Essendon will kick off its 2001 Ansett Cup campaign against Port Adelaide on Saturday, February 17th at Football Park.
Essendon's other preliminary matches will be against Geelong at Colonial Stadium on Sunday, February 25th and Sydney in Canberra on Saturday, March 3rd.
The draw, which was announced today, will see Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions meet in Darwin to open the 2001 Ansett Cup.
The AFL today released the fixture for the 2001 Ansett Cup which will see AFL football resume in earnest on Friday February 16, culminating in the Grand Final on Saturday March 17.
AFL Chief Executive Officer Wayne Jackson, speaking at a media conference in Melbourne, said the AFL Commission had endorsed the retention of the format introduced for the 2000 season after overwhelmingly positive feedback from all 16 clubs.
The 16 clubs will again be divided into four groups of four, guaranteeing each side three round-robin matches, with the top team in each group heading into the semi-finals on the weekend of March 10, before the final on March 17.
"The Ansett Cup is a key part of our football calendar for the year and all clubs fully support the current format in which each team is assured of playing at least three matches," Mr Jackson said.
"The AFL Commission views the Ansett Cup as the key plank in our efforts to take the game to non-traditional markets and in 2001 we will be playing games in Darwin, Cairns, Launceston, Wellington and Canberra," he said.
Ansett Australia Public Affairs Manager Peter Young said his company was delighted to again be involved in the competition for 2001.
"Sport is an integral part of Ansett's brand. Our sponsorship of the Ansett Cup is important to us because it associates us with an event that shares our competitive and dynamic values," Mr Young said."We are very proud to continue our association with the Ansett Cup.
"The 2000 Ansett Cup saw some outstanding football, particularly from Essendon, who started the year in emphatic fashion to win this year's Grand Final back in February and have carried on that form throughout the whole season."
AFL Football Operations Manager Andrew Demetriou said, in all, matches would be played at 10 different venues across every state and territory in Australia, bar New South Wales.
"Player welfare has played a very important part in the formation of the draw for 2001 with a minimum of a six-day break between every match and also consideration of the travel requirements for every club," Mr Demetriou said.
"We will again take into account the heat factor. At all matches, we have the capacity to extend the breaks between each quarter and to allow extra interchange players if required.
"The AFL also felt it was extremely important to support clubs in their early-season drives for supporters by attempting to program at least one match at each club's usual home venue to support membership initiatives."
The fixture is:
Round OneFriday February 16Adelaide v Brisbane Lions, Darwin, 7.40pmCollingwood v St Kilda, Colonial, 7.40pmWest Coast v Kangaroos, Subiaco, 7.40pm (WST)
Saturday February 17Carlton v Western Bulldogs, Optus, 3.15pmFremantle v Melbourne, Subiaco, 6.30pm (WST)Port Adelaide v Essendon, Football Park, 7.40pmGeelong v Sydney, Wellington, New Zealand, 7.40pm
Sunday February 18Hawthorn v Richmond, Launceston, 3.15pm
Round TwoFriday February 23Port Adelaide v Sydney, Football Park, 7.40pmWest Coast Eagles v Collingwood, Subiaco, 4.40pm (WST)
Saturday February 24Richmond v Melbourne, Optus, 3.15pmKangaroos v St Kilda, Canberra, 3.15pmCarlton v Adelaide, Colonial, 7.40pmBrisbane Lions v Western Bulldogs, Cairns, 7.40pm
Sunday February 25Essendon v Geelong, Colonial, 7.40pmFremantle v Hawthorn, Subiaco, 5.00pm (WST)
Round ThreeFriday March 2St Kilda v West Coast, Colonial, 7.40pm
Saturday March 3Geelong v Port Adelaide, Shell Stadium, 3.15pmSydney v Essendon, Canberra, 3.15pmKangaroos v Collingwood, Colonial, 7.40pmBrisbane Lions v Carlton, Gabba, 7.40pmAdelaide v Western Bulldogs, Football Park, 7.40pm
Sunday February 25Richmond v Fremantle, Optus, 12.30pmHawthorn v Melbourne, Colonial, 3.15pm
Semi FinalsFriday March 9/Saturday March 10Venue To be Advised
Grand FinalSaturday March 17Venue To be Advised
