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AFL comes to Bruce Stadium
By BARRY ROLLINGS and AAP
MELBOURNE: The first round Foster's
Cup match between reigning premiers Haw-
thorn and the Sydney Swans will be played at
the newly redeveloped Bruce Stadium in Can-
berra on Sunday, February 25.
The Australian Football League (AFL) fi-
nalised arrangements yesterday with the
Bruce Stadium trust to bring top level compe-
tition Australian football to the ACT for the
first time.
AFL Finance manager, Greg Durham who
recently inspected all available venues in Can-
berra, said yesterday, "We are absolutely de-
lighted that this match, to be played under the
new AFL banner, will be in Canberra at the
Bruce Stadium which is a most impressive
facility for the pitying of this match and the
comfort of the public".
"The game will be the subject of widespread
coverage through the Australian Television
Network and we hope that footy supporters in
Canberra and surrounding districts will come
to this match," said Durham.
ACTAFL General Manager Kevin Hassett
said "the prospect of a game of this quality in
the ACT is a great boost for Australian-foot-
ball in the region and a successful promotion
of the game may well prove to be the forerun
ner of further AFL games in Canberra".
A curtain-raiser was planned for about
11.30am between the ACT's CBS develop-
ment squad (Teal Cup under-17) against a
Riverina squad from NSW.
The chairman of the Interim Bruce Stadi-
um Trust, Graham Meyer said the staging of
this top level Australian Football match indi-
cated that the Bruce Stadium was truly a
multi-purpose sporting stadium.
□ FOOTSCRAY WILL open the AFL Fos-
ter's Cup night competition against Rich-
mond at VFL Park tomorrow without ruck
Scott Wynd, who has glandular fever.
Club general manager Garry Merrington
said yesterday Wynd would begin light train
ing this week, but Footscray would not take
any risks with him.
Merrington said, "He's been swimming and
working out in the gym and although he's
coming right we won't be playing him for a
while."
Footscray will also be without regulars Bri-
an Royal, Michael McLean, Rick Kennedy,
Stephen Macpherson, and Matthew Hanne-
bery.
As well, an ankle operation has sidelined
McLean until April, Macpherson is serving a
three month suspension, and Hannebery has a
thigh problem.
Richmond has named Michael Mitchell
and David Honybun in its squad but they are
unlikely to play. Michael Laffey is out with
influenza and Corey Young is serving a two
match suspension from last year's under-19
grand final.
The second Foster's Cup game, between
Essendon and the West Coast Eagles, will be
played on Saturday (8.30pm) at VFL Park.
According to AFL rules for this competi-
tion if scores are level at the end of any
Foster's Cup match, the following procedure
will apply:
• The game will restart with teams kicking
to the same end as they did in the final quar-
ter.
• Two five-minute periods will be played
with teams exchanging ends after the first five
minute period.
• Should scores be level after the two five
minute periods, a further two five-minute pe-
riods will be played with clubs exchanging
ends after the first five- minute period. This
process will continue until there is a match
result.
• Coaches are not permitted to address play-
ers at any stage after the three-quarter time
interval until the match is decided and con-
cluded.
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