Axe falls on Foxtel Cup

[Ricochet]

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/wafl/a/25490773/axe-falls-on-foxtel-cup/

The four-year Foxtel Cup experiment is over, with the national knockout competition axed for next year.

The WA Football Commission confirmed yesterday that host broadcaster Foxtel had pulled out of the competition, which pitted the country's top State clubs, including those from the WAFL, VFL and SANFL, against each other for a $100,000 winner's purse.

The demise comes as Subiaco liaise with SANFL premiers Norwood about hosting a one-off match between the two clubs early next year.

Both are keen to start an annual tradition where the premiers of the two States play off for bragging rights in a pre- season fixture.

Norwood have approached McGuire Media, the production company started by Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, to discuss broadcasting the match.

Subiaco chief executive Peter Capes said the clubs were hoping to schedule the game for early March, with the fixture likely to be played in South Australia.

"Hopefully it would be an annual thing," Capes said.

"If we could get a Foxtel or a Channel 7 interested in that game and the two clubs can sort out how we can do it commercially and at least break even, then both clubs see that as a good opportunity.

"They may like to beef it up into the clash of the premiers."

The fixture would be in addition to the WAFL's annual State match. South Australia are due to play WA in Perth next year.

The Foxtel Cup had been running since 2011, with the support of the AFL.

WA clubs have fared well with Claremont taking the title in 2012, and East Fremantle and then West Perth reaching the grand final in the past two seasons.

WAFC chief executive Gary Walton said Foxtel was putting its money into other areas.

It is understood Foxtel's spending will instead go towards alternative football content, including a second series of reality television program The Recruit.

[SydneyRox]

Real shame, was good to watch when I had the chance and gave some great exposure to the guys in the lower levels

[Ricochet]

Yeh I enjoyed it as well mate. Shame to see it go

[Toga]

Bit of a shame but at the same time it seemed like the better teams didn't seem to care much about it. Would be good to see a WAFL premiers vs SANFL premiers game annually though 8)

[quinny88]

Not surprised. I thought it was a snore fest.
Good teams left all their players out and they played it in large stadiums in front of 0 people on Tuesday nights. Made it pretty hard for it to take off