

All 18 teams

Ess-StK match cancelled, points awarded to St Kilda

2013

18

37

244,218

9,768**

All 18 teams

More matches played at regional venues than previous series

 

Picture

PRIZEMONEY

YEAR

WINNER

RUNNER-UP

VALUE

NOTES

1956

£ 200

-

˄

K. G. Luke Trophy (valued at £75) was also presented to the winning team

1957

£ 200

-

-

-

1958

£ 400

£ 200

˄

-

1959

£ 500

£ 250

˄

-

1960

£ 500

£ 250

-

-

1961

£ 500

£ 250

-

-

1962

£ 500

£ 250

-

-

1963

£ 500

£ 250

-

-

1964

£ 1400

£ 650

˄

Winner = 500 from VFL + 900 from Golden Fleece
Second = 250 from VFL + 400 from Golden Fleece

1965

£ 1400

£ 650

-

as above

1966

2,800

1,300

˄

Winner = 1000 from VFL + 1800 from Golden Fleece
Second = 500 from VFL + 800 from Golden Fleece

1967

2,800

1,300

-

as above

1968

2,800

1,300

-

as above

1969

2,800

1,300

-

as above

1970

2,800

1,300

-

Winner = 1000 from VFL + 1800 from Radiant
Second = 500 from VFL + 800 from Radiant

1971

2,800

1,300

-

Winner = 2800 from Heinz / 2nd = 1300 from Heinz

1976

21,000

16,000

˄

NFL Wills Cup

1977

50,000

42,000

˄

Series was sponsored by Amco / Herald & Weekly Times
but prizemoney was provided by Channel Seven

1978

50,000

42,000

-

Series was sponsored by Amco / Herald & Weekly Times
but prizemoney was provided by Channel Seven

1979

68,000

47,000

˄

-

1980

64,000

48,000

˅

-

1981

80,000

tbd

˄

-

1982

105,000

80,000

˄

-

1983

115,000

90,000

˄

-

1984

120,000

95,000

˄

Player of the series won a Nissan

1985

120,000

95,000

-

-

1986-2013 = yet to be determined

 

Picture

TROPHIES

1956-71 - K.G. Luke Trophy
1976 - NFL Wills Cup
1977-78 - Amco-Herald Cup
Picture
1961 Night Premiership Trophy at the Geelong FC museum (David Eastman)
Picture
(NFL Championship programme)
Picture
Robert Walls and Graham Campbell, 1978 (blueseum.org)

1979-82 - Escort Championships Trophy
Picture
Simon Madden & Kevin Sheedy, 1981 (The Age/Geoff Ampt)
1983-84 - Sterling Cup
Picture
(Football Record)
1985-86 - Foster's Football Cup
Picture
Michael Tuck, 1986 (Football Record)

1987-89 - Panasonic Cup
Picture
(MFC: Night of Glory)
1990-94 - Foster's Cup
Picture
Sheeds and Schimma, 1990 (The Daily Telegraph)
1995-2001 - Ansett Australia Cup
Picture
Fabian Francis, 2001 (The Guardian)

2002-05 - The Wizard Home Loans Cup (aka "The Wizard Wok")
Picture
Grant Thomas and Lenny Hayes struggle to hide their overwhelming joy, 2004 (The Guardian)
2006-13 - NAB Cup
Picture
(Football Record)

Written and researched by David Eastman 
First published 15/2/2017
Last updated 20/5/2019

NIGHT SERIES/PRE-SEASON CUP (HOME)

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NFL Night Series
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More

REPRESENTATIVE

State Uniforms
State Matches
VFA/VFL Combine

DISCOVERIES

Unearthing
Mythbusting
In The News
Further Reading
Picture
Picture
The author is a proud member of the Australian Football Heritage Group (AFHG), which is dedicated to preserving Australian football's history.

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© David Eastman 2013-2022. All rights reserved.
  • HOME
  • AFL
    • Gardiner Medal
    • Grand Final Sprint
    • Interclub Medals & Trophies
    • Night Series & Pre-Season Cup
  • VFA / VFL
    • AWARDS / MEDAL WINNERS >
      • J.J. Liston Trophy (Best & Fairest)
      • Frosty Miller Medal (Leading Goalkicker)
      • Norm Goss Medal (Grand Final B.O.G.)
      • Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal
      • Frank Johnson Medal (Rep. B.O.G.)
      • Seconds/Thirds
    • FINALS >
      • Grand Finals
      • Grand Finals - A History
      • Premiership Captains/Coaches
      • Premiership Tables
      • Finals Records
      • Minor Premiers... no GF
      • Grand Finals - Second Division
      • Challenge Finals
      • Drawn & Postponed Finals
      • Finals Systems
    • NON-PREMIERSHIP MATCHES >
      • Centenary Cup
      • Foxtel Cup
      • Lightning Premierships
      • NFL Night Series
      • Practice/Exhibition Matches
      • Pre-Season Cup
      • Premiers Cup (VSFL)
      • Promotion Playoffs
      • VFL-TFL Challenge
    • RECORDS
    • SECOND DIVISION
  • NON-PREM
    • NFL - 1976 WILLS CUP
    • NFL - 1977 ARDATH CUP
    • NFL - 1978 ESCORT CUP
    • NFL - 1979 ESCORT CUP
  • REPRESENTATIVE
    • STATE MATCHES >
      • 1870s
      • 1880s
      • 1890s
      • 1900s
      • 1910s
      • 1920s
      • 1930s
      • 1940s
      • 1950s
    • STATE UNIFORMS >
      • QLD Uniforms
      • SA Uniforms
      • WA Uniforms
    • VICTORIA >
      • VIC Matches
      • VIC Uniforms
    • VFA-VFL COMBINE >
      • VFA Rep. Awards
      • VFA Rep. Captains-Coaches
      • VFA Rep Matches
      • VFA Rep. Records
      • VFA Rep. Uniforms
  • DISCOVERIES
    • UNEARTHING
    • MYTHBUSTING
    • IN THE NEWS
    • FURTHER READING
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT