1976 NFL Wills Cup
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The 1976 National Football League (NFL) Wills Cup was the first national night* football competition featuring WAFL, SANFL, and (the then) VFL. The names of the Cup contested changed with the sponsorship arrangements each season - 1976 was the generic "Wills" of the W.D. & H.O.Wills cigarette makers.
* "Night competition" refers to the origins of this type of competition - often however the NFL games were played as daytime fixtures.
Preliminary Round 1
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | Pts | |
| Glenelg | 5.3 | 8.6 | 13.11 | 16.11 | 107 |
| Richmond | 4.0 | 5.3 | 8.4 | 9.8 | 62 |
Football Park, Adelaide. Monday 17 May. Crowd 13,693 (Day)
Best -
Glenelg: Weston, Lihou, Cornes, Rebbeck, W. Phillis, McInerney
Richmond: Thorpe, Sheedy, Mattson, Lamb, Monteath, Carter
Goals -
Glenelg: Rebbeck 4, McInerney 2, Caldwell, D. Phillis, Hercock, Copping, MacFarlane
Richmond: Monteath 3, Heard 2, Balme, Thorpe, Edwards, Cumming
Player of the Match - Thorpe (Richmond).
Guernsey Clash
Due to the Tigers of the SANFL and the Tigers of the VFL both wearing black jumpers with a gold sash, a clash jumper was required.
​When these teams had met previously in the 1973 Champions of Australia tournament, a coin-toss was held with Glenelg losing the toss and wearing an all-gold jumper.
However, in 1976 it was Richmond forced to change uniforms, wearing a gold and red jumper supplied by the NFL. This was paired with red socks and white shorts.
Preliminary Round 2
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | Pts | |
| Swan Districts | 2.3 | 4.5 | 8.6 | 10.8 | 68 |
| Glenelg | 1.3 | 5.7 | 9.9 | 11.19 | 85 |
Subiaco Oval, Perth. Saturday 12 June. Crowd 10,876 (Day)
Best -
Swan Districts: Nowotny, Skulley, Olsen, Sidebottom, Brown, Bell
Glenelg: Cornes, Hodgeman, Weston, Carey, Rawson, McInerney
Goals -
Swan Districts: Olsen 4, Skulley 3, Walker 2, Close
Glenelg: Hodgeman 2, McInerney 2, W. Phillis 2, Rady, Rebbeck, Marker, Caldwell, D. Phillis
Player of the Match - Graham Cornes (G)
Semi Final
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | Pts | |
| Glenelg | 2.1 | 3.1 | 7.4 | 8.8 | 56 |
| Hawthorn | 2.2 | 7.7 | 9.11 | 11.16 | 82 |
Norwood Oval, Adelaide. Tuesday 27 July. Crowd 8,086 (Night)
Best -
Glenelg: Cornes, Croser, Hodgeman, McFarlane, Voigt
Hawthorn: Rowlings, Hendrie, K. Matthews, Tuck, L. Matthews, Martello, McCarthy
Goals -
Glenelg: D. Phillis 4, Hodgeman, Rebbeck, Hercock, Marriott
Hawthorn: L. Matthews 2, Hendrie 2, Walter 2, Scott, K. Matthews, Moncrieff, Eade, Douge
Player of the Match - Graham Cornes (G)
Other
- Three weeks later Hawthorn went on to win the Grand Final against North Melbourne, also played at Norwood Oval.
- Graham Cornes was declared the B.S. Stillwell Ford Player of the Series after receiving 2 first preference votes and 1 second preference vote in the three matches he played. During half-time of the Grand Final he was presented with a Ford Cortina "valued at $5700".
