Australian rules football in the Northern Territory
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2019) |
| Australian rules football in the Northern Territory | |
|---|---|
 Tiwi Islands Football League Grand Final 05/06 at Nguiu stadium—Mulluwurri vs Pumurali. | |
| Governing body | AFL Northern Territory |
| First played | Darwin 12 February 1916 |
| Registered players | 7,158[1] |
Club competitions | |
Northern Territory Football League Central Australian Football League Barkly Australian Football League Big Rivers Australian Football League CAFL Country League Elcho Island Football League Gove Australian Football League Groote Eylandt Football League Gunbalanya Football League Lajamanu Football League Maningrida Football League Ngukurr Football League Ramingining Football League Wilurrara Tjataku Football League Tanami Football League Tiwi Islands Football League Wadeye Football League | |
Audience records | |
| Single match | 17,500 (Aboriginal All-Stars vs Carlton; 2002; AFL pre-season practice; Marrara Oval, Darwin) |
Australian rules football is a popular sport in the Northern Territory (NT), particularly among the many remote Indigenous Australian communities of the outback such as the Tiwi Islands but also in the cities of Darwin and Alice Springs. There are more than 15 regional competitions across the territory, the highest profile being the semi-professional Northern Territory Football League based around Darwin and Central Australian Football League around Alice Springs. It is governed by AFL Northern Territory. There are 7,158 registered players.[1] In 2017, it was reported that 18% of Territorians participate in Australian rules football, the highest rate of participation in Australia[2] however according to Ausplay this rate in 2024 is 3.9% and it was surpassed by soccer in 2023.[1]
For a brief period, the NT had its own Australian rules team, making its interstate representational debut at the 1988 Adelaide Bicentennial Carnival. Selected under State of Origin criteria, the team, featuring Maurice Rioli, Michael Long and Michael McLean went through undefeated to take out the Division 2 premiership with big wins against Tasmania, the VFA and the national amateurs team. However, it has only ever appeared once. After taking over as governing body, the AFL Commission merged the Northern Territory with Queensland to create a composite side. The QLD/NT side featured only six Territorians and has not reappeared since. Northern Territory had a standalone representative side in the National Championships between 1979 and 2016, this side won three Division 2 titles—Under 16 in 1999, and Under 19 in 2004 and 2012. Since 2021, the Northern Territory Academy has participated in the Talent League, providing Territorians a direct pathway to the fully professional national Australian Football League (AFL) and AFL Women's competitions. The NT is home to the Indigenous All-Stars and Flying Boomerangs representative teams. The All-Stars hold the current attendance record for any football code in the Territory - 17,500 set in 2002. A professional club, the Northern Territory Football Club (NT Thunder) was formed in 2008 and competed in the second tier semi-national NEAFL competition.
Since the first Australian Football League (AFL) matches were played in the NT in 2004, attendances have averaged 9,320. They have steadily declined from a peak of 14,100 in 2006 (featuring the Western Bulldogs). Under the 2020 arrangement with the Gold Coast Suns and Melbourne FC, the NT receives two matches in Darwin (Marrara Oval) and one in Alice Springs (Traeger Park) each year. In addition, Darwin has hosted the AFL Dreamtime match including its first AFLW match in 2024.[3] The AFL's Gold Coast Suns have access to the best junior talent from the Territory through its recruitment zone and the Gold Coast Suns Academy. In 2021, following a 2018 scoping study, AFL Northern Territory launched an official bid to enter a team into the national AFL competition. This bid is under consideration by the league for entry around 2030.[4] The sport in 2017 produced more professional players per capita AFL than any other state or territory.
Since the debut of Reuben Cooper in 1969,[5] over 100 of born-and-raised Territorians have played in the AFL and AFL Women's (AFLW). However, a significant percentage have launched their professional football careers from other states, particularly South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland. Two dynasties from the NT have together produced numerous prominent footballers: the Rioli and Long families. Australian Football Hall of Famer Maurice Rioli was known also for his career in the WAFL prior to playing in Victoria. Hall of Famer Andrew McLeod is often considered the most accomplished AFL player born and raised in the NT, and Hall of Famer Nathan Buckley is the only Territorian to win the Brownlow Medal. Darwin-born Shaun Burgoyne holds both the Territorian AFL games and goals records, with 407 games and 302 goals. Shaun Burgoyne and Cyril Rioli have played in 4 AFL premierships, more than any other Territorian. In the AFLW, Danielle Ponter of the Rioli-Long family is the most prominent NT player, having kicked the most goals and played the most games for a born and raised Territorian.
