# 2013 NAB Cup

The 2013 NAB Cup was an Australian Football League (AFL) pre-season competition that was played before the 2013 home and away season. The tournament commenced on 15 February 2013, and concluded with the NAB Cup Grand Final on 15 March 2013. The first group of matches was played between Collingwood, Essendon and Western Bulldogs in Melbourne at Etihad Stadium. The tournament was won by the Brisbane Lions, its first pre-season premiership.
The competition format was the same as the previous year and once again featured eighteen teams. Matches were played at both regular AFL venues and select regional centres. All matches in the first three rounds of the competition counted equally with four points for a win and percentage also being taken into account. The two best-performed teams, the Brisbane Lions and Carlton, played the NAB Cup Grand Final on 15 March. Teams not playing in the first week of Round 1 of the 2013 AFL season played one last pre-season match at various metropolitan locations across Australia in week 5.
The format for the 2013 NAB Cup was as follows:
* Weeks 1 and 2: The eighteen teams were split into six pools of three teams each. The three teams in each pool played each other in games of two 20-minute halves, with all three games being played over a three-hour period at the one venue.
* Weeks 3 and 4: The eighteen teams played full length matches each week in either metropolitan or regional areas.
* Week 5: The two best ranked teams played in the NAB Cup Grand Final. Teams not playing in the first week of Round 1 of the 2013 AFL season played a full length match in either metropolitan or regional areas.

## Games

The fixtures were announced by the AFL on 24 October 2012. All times listed are local times.

### Round 1

| | Pool 1 | Pool 1 | Pool 1 | | |
| Friday, 15 February (6:45 pm) | Essendon 1.5.6 (45) | def. | Western Bulldogs 1.1.4 (19) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 24,817) | Report |
| Friday, 15 February (7:50 pm) | Western Bulldogs 0.4.5 (29) | def. by | Collingwood 1.6.2 (47) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 26,693) | Report |
| Friday, 15 February (8:55 pm) | Collingwood 1.2.10 (31) | def. | Essendon 0.4.5 (29) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 26,921) | Report |
| | Pool 2 | Pool 2 | Pool 2 | | |
| Saturday, 16 February (4:40 pm) | West Coast 1.6.2 (47) | def. by | Geelong 1.6.4 (49) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 20,485) | Report |
| Saturday, 16 February (5:45 pm) | Fremantle 0.7.6 (48) | def. | Geelong 0.4.6 (30) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 21,804) | Report |
| Saturday, 16 February (6:50 pm) | West Coast 1.4.7 (40) | def. | Fremantle 0.2.4 (16) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 21,935) | Report |
| | Pool 3 | Pool 3 | Pool 3 | | |
| Sunday, 17 February (4:10 pm) | Adelaide 0.3.6 (24) | def. by | St Kilda 0.8.2 (50) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 8,966) | Report |
| Sunday, 17 February (5:15 pm) | Port Adelaide 1.9.2 (65) | def. | St Kilda 0.2.3 (15) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 8,966) | Report |
| Sunday, 17 February (6:20 pm) | Adelaide 0.6.7 (43) | def. | Port Adelaide 0.4.3 (27) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 8,966) | Report |
| | Pool 4 | Pool 4 | Pool 4 | | |
| Friday, 22 February (6:45 pm) | North Melbourne 1.4.5 (38) | def. | Melbourne 0.5.6 (36) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 20,309) | Report |
| Friday, 22 February (7:50 pm) | Melbourne 0.2.3 (15) | def. by | Richmond 1.2.9 (30) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 20,309) | Report |
| Friday, 22 February (8:55 pm) | Richmond 0.6.8 (44) | def. by | North Melbourne 0.7.6 (48) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 20,309) | Report |
| | Pool 5 | Pool 5 | Pool 5 | | |
| Saturday, 23 February (6:40 pm) | Gold Coast 0.4.6 (30) | def. | Hawthorn 0.4.5 (29) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 7,847) | Report |
| Saturday, 23 February (7:45 pm) | Brisbane Lions 0.4.8 (32) | def. | Hawthorn 0.1.5 (11) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 7,847) | Report |
| Saturday, 23 February (8:50 pm) | Gold Coast 0.3.6 (24) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 2.6.3 (57) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 7,847) | Report |
| | Pool 6 | Pool 6 | Pool 6 | | |
| Sunday, 24 February (4:40 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 0.5.2 (32) | def. by | Carlton 0.4.10 (34) | Blacktown International Sportspark (crowd: 4,078) | Report |
| Sunday, 24 February (5:45 pm) | Sydney 0.3.6 (24) | def. by | Carlton 1.5.7 (46) | Blacktown International Sportspark (crowd: 4,078) | Report |
| Sunday, 24 February (6:50 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 0.7.10 (52) | def. | Sydney 1.3.1 (28) | Blacktown International Sportspark (crowd: 4,078) | Report |

