the 2001 ansett australia cup was contested by all sixteen clubs of the australian football league prior to the beginning of the afls 2001 season. it ran for five weeks in february and march 2001. the competition took a round-robin format to provide all teams with at least 3 practice games to prepare for the 2001 regular season, with all clubs divided into four groups of four, and the group winners qualifying for the knockout semi finals. group a comprised the defending premiers , , and . group b featured , , and . group c featured , , and while finally group d comprised , , and .