History
[edit]
Prior to separation from South Australia, during the 1870s and 1880s the local media reported almost equally on both Australian rules and rugby, there was a growing awareness of international rugby and also of both American football and soccer. Australian rules began to gain favour in the Northern Territory late 1880s due mainly to South Australia's involvement in intercolonials with Victoria. Apart from the difficulties presented by distance and population, attempts to form a local football club were hampered by the lack of an oval, with the only available oval in being by destroyed white ants.[6] Following separation from South Australia in 1911, association football was the first form of football played in the NT, with a match against British sailors from the HMS Prometheus taking place in 1912. However, there were insufficient local footballers to field a full team.[7]
Reuben Cooper Snr, an Iwaidja person, is credited with introducing Australian rules football in Darwin in 1915 after learning the game while boarding at St Peter's College, Adelaide.[8] The first rugby match was played on 3 February 1916, and an Australian rules match was also planned for that day but proved difficult to organise due to insufficient numbers.[9] The first recorded match of Australian rules football in Darwin was played on Saturday, 12 February 1916, on Darwin Town Oval between Red and Blue (32) and Red and White (20).[10] It was followed by a second match the following Saturday organised as a Red Cross fundraiser.[11] The NT Football Association was formed shortly thereafter with its first regular competition matches beginning in March 1916.[12]
The Northern Territory Football League chose to play in the Northern Territory's 'wet season', primarily due to hard playing surfaces during the 'dry season'. Games were played on the Esplanade or Town Oval.[13] Most other leagues in Australia operate during the winter, but since the NT does not have a winter, it is played at different times. The Wanderers Football Club were the founding members of the league in 1916.
Australian rules was introduced to Port Keats (now Wadeye) by Father Richard Docherty with the commencement of the local mission Werntek Nganayi in 1935.[14]
By 1940, football matches in Darwin were not only highly popular with the Indigenous community but also highly multicultural, with a high percentage of the crowd being Chinese.[15]
John Pye and Andy Howley introduced Australian rules football to the Tiwi Islands in 1941, which grew to become the most popular sport there.[16] Within a couple of decades, the major Australian leagues began to take an interest with the first player offered a contract being Joe Saturninas in 1955[17] followed by the more successful David Kantilla in the SANFL and later by Maurice Rioli in the VFL. Today, around a third of the Territorians in the national AFL are from the islands. The Tiwi Islands Football League is a strong competition which feeds players into the NTFL. Skills of the TIFL players are widely celebrated. The TIFL Grand Final is the largest event on the island and a major tourist drawcard.
The Central Australian Football Association began in 1947 and quickly became Alice Springs most popular sport.
In 1954, the NTFL moved from the ageing Darwin Town Oval to the newly opened Gardens Oval.[18]
It was established on the Goulburn Island at Warruwi in 1959.[19]
In 1974, the Gove Australian Football League began, establishing the sport in Arnhem Land and the Gove Peninsula. In 1988, competition began in the Katherine region with the establishment of the Katherine District Football League. At the inland townships of Tennant Creek and to a lesser extent Katherine, rugby league is popular due to it being established earlier (at Tennant Creek in the 1930s and Katherine in the 1960s) and the strong Queensland influence being close to the inland route between Queensland, Darwin and Alice Springs. Nevertheless, the Barkly Australian Football League was formed in 1991 to cater for increased popularity of Australian rules in the remote communities of the region.
In 1991, Marrara Oval was increased in capacity, and became the new home for the NTFL and AFL matches. The first AFL pre-season fixture between Collingwood and West Coast was played in February 1992 in front of a crowd of 11,000 spectators.[20]
In 1991, Darwin hosted the first Arafura Games, the first international competition to include Australian rules football, and local teams have competed against nations from around the world. The city has hosted the competition ever since.
Since the late 1990s, the Indigenous All-Stars have gained large support from Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory.
Recent history
[edit]
In 2000, the Tanami Football League was formed in the Yuendumu region.
In 2002, a record crowd of 17,500 attended an AFL pre-season practice between the Indigenous All-Stars and Carlton Football Club.
However, in a deal struck with the Northern Territory government, Melbourne based Western Bulldogs AFL side has played several home games a year at Marrara Oval.
The first NT women's league was founded in 2004 as a division of the NTFL in Darwin.
In 2004, Alice Springs main ground Traeger Park was re-developed and has hosted several AFL exhibition matches.
