Northern Territory Football League
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) is an
Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...
semi-professional league operating in Darwin in the
Northern Territory The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...
. The league is one of few (and the highest level) Australian Rules competitions played during the Australian Summer with the season beginning in October and ending in March, because cricket cannot be played during the wet season, due to high levels of rain, resulting in the football and cricket seasons being swapped. The league regularly attracts high-profile semi-professional players from interstate leagues due to its lack of salary cap and the timing of the season, which allows players to play extra matches during the rest of Australia's off-season.


History

While most other Australian rules leagues in Australia operate during the southern hemisphere winter, the NTFL chooses to play in the Northern Territory's 'wet season' from October to March, primarily due to hard playing surfaces during the 'dry season'. The NTFL was founded in 1916 with The Wanderers Football Club and Waratah Football Club as founding members. Waratahs are the only club to have competed in every season of the NTFL. Darwin (Buffalos Football Club) was formed in 1917, Nightcliff in 1950, St Marys in 1952, Palmerston in 1972 (as North Darwin), Southern Districts in 1987 and the Tiwi Bombers in 2006 (with full entry in 2007). The 1974-75 season was abandoned due to
Cyclone Tracy Cyclone Tracy was a tropical cyclone that devastated the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, from 24 to 26 December 1974. The small, developing easterly storm had been observed passing clear of the city initially, but then turned t ...
. 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, currently branded TIO Stadium under a naming rights agreement (and previously also known as Football Park), is a sports ground in Darwin, the capital of Australia's Northern Territory. The ground primarily hosts Australian rules ...
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 Maurice Joseph Rioli Sr. (1 September 195725 December 2010) was an Australian rules footballer who represented St Mary's Football Club in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL), in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) and in th ...
and Michael Long. In 2006, it was announced that a team representing the
Tiwi Islands The Tiwi Islands ( tiw, Ratuati Irara meaning "two islands") are part of the Northern Territory, Australia, to the north of Darwin adjoining the Timor Sea. They comprise Melville Island, Bathurst Island, and nine smaller uninhabited islands, wi ...
, called the ''Super Tiwis'' would be added to the 2006/07 season for eight games against teams that would normally have the bye. They became 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 Adelaide-based
South Australian National Football League The South Australian National Football League, or SANFL ( or ''S-A-N-F-L''), is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the state's governing body for the sport. Originally formed as 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, currently branded TIO Stadium under a naming rights agreement (and previously also known as Football Park), is a sports ground in Darwin, the capital of Australia's Northern Territory. The ground primarily hosts Australian rules ...
witnessed SANFL club
North Adelaide North Adelaide is a predominantly residential precinct and suburb of the City of Adelaide in South Australia, situated north of the River Torrens and within the Adelaide Park Lands. History Surveyor-General Colonel William Light of the colo ...
defeat a composite NTFL squad by 27 points, demonstrating that a Darwin team could be competitive. There was a push to make the event an annual match,NTFL vs North Adelaide
/ref> however, the NTFL decided on fielding a side in the
AFL Queensland AFL Queensland (AFLQ) is the governing body of Australian rules football in Queensland. AFL Queensland has over 216,000 participants (including Northern Rivers which is governed by AFLQ) playing at all levels of football from the introductory N ...
State League from 2009 (which became the Northern Conference of the
North East Australian Football League The North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) was an Australian rules football league in New South Wales, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. The league was formed in November 2010, and its inaugural co ...
in 2011) and the
Northern Territory Football Club Northern Territory Football Club, nicknamed NT Thunder, was a Northern Territory-based Australian rules football club that competed in the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) between 2011 and 2019. It also competed in the VFL Women's in ...
was formed. In 2010 it was decided to merge the NTFL with the
Top End Australian Football Association The Top End Australian Football Association (TEAFA) was an amateur Australian rules football competition in the Northern Territory, Australia. More recently in 2010/11, the TEAFA merged with the NTFL creating a three tiered competition with team ...
(TEAFA) to create a three division competition in which the NTFL would make the Premier League whilst the NTFL reserve competition and clubs from the TEAFA would incorporate the First Division and Second Divisions. The 2012/2013 season saw Banks Bulldogs and the Central Australian Football Club placed on a four-match trial in the Premier League, for possible full-time inclusion. The Bulldogs, originally a part of the TEAFA competition, would stay in the NTFL Division One competition. But the CAFC team would continue their trial run in the Premier League, the number of games extended to 10 for the 2013/2014 season. However, the side did not become a permanent team in the competition.


