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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.

<nowiki>*</nowiki> "Night competition" refers to the origins of this type of competition - often however the NFL games were played as daytime fixtures.

== Preliminary Round 1 ==

{| style="border-spacing:0;width:10cm;" border=0
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| colspan="6" align="center" style="background:#ffcc00;" |
|-
||
| align=center| 1st
| align=center| 2nd
| align=center| 3rd
| align=center| Final
| align=center| Pts
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|| Glenelg
| align=center| 5.3
| align=center| 8.6
| align=center| 13.11
| align=center| 16.11
| align=center| 107
|-
|| Richmond
| align=center| 4.0
| align=center| 5.3
| align=center| 8.4
| align=center| 9.8
| align=center| 62
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" style="background:#ffcc00;" |
|-
|}
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).

<blockquote>'''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.
</blockquote>

== Preliminary Round 2 ==
{| style="border-spacing:0;width:10cm;" border=0
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| colspan="6" align="center" style="background:#ffcc00;" |
|-
||
| align=center| 1st
| align=center| 2nd
| align=center| 3rd
| align=center| Final
| align=center| Pts
|-
|| Swan Districts
| align=center| 2.3
| align=center| 4.5
| align=center| 8.6
| align=center| 10.8
| align=center| 68
|-
|| Glenelg
| align=center| 1.3
| align=center| 5.7
| align=center| 9.9
| align=center| 11.19
| align=center| 85
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" style="background:#ffcc00;" |
|-
|}
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 ==
{| style="border-spacing:0;width:10cm;" border=0
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" style="background:#ffcc00;" |
|-
||
| align=center| 1st
| align=center| 2nd
| align=center| 3rd
| align=center| Final
| align=center| Pts
|-
|| Glenelg
| align=center| 2.1
| align=center| 3.1
| align=center| 7.4
| align=center| 8.8
| align=center| 56
|-
|| Hawthorn
| align=center| 2.2
| align=center| 7.7
| align=center| 9.11
| align=center| 11.16
| align=center| 82
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" style="background:#ffcc00;" |
|-
|}
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".

1976 NFL Wills Cup - Revision history

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