In 2007, a representative side began in earnest a campaign to join a major league, the SANFL, WAFL or QAFL with the new team split between Alice Springs and Darwin. A decision was reached in late 2008, with the Northern Territory Football Club, known as the Thunder, formed to field a team in the Queensland competition from the 2009 season onwards. The Thunder now play in the NEAFL, an elite competition for clubs from Queensland, New South Wales and Canberra as well as the reserve teams of four AFL clubs (Sydney, GWS Giants, Brisbane and Gold Coast).
In 2009, a league was established on Groote Eylandt which quickly became popular. In 2012, the Wilurrara Tjataku Football League was established due to the substantial obstacles faced by remote communities to travel to Alice Springs.[21]
In 2017, the AFL's Melbourne Football Club and Melbourne Cricket Club began a fundraiser to turf the desert football ground surface at Northern Territory home of the Ltyentye Apurte Community 80 km south east of Alice Springs. Completed in 2021, the softer ground helped establish a new league, the CAFL Country League Premiership.[22]
NT women will play a prominent role in the Crows team, with the teams playing under a combined Northern Territory/South Australia banner.[23] There are eight clubs in the competition. As of the start of 2017, these NT teams have contributed the following players:
- Wanderers: Sophie Armitstead, midfield/defender; Stevie-Lee Thompson, midfielder.
- Waratahs: Ange Foley, midfielder; Abbey Holmes, forward; Heather Anderson, defender; Lauren O'Shea defender/ruck.
- St Marys: Tayla Thorn, utility.
- Tracy Village: Sally Riley, utility.
- Darwin Buffaloes: Jasmine Anderson, midfielder.[24]
Competitions
[edit]
Club Competitions
[edit]Men's
[edit]| Active in competition |
Women's
[edit]| Active in competition |
| League | Years with NT clubs | Senior NT clubs | Divisions | Headquarters | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NTFL Women's | 2004- | 10 | 1 | Darwin | |
| EIFL Women's | 2011- | 4 | 1 | Galiwinku | |
| CAFL Women's | 2013- | 6 | 1 | Alice Springs | |
| BRFL Women's | 2022- | 4 | 1 | Katherine | |
| Wadeye Football League Women's | 2021- | 3 | 1 | Wadeye | |
| BAFL Women's | 2022- | 5 | 1 | Tennant Creek | |
| TIFL Women's | 2023- | 5 | 1 | Wurrumiyanga |
Juniors
[edit]| Active in competition |
| League | Years with NT clubs | NT clubs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NTFL Juniors (U12-U18) | 7 | ||
| CAFL Juniors (M U15, U18; F: U17) | 5 | ||
| CAFL Country League Juniors (M U15, U18; F: U16) | 6 | ||
| BAFL Juniors (Mixed U14; M: U17; F: U17) | 5 | ||
| BRFL Juniors (M: U12, U16) | 5 | ||
| Gapuwiyak Football League (M: U12, U17) | 2012-2013 | 4 | Held in Gapuwiyak |
| National Championships (U16) | 1979-2016 (M), 2017- (M & F) | 1 | Northern Territory Academy |
| National Championships (U18) | 1979-2016 (M) | 1 | Northern Territory Academy |
| Women's National Championships (U16, U18) | 2017- | 1 | Northern Territory Academy |
| Talent League Boys (M U19) | 2000-2016, 2021- | 1 | Northern Territory Academy |
| Talent League Girls (F U19) | 2021- | 1 | Northern Territory Academy |
Team of the Century
[edit]On 3 September 2016, the AFLNT named their team of the 20th century.[26]
| Backs: | Joel Bowden | Russell Jeffrey | Bill Dempsey |
| Half Backs: | Nathan Buckley | Michael Athanasiou | Michael McLean |
| Centres: | Michael Long | Andrew McLeod (c) | John Tye |
| Half Forwards: | Michael Graham | Joe Bonson | Maurice Rioli |
| Forwards: | Darryl White | Dennis Dunn | Clifford Lew Fatt |
| Followers: | David Kantilla | Reuben Cooper Sr | Cyril Rioli Jr |
| Interchange: | Gilbert McAdam | Jimmy Anderson | Walter Lew Fatt |
| Cyril Rioli Sr |
Coach of the Century: John Taylor.
Representative teams
[edit]The Northern Territory was represented in early Interstate matches in Australian rules football, before being incorporated into the QLD/NT and then Australian Alliance representative sides. They won the Australian National Football Carnival (Div 2) Championship in 1988.
At Under 16 and Under 18 level, the NT fields teams in the national championships.
