The 1996 Lightning Premiership

Essendon Premiers!!!

For the first time the AFL ran a Lightning Premiership competition at Waverley before the commencement of the Ansett Cup and the regular season in 1996. One of the main reasons for doing so was to trial new or modified rules in a high level competition without actually affecting the premiership season. Before getting to the rules for the competition, here was the draw: (to read a review of the games in which Essendon played, click on that game)

The Draw

Round 1

Friday 9 February 1996

1. 6:30pm....Nth. Melbourne d. Melbourne
2. 7:30pm....Collingwood    d. Fitzroy        
3. 8:30pm....St. Kilda      d. Hawthorn
4. 9:30pm....Brisbane       d. Carlton

Saturday 10 February 1996

5. 11:00am....Richmond       d. West Coast
6. 12:00pm....Fremantle      d. Adelaide
7. 1:00pm.....Essendon   d. Geelong
8. 2:00pm.....Sydney         d. Footscray

In the afternoon:
Long-kicking Competition
Goal-kicking Competition

Quarter Finals

Saturday 10 February 1996

9.  6:30pm....Collingwood  d. North Melbourne
10. 7:30pm....Brisbane     d. St Kilda
11. 8:30pm....Fremantle    d. Richmond
12. 9:30pm....Essendon d. Sydney

Semi Finals

Sunday 11 February 1996

Before the first game:
100 metre sprint heats

13. 6:30pm....Brisbane d. Collingwood
14. 7:30pm....Essendon d. Fremantle

Grand Final

Sunday 11 February 1996

Before the game:
100 metre sprint final

15. 9:30pm....Essendon d. Brisbane

Here is a list of the modified rules that were used during the competition:

Each game will consist of two 17.5 minute halves, with a five minute half time break.

No draws, in the case of a tie after normal time, the siren will not sound until another score has been registered.

Four boundary and four goal umpires will be used.

Three points will be awarded if the ball hits the post, signalled by a different coloured flag.

Three points will be awarded for a deliberately rushed behind.

The last player to touch the ball before it goes over the boundary line will be penalised, and a free kick awarded to the opposing team. When it cannot be determined who touched the ball last, the usual throw in will occur.

The defender kicking in after a score does not have to wait until the goal umpire finishes waving his flags.

No umpire will bounce the ball, instead it will be thrown up on all occassions.

Six-player interchange bench.

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