Each year, the NAB Cup pre-season competition provides fans with their first chance to see how their team is shaping up ahead of the AFL Premiership Season.

The Brisbane Lions have been scheduled to play matches in Queensland (Gold Coast), New South Wales (Wagga Wagga), and Victoria (Etihad Stadium) across the opening three Rounds of the NAB Cup, giving our fans on the Eastern coast of Australia an opportunity to get along and see the team play LIVE in the coming months.

Please find below a comprehensive guide to the NAB Cup, along with further details surrounding the Lions’ scheduled matches.

FORMAT
The 2013 NAB Cup will again comprise of a triangular format during the first round only, with three teams competing at the one venue on the same day. The first round will again feature pools of three teams with each club playing two shortened matches comprising of 20-minute halves across a three-hour window.

The remaining two rounds will be full-scale matches.

The two best-performed teams in the opening three rounds will compete in the NAB Cup Grand Final, to be played on either Friday March 15 or Saturday March 16.

TRIAL RULES
Throughout each round of the 2013 NAB Cup, except round one, the use of three interchange players and one substitute player on the interchange will be trialled with a cap of 20 interchanges per quarter.

Each round one match of the 2013 NAB Cup will permit six interchange players (no substitutes).

This year’s NAB Cup will again see nine points awarded for a NAB Supergoal kicked from outside the 50m arc. For every NAB Supergoal kicked, NAB will donate $500 worth of Sherrins to the goal kicker’s junior football club.

BROADCAST DETAILS
FOXTEL and FOX SPORTS will exclusively broadcast every round one match of the 2013 NAB Cup live and five matches live in each of rounds two and three, all in High Definition and uninterrupted siren to siren. The NAB Cup Grand Final will be broadcast live by both Foxtel/FOX SPORTS and the Seven Network.

NEW FACES
Off-season signings Brent Moloney and Stefan Martin look set to don the maroon, blue and gold for the first time during the NAB Cup competition, while draftees Sam Mayes, Marco Paparone, Michael Close, Nick Hayes and Jordon Bourke will be hoping to get their first taste of senior AFL action.

Sam Docherty, Callum Bartlett, Patrick Wearden, Sam Michael, and Justin Clarke will also be looking to play their first official senior match in Lions colours.

OUT OF ACTION
Brent Staker looked set to play during the NAB Cup until minor surgery on his ‘good’ knee  effectively ruled him out until Round 1 of the Premiership season.

Superstar midfielder Simon Black is also expected to miss the bulk of the pre-season competition after undergoing clean-up surgery on his knee late last year. 

NAB CUP ROUND 1
Brisbane Lions v Hawthorn (7:45pm local time)
Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast (8:50pm local time)
Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast
Saturday 23 February 2013

All Lions members can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster by calling 1300 136 122, or visiting www.ticketmaster.com.au

METRICON STADIUM NAB CUP TICKET PRICES

NAB CUP ROUND 2
Brisbane Lions v Greater Western Sydney
Tarcutta Street, Wagga Wagga
Saturday 2 March 2013 @ 7pm (local time)

There is no reserved seating at Wagga Wagga, so all tickets will be General Admission only.

WAGGA WAGGA NAB CUP TICKET PRICES

NAB CUP ROUND 3
Brisbane Lions v Collingwood
Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Saturday 9 March 2013 @ 6:40pm

All signed-up 2013 Victorian members with match entitlements will receive FREE General Admission entry to this match. To gain entry on the night, simply scan your 2013 membership card at the gate, and take a seat in one of the General Admission areas (generally on Level 3).

Victorian members wishing to upgrade their ticket to a reserved seat, can do so at an additional cost by contacting Ticketmaster on 1300 136 122 or www.ticketmaster.com.au.

All other members (non-Victorian) can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster

ETIHAD STADIUM NAB CUP TICKET PRICES

Pre-match Function @ The Oxford Scholar
Lions fans are encouraged to visit the Club's official big screen venue in Victoria - The Oxford Scholar Hotel (located at 427 Swanston Street in Melbourne's CBD) - to enjoy an early dinner and mingle with fellow supporters before the team's NAB Cup match against Collingwood.   

Dinner service will commence at 4:30pm, after which fans can then walk together to Etihad Stadium and potentially sit with each other at the ground.  

The Oxford Scholar is owned and run by long-time Lions member Malculm Wulf, who will be on hand to help lead the 'March to Etihad Stadium'.

Aftermatch Function
All Lions fans heading to Etihad Stadium for the game against Collingwood are also invited to stay back after the match to take a tour of the Club’s Historical Society Museum and hear about some of the Victorian activities that are being planned for 2013. A number of special guest speakers will be present – including some of the Lions coaches. 

Date: Saturday 9 March 2013
Time: Immediately after the match (approx. 9pm)
Venue: Endeavour Room (Gate 4, Level D) – located next to the Historical Society Museum
Getting There: Make your way to the Gate 4 elevators (located near Aisle 43 on the Level 1 concourse), and take the lift to Level ‘D’. Follow the signs to the Endeavour Room

Plus, don't forget the Victorian Family Day on Sunday morning 10 March at Etihad Stadium!