The Indigenous All-Stars, a team composed of indigenous Australian players mostly from the AFL and all over the country, are based in Darwin. Darwin is also home of the Flying Boomerangs, the junior indigenous side, which has toured the world to play matches against other countries.
Audience
[edit]Attendance record
[edit]- 17,500 (Aboriginal All-Stars vs Carlton; 2002; AFL pre-season practice; Marrara Oval, Darwin)
Major Australian rules events in the Northern Territory
[edit]- Northern Territory Football League Grand Final
- Tiwi Islands Football League Grand Final
- Arafura Games (quadrennial)
- Australian Football League Premiership Season (Melbourne 'home' games)
Players
[edit]Participation
[edit]According to Ausplay, participation in the NT has declined rapidly in recent years, from over 10,000 participants and 7% per capita participation to just over 7,000 and 3.6% in just a few years.[1]
In 2017, AFLNT reported 44,729 direct participants in Australian rules football through official competitions or programs, which makes up 18% of the NT population. There are also around 15,000 more participants in AFL promotional activities.[citation needed]
Around half of all participants are in non-metropolitan areas of the Northern Territory, and a growing 34% of participants are women.[27]
The Tiwi Islands is said to have the highest participation rate in Australia (35%) [1].
| Registered players | |
|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 2023/24 |
| 10,021[28] | 7,158[1] |
Greats
[edit]The Northern Territory has produced a disproportionate amount of talent for elite leagues such as the Australian Football League, South Australian National Football League and West Australian Football League, including many Indigenous Australian players.
Territorian Hall of Famers include: Maurice Rioli, Michael Long, Andrew McLeod and Nathan Buckley.
Notable Territorian players in the AFL include: Shaun Burgoyne, Michael McLean, Daryl White, Aaron Davey, Cyril Rioli, Joel Bowden, Brad Ottens, Mathew Stokes, Ronnie Burns, Peter Burgoyne, David Kantilla, Jared Brennan, Matthew Whelan, Daniel Motlop, Richard Tambling, Gilbert McAdam, Fabian Francis, Xavier Clarke and Dean Rioli.
Other greats who did not play in the AFL include Bill Dempsey, Michael Graham and David Kantilla.
-
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti is from the Tiwi Islands -
Steven Motlop is from Darwin -
Shaun Burgoyne was born in Darwin -
Cyril Rioli is from the Tiwi Islands -
Mathew Stokes is from Darwin -
Alwyn Davey is from Darwin -
Richard Tambling is from Darwin -
Aaron Davey is from Darwin -
Jared Brennan is from Darwin -
Xavier Clarke is from Darwin -
Daniel Motlop is from Darwin -
Brad Ottens was raised in Katherine -
Andrew McLeod is from Darwin -
Matthew Whelan is from Darwin -
Peter Burgoyne is from Darwin -
Joel Bowden lived in Alice Springs -
Nathan Buckley lived in Darwin -
Michael Long is from the Tiwi Islands -
Gilbert McAdam is from Alice Springs
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Men's
[edit]AFL players from the NT
[edit]-
Maurice Rioli Jr is from the Tiwi Islands -
Keidean Coleman was born in Katherine -
Zac Bailey was raised in Darwin -
Brandan Parfitt is from Darwin -
Steven May is from Darwin -
Ben Long is from the Tiwi Islands -
Willie Rioli is from the Tiwi Islands -
Jed Anderson is from Katherine -
Daniel Rioli is from the Tiwi Islands
_16.04.21.jpg)
| Player | NT junior/senior club/s | Representative honours | AFL years | AFL games | AFL goals | Connections to Northern Territory, notes and references |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Snell | Southern Districts, Northern Territory Academy | 2024- | - | - | Born, raised in Darwin | |
| Andy Moniz-Wakefield | Nightcliff, Northern Territory Academy | 2024- | 1 | - | Raised in Darwin | |
