Crawf's Kick it to Nick : The Cursed Cup by Shane Crawford and Adrian Beck

Penguin, 2014. ISBN: 9780143307846.
(Ages: 7-9) AFL Football, School Life, Friendship, Fantasy. Shane Crawford AFL football star and Adrian Beck TV producer for the The Footy Show have teamed up to write an eight book series with an AFL theme - Kick it to Nick. They have used their expertise and understanding to write junior novels based on this sport with mixed teams of feisty girls and fun boy characters. These will appeal to younger readers from 7-9 years.
It's the first footy game on the new oval and Nick and his under-11 team, the Cobar Creek Crocs, are desperate to win the golden cup. The oval has been built over an old mine with disastrous consequences. When the trophy cup is taken from the cabinet it changes into a terrifying metal monster, hungry to wipe out everything around it. Nick the team captain is the only one who can stop the destruction.
With great references to team participation, AFL superstars and a dash of mystery, this series is one that will appeal to young footy fans.
Rhyllis Bignell