Northern Territory Football League
Encyclopedia
The Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) is an 8 team Australian rules football
semi-professional league operating in Darwin
in the Northern Territory
.
The premier grade is the largest Australian rules football league in the Northern Territory. The league consists of a single division with under 14, under 16, under 18, reserves and open (professional) levels of competition.
Most NTFL matches are played on Marrara Oval
(TIO Stadium).
The NTFL regularly attracts high profile profile semi-professional players from interstate leagues due to its lack of salary cap and its season which allowing players to extend their playing season into their off-season.
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 does not have a winter, it is 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 as North Darwin.
Southern Districts entered the league in 1987.
Tiwi Bombers entered 2006 with full entry in 2007
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 was 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.
The NTFL became an 8 team competition in the (07/08) with the full time inclusion of the Bombers.
However, the governing body of the NTFL decided on fielding a side in the AFL Queensland State League from 2009 and the Northern Territory Football Club was formed.
The 2005 Grand final attracted a crowd of over 5,000 people.
One of the biggest crowds was the 2010/11 Grand Final between St Mary's and Wanderers, with the Muk Muks(wanderers) prevailing with a 28 point win, which attracted a over 9,000 strong crowd.
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.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
semi-professional league operating in Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
in the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
.
The premier grade is the largest Australian rules football league in the Northern Territory. The league consists of a single division with under 14, under 16, under 18, reserves and open (professional) levels of competition.
Most NTFL matches are played on Marrara Oval
Marrara Oval
Marrara Stadium is a sports ground in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The ground was built in 1991 and Australian rules football and Cricket are primarily played at the venue...
(TIO Stadium).
The NTFL regularly attracts high profile profile semi-professional players from interstate leagues due to its lack of salary cap and its season which allowing players to extend their playing season into their off-season.
Current clubs
| Club | Nickname | Home Ground | Entered competition |
Premierships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Marys St Marys Football Club The St Marys Football Club, nicknamed, Saints, formed in 1952 is a member club of the Northern Territory Football League. It is famous for its record of success, with 28 NTFL premierships and 55 out of 57 possible final appearances.... |
Saints | Marrara Oval Marrara Oval Marrara Stadium is a sports ground in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The ground was built in 1991 and Australian rules football and Cricket are primarily played at the venue... |
1952 | 28 |
| Nightcliff Nightcliff Football Club The Nightcliff Football Club, nicknamed, Tigers, is a member club of the Northern Territory Football League, and is based in the Darwin suburb of Nightcliff.-History:The club was formed in 1950.It was formally known as Working & Housing.... |
Tigers | Nightcliff Oval | 1950 | 3 |
| Darwin Darwin Football Club The Darwin Football Club, nicknamed, Buffaloes, is a member club of the Northern Territory Football League.-History:The club was formed in 1917.The Buffaloes won the 2005/06 NTFL Grand Final.Gilbert McAdam was coach for the 2006/07 season.... |
Buffaloes | Tiwi Oval | 1917 | 23 |
| Wanderers Wanderers Football Club The Wanderers Football Club, nicknamed, Eagles, is a member club of the Northern Territory Football League.-History:The club was formed in 1916 and was a founding member of the NTFL.It has produced AFL players such as Shannon Motlop and Bruce Dwyer.... |
Eagles | TIO Stadium | 1917 | 12 |
| Waratah Waratah Football Club The Waratah Football Club, nicknamed, Warriors, is a member club of the Northern Territory Football League.-External links:**... |
Warriors | Gardens Oval Gardens Oval Gardens Oval is a cricket ground in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The first recorded match on the ground came in 2002 when Northern Territory played Queensland Academy of Sport. The ground held its only first-class match in 2006 when the touring Indians against New Zealand Whites... |
1917 | 14 |
| Palmerston Palmerston Football Club The Palmerston Football Club, nicknamed, Magpies, is a member club of the Northern Territory Football League.-History:The Palmerston Magpies Football Club began in 1970 and was originally known as the Internationals. At that time most players were English and Greek soccer players... |
Magpies | Southern Cross Oval | 1971 | 3 |
| Southern Districts Southern Districts Football Club The Southern Districts Football Club, nicknamed, Crocs, is an Australian rules football club established in 1981. The club plays in the Northern Territory Football League at semi-professional level.... |
Crocs | Norbuilt Oval | 1984 | 2 |
| Wadeye | The Magic | Wadeye Oval | 2011 | 0 |
| Tiwi Bombers | Bombers | Marrara Oval Marrara Oval Marrara Stadium is a sports ground in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The ground was built in 1991 and Australian rules football and Cricket are primarily played at the venue... |
2007 | 0 |
History
- See Australian rules football in the Northern TerritoryAustralian rules football in the Northern TerritoryAustralian rules football in the Northern Territory has a history dating back to the 1910s and is the most popular sport in the territory, particularly with indigenous Australian communities in Darwin, Alice Springs and the Tiwi Islands....
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 does not have a winter, it is 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 as North Darwin.
Southern Districts entered the league in 1987.
Tiwi Bombers entered 2006 with full entry in 2007
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
Marrara Oval
Marrara Stadium is a sports ground in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The ground was built in 1991 and Australian rules football and Cricket are primarily played at the venue...
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
Michael McLean (footballer)
Michael "Magic" McLean is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played with both Footscray and Brisbane in the VFL/AFL.- Early life :...
, Maurice Rioli
Maurice Rioli
Maurice Rioli was an Australian rules football player best known for his time spent with the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football League...
and Michael Long.
In 2006, it was announced that a team representing the Tiwi Islands
Tiwi Islands
The Tiwi Islands are part of Australia's Northern Territory, north of Darwin where the Arafura Sea joins the Timor Sea. They comprise Melville Island and Bathurst Island, with a combined area of ....
, 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 was 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
Marrara Oval
Marrara Stadium is a sports ground in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The ground was built in 1991 and Australian rules football and Cricket are primarily played at the venue...
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.
The NTFL became an 8 team competition in the (07/08) with the full time inclusion of the Bombers.
However, the governing body of the NTFL decided on fielding a side in the AFL Queensland State League from 2009 and the Northern Territory Football Club was formed.
Attendance
The NTFL attracts strong local crowds.The 2005 Grand final attracted a crowd of over 5,000 people.
One of the biggest crowds was the 2010/11 Grand Final between St Mary's and Wanderers, with the Muk Muks(wanderers) prevailing with a 28 point win, which attracted a over 9,000 strong crowd.
Television
In 2006, NTFL matches were broadcast nationally for the first time ever on ABC2ABC2
ABC2 is a national public television channel in Australia. Launched on 7 March 2005, it is the responsibility of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's television division, and is available nationally to digital television viewers in Australia...
each Sunday afternoon from February to March. Previously the matches had only been shown in the Territory on ABC Darwin
ABD (TV station)
ABD is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's television station in Darwin, Northern Territory. The station was the first to go to air in Darwin, on 13 August 1971. Its studios are located in the inner city of Darwin, with analog transmitter on Blake Street and digital transmitter on Deloraine...
. In 2008, it reverted to local broadcasting.