| Lloyd Johnston | Wanderers, Northern Territory Academy | 2023- | 9 | 3 | Raised in Borroloola (Yanyuwa, Garrwa) | |
| Jack Peris | Nightcliff, Northern Territory Academy | 2023- | 1 | - | Raised in Darwin | |
| Alwyn Davey Jr. | Palmerston, Northern Territory Academy | 2023- | 20 | 9 | Born and raised in Darwin | |
| Jesse Motlop | Wanderers | 2022- | 33 | 26 | Raised in Darwin | |
| Maurice Rioli Jr | St Mary's | U16 (2017, 2018), U18 (2019) | 2021- | 11 | 11 | Raised in Pirlangimpi, Melville Island, Tiwi Islands and Darwin |
| Joel Jeffrey | Darwin, NT Thunder | 2021- | 4 | 2 | Born and raised in Darwin (Wulwulam) | |
| Malcolm Rosas Jr | Darwin, NT Thunder | 2020- | 7 | 4 | Born and raised in Darwin (Ngalakgan, Rembarrnga) | |
| Keidean Coleman | - | 2020- | 17 | 8 | Born in Katherine, raised in Barunga (Dalabon, Jawoyn) | |
| Sam Walsh | Nightcliff | U12 | 2019- | 98 | 37 | Played junior football |
| Willie Rioli | - | 2018- | 40 | 51 | Born and raised on Tiwi Islands | |
| Zac Bailey | Southern Districts | 2018- | 79 | 72 | Raised in Darwin | |
| Brandan Parfitt | Nightcliff, Northern Territory Academy | 2017- | 95 | 41 | Born and raised in Darwin (Warumungu, Larrakia) | |
| Ben Long | St Mary's, Northern Territory Academy | 2017- | 64 | 26 | Born in Darwin, raised on Tiwi Islands (Anmatyerr, Malak-Malak and Tiwi) | |
| Ryan Nyhuis | Nightcliff, Northern Territory Academy | 2017-2019 | 17 | 5 | Raised in Darwin | |
| Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti | Tiwi Bombers | U18 (2011, 2012) | 2016-2023 | 133 | 157 | Born and raised on Tiwi Islands |
| Daniel Rioli | St Mary's | 2016- | 123 | 90 | Raised on Tiwi Islands | |
| Jake Long | St Mary's, Northern Territory Academy | 2016-2019 | 5 | 1 | Raised in Darwin (Anmatyerr) | |
| Nakia Cockatoo | Humpty Doo Bombers, Southern Districts, Northern Territory Academy | 2015- | 38 | 30 | Raised at Humpty Doo (Iwaidja, Marrithiyal) | |
| Jake Neade | - | U18 (2012) | 2013-2018 | 66 | 55 | Born and raised in Elliot (Jingili) |
| Jed Anderson | Northern Territory Academy | 2013- | 85 | 29 | Born and raised in Katherine (Warumungu) | |
| Dom Barry | Federal | 2013-2018 | 10 | 0 | Raised in Alice Springs | |
| Curtly Hampton | Pioneer, NT Thunder | 2012-2018 | 60 | 12 | Raised in Alice Springs and Darwin (NT Zone Selection) (Warlpiri, Arrente) | |
| Shaun Edwards | St Mary's | 2012-2017 | 24 | 10 | Raised in Darwin (Larrakia) | |
| Steven May | Southern Districts | U18 (2010) | 2011- | 179 | 23 | Born and raised in Darwin (Larrakia) |
| Steven Motlop | Wanderers | U18 (2008) | 2011- | 212 | 228 | Raised in Darwin (Larrakia) |
| Liam Patrick | Lajamanu, Wanderers | 2011-2013 | 13 | 6 | Born and raised in Lajamanu | |
| Allen Christensen | St Mary's | 2010-2020 | 133 | 114 | Raised in Darwin | |
| Troy Taylor | South Alice Springs | 2010 | 4 | 3 | Born and raised in Alice Springs | |
| Relton Roberts | Arnhem, Wanderers, NT Thunder | 2010 | 2 | 0 | Born in Ngukurr and raised in Katherine and Darwin | |
| Liam Jurrah | Yuendumu, Nightcliff | 2009-2012 | 36 | 81 | Born and raised in Yuendumu | |
| Cyril Rioli | St Mary's | U16 (2005) | 2008-2018 | 189 | 275 | Born and raised on Tiwi Islands and Darwin |
| Austin Wonaeamirri | Muluwurri, St Mary's, Tiwi Bombers | U18 (2007) | 2008-2011 | 31 | 37 | Born and raised on Tiwi Islands and Darwin |
| Marlon Motlop | Wanderers | 2008-2011 | 5 | 2 | Born and raised in Darwin | |
| Cameron Stokes | Darwin | 2008-2010 | 20 | 8 | Raised in Darwin | |
| Alwyn Davey | Palmerston | 2000 | 2007-2013 | 100 | 120 | Born and raised in Darwin |
| Nathan Djerrkura | Wanderers | U18 (2006) | 2007-2012 | 25 | 8 | Born and raised in Yirrkala |
| Matt Campbell | - | 2007-2012 | 82 | 79 | Born and raised in Alice Springs | |
