Everything about Northern Territory Football League totally explained
The
Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) is a 7 team
Australian rules football semi-professional league operating in
Darwin in the
Northern Territory.
The premier grade is the largest and most popular football league in the Northern Territory. The league consists of a single division with under 13, under 14, under 15, under 16, under 18, reserves and open (professional) levels of competition.
Most NTFL matches are played on
Marrara Oval (TIO Stadium).
The
Tiwi Islands Football League consisting almost solely of
Indigenous Australian players traditionally acted as a feeder competition for clubs such as
St Marys, but fielded its own team in 2006, the
Tiwi Bombers for eight games. The NTFL became an 8 team competition in the (07/08) with the full time inclusion of the Bombers.
Clubs
Current clubs
History
» See
Australian rules football in the Northern Territory
The NTFL chose to play in the Northern Territory's 'wet season', primarily due to hard playing surfaces during the 'dry season'. Most other leagues in Australia operate during the winter, but since the Territory doesn't have a winter, it's played at different times.
The Wanderers Football Club were the founding members of the league in 1916.
Waratah Football Club also joined in 1916 and are the only club to have competed in every single season since the formation of the league.
Darwin (Buffaloe Football Club) was formed a year later in 1917.
Nightcliff formed in 1950.
St Marys formed in 1952.
Palmerston entered the league in 1973.
North Darwin entered in early 1970.
Southern Districts entered the league in 1987.
In the 1990s, the league ran into financial problems primarily due to the Northern Territory government luring the league to the new purpose-built stadium at
Marrara Oval after its construction in 1991. The move pushed the league's operating costs up drastically despite contrary promises from the NT government. Marrara Oval is now known as TIO Stadium, as part of a naming rights deal with NT health insurance company Territory Insurance Office.
During this history of the league it has exported successful players to other leagues, notable players have included
Michael McLean,
Maurice Rioli and
Michael Long.
In 2006, it was announced that a team representing the
Tiwi Islands, called the
Super Tiwis would be added to the 2006/07 season for eight games against teams that would normally have the bye. They will become a permanent part of the league in the 07/08 season as the Tiwi Bombers, clad in Essendon Football Club style guernseys of black and red.
There is also a push for an NTFL representative club to compete in the
SANFL. The first of a series of trial matches was held in 2006, with a long term view of admitting a Darwin side into the SANFL. A strong crowd at
Marrara Oval witnessed North Adelaide defeat a composite NTFL squad by 27 points, demonstrating that a Darwin team could be competitive. There is a push to make the event an annual match.
Audience
Attendance
The NTFL attracts strong local crowds.
The 2005 Grand final attracted a crowd of over 5,000 people.
Media
Television
In 2006, NTFL matches were broadcast nationally for the first time ever on
ABC2 each Sunday afternoon from February to March. Previously the matches had only been shown in the Territory on
ABC Darwin. In 2008, it reverted to local broadcasting.
Radio
Further Information
Get more info on 'Northern Territory Football League'.
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