League structure

The league consists of both junior and senior divisions. The A Grade competition is known as the NTFL Men's Premier League and includes eight clubs (Darwin, Nightcliff, Palmerston, Southern Districts, St Mary's, Tiwi Bombers, Wanderers, and Waratah). The reserves are divided into two divisions known as Division 1 (B Grade) and Division 2 (C Grade). Division one includes all Premier League clubs, excluding the Tiwi Bombers, and four other clubs which were formerly in the TEAFA competition (Banks, PINT, Tracy Village, and University). Division 2 consists of nine clubs with the inclusion of Jabiru. The A Grade Women's competition consists of eight clubs, including all Premier League clubs, except for the Tiwi Bombers replaced by Tracy Village. The junior division is broken into age groups, under 18's, under 16's, youth girls, under 14's, and under 12's, with all age groups split into two divisions, except for under 18's and youth girls. Under 18's is the only junior division with a fixed number of clubs, including all Premier League clubs, except for the Tiwi Bombers replaced by Big River Hawks. The rest of the junior divisions vary based on participation levels each year, however, the clubs with juniors are all the Premier League clubs and Tracy Village.


Clubs


Current clubs

Premier League Clubs Division One/Two Clubs


Former Clubs


Former Premier League Clubs


Coverage


Media


Television

In 2006, NTFL premier league matches were broadcast nationally for the first time ever on
ABC2 ABC TV Plus (formerly ABC2 and ABC Comedy) is an Australian free-to-air television channel owned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and part of its ABC Television network. The channel broadcasts a range of general entertainment progra ...
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. During the 2014/15 season, the Saturday 3.00pm premier league match was broadcast live on ABC in Darwin. During the 2017/18 season, Southern Cross TV broadcast one game a week on Sunday afternoons. Since then National Indigenous Television (NITV) broadcasts nationally replays of one game a week throughout the week starting Sunday afternoons.


Radio

During the 2014/15 season, one premier league match was broadcast on
ABC Local Radio ABC Local Radio is a network of publicly owned radio stations in Australia, operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC Local Radio stations broadcast across the continent using terrestrial transmitters and satellites. Its programm ...
, the match was either the late or early Saturday game and was an alternate match to the TV-broadcast game. In 2017/18, ABC will continue to broadcast one game a week on the digital radio frequency 105.7FM with a commentary team including Dominic McCormack, Natasha Medbury and Kieran Davis.


Internet

Internet broadcasting commenced through
YouTube YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
during the 2012/2013 season, followed by its inclusion on the ABC iView on-demand service the 2013/2014 season which uses the recordings taken from the match day broadcast. The TV broadcast match was simulcast live on ABC Grandstand on YouTube during the 2014/15 season.


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 Wanderers prevailing with a 28-point win, which attracted an over 9,000 crowd.