| Malcolm Lynch | - | 2007 | 2 | 0 | Born and raised in the Tiwi Islands | |
| Joe Anderson | Darwin | 2007-2010 | 12 | 0 | Born and raised in Darwin | |
| Mathew Stokes | Palmerston | U16 (2005) | 2006-2016 | 200 | 209 | Born and raised in Darwin (Larrakia) |
| Richard Tambling | Southern Districts | 2005-2013 | 124 | 62 | Born in Northern Territory, raised in Jabiru and Darwin | |
| Tom Logan | Waratah | 2004-2014 | 117 | 27 | Raised in Darwin | |
| Aaron Davey | Palmerston | 2004-2013 | 178 | 174 | Born and raised in Darwin | |
| Raphael Clarke | St Mary's | 2004-2012 | 86 | 9 | Born in Yirrkala and raised in Darwin | |
| Anthony Corrie | Nightcliff | 2004-2010 | 56 | 50 | Born and raised in Darwin | |
| Jared Brennan | Southern Districts | U18 (2002 c) | 2003-2013 | 173 | 101 | Raised in Darwin |
| Trent Hentschel | Palmerston | 2003-2010 | 71 | 94 | Raised in Darwin | |
| Jason Roe | Nightcliff | 2003-2009 | 50 | 7 | Born and raised in Darwin | |
| Richard Cole | Pioneer | 2002-2007 | 63 | 6 | Raised in Alice Springs | |
| Xavier Clarke | St Mary's | 2002-2011 | 106 | 49 | Raised in Darwin | |
| Shaun Burgoyne | - | 2001-2021 | 407 | 302 | Born in Darwin (Awarai) | |
| Daniel Motlop | Wanderers | 2001-2011 | 130 | 208 | Born in Darwin | |
| Patrick Bowden | Rovers | 2001-2007 | 75 | 70 | Raised in Alice Springs | |
| Aaron Shattock | Southern Districts | 2000-2006 | 68 | 16 | Raised in Darwin | |
| Matthew Whelan | Darwin | 2000-2009 | 150 | 15 | Born and raised in Darwin | |
| Shannon Rusca | Southern Districts | 2000-2002 | 2 | 0 | Raised in Darwin | |
| Shannon Motlop | Wanderers | 1999-2006 | 64 | 36 | Born and raised on Tiwi Islands and Darwin | |
| Dean Rioli | Waratah | 1999-2006 | 100 | 91 | Born and raised on Tiwi Islands | |
| Fred Campbell | Pioneer | 1999-2000 | 12 | 7 | Raised in Alice Springs | |
| Brad Ottens | - | 1998-2011 | 245 | 261 | Raised in Katherine | |
| Peter Burgoyne | St Mary's | U18 (1995) | 1997-2009 | 240 | 193 | Raised in Darwin |
| Joel Bowden | West Alice Springs | U18 (1993) | 1996-2009 | 265 | 171 | Raised in Alice Springs |
| Steven Koops | Southern Districts | 1996-2005 | 89 | 49 | Raised in Darwin | |
| Ronnie Burns | St Mary's | 1996-2004 | 154 | 262 | Raised in Pirlangimpi, Melville Island, Tiwi Islands and Darwin | |
| Mark West | Darwin | 1996-1998 | 16 | 3 | Raised in Darwin | |
| Gary Dhurrkay | Wanderers | 1995-2000 | 72 | 66 | Raised in Darwin | |
| Scott Chisolm | St Mary's | 1995-2000 | 81 | 33 | Raised in Darwin | |
| Andrew Mcleod | Darwin | U18 (1993) | 1995-2010 | 340 | 275 | Born and raised in Darwin and Katherine (Wardaman) |
| Robert Ahmat | Darwin | 1995-2001 | 67 | 68 | Raised in Darwin | |
| Shawn Lewfatt | Darwin | 1995 | 3 | 2 | Raised in Darwin | |
| Warren Campbell | St Mary's | 1994-1995 | 19 | 17 | Born and raised in Darwin | |
| Lachlan Ross | West Alice Springs | 1994 | 2 | 1 | Raised in Alice Springs | |
| Nathan Buckley | Nightcliff, Southern Districts | U18 (1983, 1984), QLD/NT (1993) | 1993-2007 | 280 | 284 | Raised in Darwin |
| Adrian McAdam | Southern Districts | NT (c) | 1993-1995 | 36 | 92 | Born and raised in Alice Springs and Darwin |
| Daryl White | Pioneer | U18 (1990), QLD/NT (1993) | 1992-2005 | 268 | 165 | Born and raised in Alice Springs (Arrernte) |
| Adam Kerinaiua | North Darwin | 1992 | 3 | 1 | Born and raised on Tiwi Islands | |
| Fabian Francis | Southern Districts | QLD/NT (1993) | 1991-2000 | 109 | 61 | Born and raised in Darwin |
| Allen Jakovich | Southern Districts | 1991-1996 | 54 | 208 | Lived there, played in NTFL prior to AFL career | |
| Gilbert McAdam | Southern Districts | QLD/NT (1993) | 1991-1996 | 111 | 89 | Born and raised in Alice Springs and Darwin |
| Matthew Ahmat | Darwin | 1991-1994 | 8 | 1 | Born and raised in Alice Springs and Darwin | |