### Round 2

| | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | | |
| Friday, 1 March (7:40 pm) | Western Bulldogs 1.10.6 (75) | def. | Hawthorn 2.8.8 (74) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 8,162) | Report |
| Saturday, 2 March (2:40 pm) | Geelong 2.16.12 (126) | def. | Adelaide 1.8.6 (63) | Simonds Stadium (crowd: 5,000) | Report |
| Saturday, 2 March (3:30 pm) | Gold Coast 1.11.14 (89) | def. by | North Melbourne 2.13.6 (102) | Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville (crowd: 7,216) | Report |
| Saturday, 2 March (5:10 pm) | Essendon 1.10.9 (78) | def. by | Richmond 2.8.20 (86) | Wangaratta Showgrounds (crowd: 7,884) | Report |
| Saturday, 2 March (7:00 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 2.12.7 (97) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 1.12.19 (100) | Robertson Oval, Wagga Wagga (crowd: 7,068) | Report |
| Saturday, 2 March (7:40 pm) | Carlton 0.18.16 (124) | def. | Fremantle 1.6.9 (54) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 9,402) | Report |
| Sunday, 3 March (4:00 pm) | Port Adelaide 1.10.7 (76) | def. by | Melbourne 0.12.6 (78) | Renmark Oval, Renmark, South Australia (crowd: 3,764) | Report |
| Sunday, 3 March (5:10 pm) | St Kilda 0.13.12 (90) | def. | Sydney 1.8.10 (67) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 6,656) | Report |
| Sunday, 3 March (4:40 pm) | West Coast 1.10.7 (76) | def. by | Collingwood 3.10.9 (96) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 14,237) | Report |

### Round 3

| | Round 3 | Round 3 | Round 3 | | |
| Friday, 8 March (6:10 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 0.4.4 (28) | def. by | Essendon 1.16.14 (119) | Manuka Oval (crowd: 8,044) | Report |
| Friday, 8 March (8:10 pm) | Adelaide 4.11.7 (109) | def. | Carlton 2.13.10 (106) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 7,511) | Report |
| Saturday, 9 March (1:10 pm) | Hawthorn 0.13.6 (84) | def. by | Richmond 0.13.7 (85) | Aurora Stadium (crowd: 8,601) | Report |
| Saturday, 9 March (2:30 pm) | Melbourne 2.7.6 (66) | def. by | St Kilda 2.10.13 (91) | Casey Fields, Cranbourne (crowd: 5,000) | Report |
| Saturday, 9 March (3:40 pm) | Geelong 0.14.12 (96) | def. | North Melbourne 0.12.12 (84) | Simonds Stadium | Report |
| Saturday, 9 March (3:30 pm) | Fremantle 0.23.8 (146) | def. | Western Bulldogs 0.5.7 (37) | Bendigo Bank Stadium, Mandurah (crowd: 5,032) | Report |
| Saturday, 9 March (6:40 pm) | Collingwood 0.7.12 (54) | def. by | Brisbane Lions 0.12.16 (88) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 12,093) | Report |
| Saturday, 9 March (7:00 pm) | Sydney 0.11.14 (80) | def. | Gold Coast 0.6.8 (44) | Blacktown International Sportspark | Report |
| Saturday, 9 March (7:00 pm) | West Coast 1.11.11 (86) | def. by | Port Adelaide 1.13.5 (92) | Traeger Park, Alice Springs (crowd: 4,244) | Report |