| Brian Stanislaus | St Mary's | 1991 | 1 | 0 | Born and raised on the Tiwi Islands | |
| Michael Long | St Mary's | 1988, QLD/NT (1993) | 1989-2001 | 190 | 143 | Born and raised on Tiwi Islands |
| Kevin Caton | Darwin | 1988 | 1988-1991 | 18 | 18 | Raised in Darwin |
| Bob Jones | Waratah | 1988 | 1988-1989 | 20 | 2 | Raised in Darwin |
| Greg McAdam | - | 1985 | 10 | 13 | Born in Alice Springs | |
| Russell Jeffrey | St Mary's, Wanderers | 1988 | 1987-1992 | 50 | 4 | Raised in Darwin |
| Michael McLean | Nightcliff | 1988, QLD/NT (1993 vc) | 1983-1997 | 184 | 40 | Born and raised in Darwin |
| Maurice Rioli | St Mary's | 1988 (3 caps) | 1982-1987 | 118 | 80 | Born and raised on Tiwi Islands and Darwin |
| Kelly O'Donnell | Nightcliff | 1988 | 1979-1984 | 80 | 67 | Lived there |
| Reuben Cooper | Darwin | 1969 | 2 | 0 | Born and raised in Darwin | |
| Elkin Reilly | - | 1962-1966 | 51 | 2 | Born in Alpurrurulam |
Women's
[edit]Without a local AFLW club, the NT government had an investment partnership with Adelaide women's club between 2017 and 2019 and the club played home games in NT. Early in the AFLW many of the women's players started their career in Adelaide with the Adelaide Crows until the introduction of expansion clubs. As such there was a very strong NT influence in the early years of the Adelaide women's side.
AFLW players from the NT
[edit]-
Danielle Ponter is from Darwin -
Jasmyn Hewett lived in Darwin -
Ange Foley lived in Darwin -
Stevie-Lee Thompson lived in Darwin
| Player | NT junior/senior club/s | Representative honours | AFLW Draft | Selection | AFLW years | AFLW games | AFLW goals | Connections to Northern Territory, notes and references |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annabel Kievit | Waratah | 2023 | #52 | 2024- | 1 | 0 | Raised in Darwin | |
| Mattea Breed | Darwin, NT Thunder | 2023 (Supplementary) | Supplementary (#4) | 2023- | 9 | 1 | Raised in Darwin (Tiwi) | |
| Ashanti Bush | NT Thunder | 2021 | #8 | 2022- | 10 | 2 | Born and raised in Wugularr and Darwin (Maiawali, Iwaidja, Yolngu) | |
| Janet Baird | Palmerston, NT Thunder | 2020 | #54 | 2021- | 4 | 0 | Raised in Arnhem Land (Tiwi) | |
| Stephanie Williams | Darwin | 2020 | #27 | 2021- | 13 | 2 | Born in Darwin, raised in Mandorah (Larrakia) | |
| Danielle Ponter | St Mary's | 2018 | #48 | 2019- | 59 | 66 | Born and raised in Darwin (Marranunggu, Tiwi and Anmatyerr) | |
| Jordann Hickey | NT Thunder | 2018 | #31 | 2019-2021 | 9 | 1 | Raised in Alice Springs | |
| Jasmyn Hewett | St Mary's | 2017 | #16 | 2018- | 16 | 3 | Lived in Darwin | |
| Stevie-Lee Thompson | Wanderers | 2016 | #106 | 2017- | 75 | 24 | Lived in Darwin | |
| Ange Foley | Waratah | 2016 | Priority selection | 2017- | 61 | 6 | Lived in Darwin | |
| Abbey Holmes | Waratah | 2016 | #103 | 2017-2018 | 11 | 3 | Lived in Darwin | |
| Alicia Janz | - | 2017-2021 | 20 | 0 | Born in Katherine | |||
| Sally Riley | Tracy Village | 2016 | #39 | 2017-2021 | 14 | 4 | Raised in Darwin | |
| Tayla Thorn | Southern Districts | 2016 | #90 | 2017-2020 | 8 | 0 | Born and raised in Humpty Doo (Iwaidja) | |
| Sophie Armitstead | Wanderers | 2016 | #55 | 2017-2018 | 4 | 0 | Raised in Darwin | |
| Heather Anderson | Waratah | 2016 | #10 | 2017 | 8 | 0 | Lived in and recruited from Darwin |
Principal venues
[edit]| Darwin | Alice Springs | Darwin |
|---|---|---|
| Marrara Oval | Traeger Park | Gardens Oval |
| Capacity: 14,000 | Capacity: 10,000 | Capacity: Unknown |
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See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Commission, Australian Sports Commission; jurisdiction=Commonwealth of Australia; corporateName=Australian Sports. "AusPlay results". Sport Australia. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Participation rates in the NT is greatest of all". AFL Northern Territory. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ AFLW Dreamtime heads to Darwin By essendonfc.com.au 31 May 2024