### Grand Final

| | 2013 NAB Cup Grand Final | 2013 NAB Cup Grand Final | 2013 NAB Cup Grand Final | | |
| Friday, 15 March (7:45 pm) | Carlton | def. by | Brisbane Lions | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 24,884) | Report |
| | 1.2.0 (21) 2.6.6 (60) 2.7.7 (67) 2.7.9 (69) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 0.5.3 (33) 0.7.5 (47) 0.12.10 (82) 0.16.13 (109) | Umpires: Bannister, Margetts, Jeffery Michael Tuck Medal: Daniel Rich Television broadcast: Seven Network/Fox Footy | Umpires: Bannister, Margetts, Jeffery Michael Tuck Medal: Daniel Rich Television broadcast: Seven Network/Fox Footy |
| Bryce Gibbs, Zach Tuohy | Bryce Gibbs, Zach Tuohy | Super Goals | N/A | N/A |
| Betts, Casboult, Duigan, Kreuzer, Robinson, Rowe, White | Betts, Casboult, Duigan, Kreuzer, Robinson, Rowe, White | Goals | Brown 5, Green 3, Zorko 2, Bewick, Karnezis, McGrath, Polkinghorne, Redden, Rich | Brown 5, Green 3, Zorko 2, Bewick, Karnezis, McGrath, Polkinghorne, Redden, Rich |
| Gibbs, Simpson, Yarran, Kreuzer, Murphy | Gibbs, Simpson, Yarran, Kreuzer, Murphy | Best | Rich, Zorko, Hanley, Brown, Karnezis, Moloney, Merrett, Green | Rich, Zorko, Hanley, Brown, Karnezis, Moloney, Merrett, Green |
| N/A | N/A | Injuries | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | Reports | N/A | N/A |
| Due to the unavailability of the Gabba because of cricket commitments, the AFL chose to schedule the match at Etihad Stadium rather than Metricon Stadium in Queensland, citing that the largest possible crowd would be drawn in Melbourne ahead of any potential game on the Gold Coast. This was the last pre-season tournament to award a Michael Tuck Medal, as the subsequent pre-season tournaments no longer had grand finals or a specified winner ||||||

## NAB Challenge

| | NAB Challenge | NAB Challenge | NAB Challenge | | |
| Friday, 15 March (4:00 pm) | Geelong 20.21 (141) | def. | Collingwood 13.12 (90) | Simonds Stadium | Report |
| Saturday, 16 March (11:30 am) | Gold Coast 12.8 (80) | def. | Melbourne 8.7 (55) | Fankhauser Reserve, Southport | Report |
| Saturday, 16 March (1:00 pm) | Port Adelaide 15.12 (102) | def. | Sydney 10.12 (72) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 5,042) | Report |
| Saturday, 16 March (2:00 pm) | North Melbourne 5.11 (41) | def. by | Hawthorn 19.8 (122) | Highgate Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn | Report |
| Saturday, 16 March (2:00 pm) | Richmond 14.8 (92) | def. | Western Bulldogs 12.11 (83) | Visy Park (crowd: 2,000) | Report |
| Saturday, 16 March (2:00 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 16.6 (102) | def. | St Kilda 12.14 (86) | Blacktown International Sportspark | Report |
| Adelaide, Essendon, West Coast and Fremantle did not play this round due to their earlier round one commitments. These matches, played on the same weekend as the Grand Final, were not counted towards the NAB Cup ladder. All matches played in this round are conducted under normal AFL Premiership season rules. ||||||

## Ladder

2013 NAB Cup Ladder :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | |
| 1 | Brisbane Lions | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 277 | 186 | 148.9 | 16 | Grand Final |
| 2 | Carlton | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 310 | 219 | 141.6 | 12 | Grand Final |
| 3 | Geelong | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 301 | 242 | 124.4 | 12 | |
| 4 | St Kilda | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 246 | 222 | 110.8 | 12 | |
| 5 | Richmond | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 245 | 225 | 108.9 | 12 | |
| 6 | Collingwood | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 228 | 222 | 102.7 | 12 | |
| 7 | North Melbourne | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 272 | 265 | 102.6 | 12 | |
| 8 | Essendon | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 271 | 164 | 165.2 | 8 | |
| 9 | Port Adelaide | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 260 | 222 | 117.1 | 8 | |
| 10 | Fremantle | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 264 | 231 | 114.3 | 8 | |
| 11 | Adelaide | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 239 | 309 | 77.3 | 8 | |
| 12 | West Coast | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 249 | 253 | 98.4 | 4 | |
| 13 | Sydney | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 199 | 232 | 85.8 | 4 | |
| 14 | Melbourne | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 195 | 235 | 83.0 | 4 | |
| 15 | Greater Western Sydney | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 209 | 281 | 74.4 | 4 | |
| 16 | Gold Coast | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 187 | 268 | 69.8 | 4 | |
| 17 | Western Bulldogs | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 160 | 312 | 51.3 | 4 | |
| 18 | Hawthorn | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 198 | 222 | 89.2 | 0 | |