- ^ Northern Territory AFL taskforce pushes ahead with ambitious bid to establish locally-based team By Housnia Shams for ABC News 16 Apr 2022
- ^ Morris, Grey (9 May 2008). "First of NT's legion of stars". Northern Territory News.
- ^ "The North Australian". North Australian (Darwin). Vol. VI, no. 5. Northern Territory, Australia. 30 June 1888. p. 2. Retrieved 11 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "NEWS & NOTES". Northern Territory Times and Gazette. Vol. XXXVII, no. 1991. Northern Territory, Australia. 5 January 1912. p. 3. Retrieved 11 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ ABORIGINAL HISTORY 1992 pg 17. Editors: John Mulvaney, Peter Grimshaw.
- ^ "Monday's Football Match". Northern Territory Times and Gazette. Vol. XL, no. 2203. Northern Territory, Australia. 27 January 1916. p. 18. Retrieved 11 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Football Match". Northern Territory Times and Gazette. Vol. XL, no. 2206. Northern Territory, Australia. 17 February 1916. p. 7. Retrieved 11 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Classified Advertising". Northern Territory Times and Gazette. Vol. XL, no. 2206. Northern Territory, Australia. 17 February 1916. p. 10. Retrieved 11 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Classified Advertising". Northern Territory Times and Gazette. Vol. XL, no. 2209. Northern Territory, Australia. 9 March 1916. p. 13. Retrieved 11 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "AFL NT" (PDF). Northern Territory Football League. December 1995. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
- ^ The True Magic Of Wadeye by Wesley Hull for the Footy Almanac 7 January 2015
- ^ "In Darwin Football Is Different". The Herald. No. 19599. Victoria, Australia. 9 March 1940. p. 35. Retrieved 1 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Football No. 1 Sport' For Island Natives". The Daily News. Vol. LXVI, no. 22, 861. Western Australia. 19 July 1948. p. 3 (HOME). Retrieved 17 May 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Adelaide Offer To Aboriginal Footballer". The Canberra Times. Vol. 29, no. 8, 548. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 28 May 1955. p. 8. Retrieved 17 May 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Easy Wins in Aussie Rifles Opening". Northern Standard. Vol. 9, no. 31. Northern Territory, Australia. 28 October 1954. p. 3. Retrieved 5 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Football teams, Warruwi, Goulburn Island. Swain, Colin. Photo number: PH0049/0333 https://hdl.handle.net/10070/856439
- ^ "Matthews angry at trek north to lose". The Canberra Times. Vol. 66, no. 20, 756. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 10 February 1992. p. 21. Retrieved 3 May 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ History of the Wilurrara Tjataku Football League
- ^ Grassy CAFL Country League debut on Santa Teresa Oval from Melbourne Crisket Club 20th June, 2021
- ^ McGowan, Marc (27 December 2016). "St Mary's and Federal win flags while Territory Thunder makes a change at the top". ntnews.com.au.
- ^ "AFL Women's Quick Guide". afc.com.au. 12 January 2017.
- ^ Remote community Ramingining gets its footy competition back after five-year hiatus By Emilia Terzon from ABC Radio Darwin 16 February 2016
- ^ McLeod captain, Riolis prominent in AFLNT Team of Century
- ^ "Participation rates in the NT is greatest of all". AFL Northern Territory. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ AUSPlay Australian Football in NT
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