Premier tally


Wooden Spoon tally


Competition timeline

ImageSize = width:1400 height:580 PlotArea = width:800 height:500 left:130 bottom:50 AlignBars = late BarData= bar:KR text:Katherine bar:WN text:Winnellie bar:GS text:Garrison bar:RM text:Rovers/Magpies bar:MF text:Mobile Force bar:AF text:Air Force bar:NY text:Navy bar:WA text:Wallabies bar:MW text:Magpies/Wanderers bar:WW text:Waratah bar:WE text:Wanderers bar:TB text:Tiwi Bombers bar:SM text:St Mary's bar:SD text:Southern Districts bar:PM text:Palmerston bar:NT text:Nightcliff bar:DB text:Darwin Colors = id:grey value:gray(0.4) id:lgrey value:gray(0.8) id:vlgrey value:gray(0.95) id:premier value:brightblue legend:Premier id:spoon value:rgb(0.7,0.3,0.3) legend:Last_place id:rup value:powderblue legend:Runner_Up id:minor value:orange # legend:Minor_Premier # need more data id:rup&minor value:lightpurple # legend:R-Up&Minor_Premier # need more data DateFormat = yyyy Period = from:1916 till:2022 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:10 start:1916 gridcolor:lgrey ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1916 gridcolor:vlgrey PlotData= color:lgrey width:12 bar:KR from:1987 till:1988 bar:DB from:1916 till:1942 bar:DB from:1946 till:end bar:NT from:1950 till:end bar:PM from:1972 till:end bar:SD from:1987 till:end bar:SM from:1952 till:end bar:TB from:2007 till:end bar:WE from:1916 till:1942 bar:WE from:1946 till:end bar:WW from:1916 till:1942 bar:WW from:1946 till:end color:premier width:12 bar:WE from:1916 till:1920 bar:WW from:1920 till:1921 bar:DB from:1921 till:1922 bar:WE from:1922 till:1924 bar:DB from:1924 till:1927 bar:RM from:1927 till:1928 bar:WW from:1928 till:1931 bar:DB from:1931 till:1932 bar:WW from:1932 till:1933 bar:DB from:1933 till:1936 bar:GS from:1936 till:1937 bar:WW from:1937 till:1938 bar:GS from:1938 till:1939 bar:MF from:1939 till:1940 bar:WW from:1940 till:1941 bar:WW from:1946 till:1948 bar:DB from:1948 till:1952 bar:WW from:1952 till:1954 bar:SM from:1954 till:1956 bar:NT from:1956 till:1957 bar:WE from:1957 till:1958 bar:SM from:1958 till:1960 bar:NT from:1960 till:1961 bar:SM from:1961 till:1962 bar:DB from:1962 till:1964 bar:NT from:1964 till:1965 bar:SM from:1965 till:1967 bar:DB from:1967 till:1971 bar:SM from:1971 till:1972 bar:DB from:1972 till:1973 bar:WW from:1973 till:1974 bar:DB from:1975 till:1976 bar:WW from:1976 till:1977 bar:SM from:1977 till:1979 bar:DB from:1979 till:1980 bar:PM from:1980 till:1981 bar:WE from:1981 till:1983 bar:SM from:1983 till:1988 bar:DB from:1988 till:1989 bar:SM from:1989 till:1992 bar:WE from:1992 till:1993 bar:SM from:1993 till:1997 bar:SD from:1997 till:1998 bar:WW from:1998 till:2000 bar:PM from:2000 till:2002 bar:SM from:2002 till:2005 bar:DB from:2005 till:2006 bar:SD from:2006 till:2007 bar:SM from:2007 till:2010 bar:WE from:2010 till:2011 bar:TB from:2011 till:2012 bar:SM from:2012 till:2014 bar:WE from:2014 till:2015 bar:SM from:2015 till:2017 bar:SD from:2017 till:2018 bar:NT from:2018 till:2021 bar:SM from:2021 till:2022 color:rup width:12 bar:WW from:1916 till:1919 bar:DB from:1919 till:1920 bar:WE from:1920 till:1922 bar:WW from:1922 till:1924 bar:WE from:1924 till:1925 bar:WW from:1925 till:1926 bar:RM from:1926 till:1927 bar:WW from:1927 till:1928 bar:RM from:1928 till:1929 bar:DB from:1929 till:1931 bar:WW from:1931 till:1932 bar:DB from:1932 till:1933 bar:WW from:1933 till:1935 bar:WA from:1935 till:1936 bar:DB from:1936 till:1939 bar:GS from:1939 till:1940 bar:DB from:1940 till:1941 bar:DB from:1946 till:1948 bar:WE from:1948 till:1950 bar:WW from:1950 till:1951 bar:WE from:1951 till:1952 bar:DB from:1952 till:1955 bar:WW from:1955 till:1956 bar:DB from:1956 till:1957 bar:NT from:1957 till:1958 bar:DB from:1958 till:1960 bar:SM from:1960 till:1961 bar:DB from:1961 till:1962 bar:SM from:1962 till:1964 bar:DB from:1964 till:1965 bar:NT from:1965 till:1966 bar:DB from:1966 till:1967 bar:SM from:1967 till:1971 bar:DB from:1971 till:1972 bar:SM from:1972 till:1973 bar:NT from:1973 till:1974 bar:PM from:1975 till:1976 bar:SM from:1976 till:1977 bar:PM from:1977 till:1978 bar:NT from:1978 till:1979 bar:PM from:1979 till:1980 bar:WE from:1980 till:1981 bar:SM from:1981 till:1983 bar:DB from:1983 till:1984 bar:WE from:1984 till:1985 bar:NT from:1985 till:1986 bar:DB from:1986 till:1987 bar:DB from:1987 till:1988 bar:WE from:1988 till:1989 bar:DB from:1989 till:1990 bar:DB from:1990 till:1991 bar:DB from:1991 till:1992 bar:SM from:1992 till:1993 bar:DB from:1993 till:1994 bar:DB from:1994 till:1995 bar:SD from:1995 till:1996 bar:WW from:1996 till:1997 bar:SM from:1997 till:1999 bar:PM from:1999 till:2000 bar:DB from:2000 till:2001 bar:NT from:2001 till:2002 bar:PM from:2002 till:2003 bar:NT from:2003 till:2004 bar:WE from:2004 till:2005 bar:SM from:2005 till:2006 bar:WW from:2006 till:2008 bar:WE from:2008 till:2009 bar:TB from:2009 till:2010 bar:SM from:2010 till:2011 bar:NT from:2011 till:2012 bar:TB from:2012 till:2013 bar:WE from:2013 till:2014 bar:SM from:2014 till:2015 bar:WE from:2015 till:2017 bar:DB from:2017 till:2018 bar:SD from:2018 till:2019 bar:SM from:2019 till:2021 bar:WW from:2021 till:2022 color:spoon width:12 bar:DB from:1916 till:1919 bar:WW from:1919 till:1920 bar:DB from:1920 till:1921 bar:WW from:1921 till:1922 bar:DB from:1922 till:1924 bar:WW from:1924 till:1925 bar:RM from:1925 till:1926 bar:WW from:1926 till:1927 bar:DB from:1927 till:1929 bar:MW from:1929 till:1930 bar:WE from:1930 till:1934 bar:GS from:1934 till:1935 bar:WE from:1935 till:1936 bar:WW from:1936 till:1937 bar:GS from:1937 till:1938 bar:AF from:1938 till:1940 bar:GS from:1940 till:1941 bar:WE from:1946 till:1947 bar:WN from:1947 till:1948 bar:NY from:1948 till:1949 bar:WW from:1949 till:1950 bar:NT from:1950 till:1951 bar:WW from:1951 till:1952 bar:NT from:1952 till:1953 bar:WE from:1953 till:1957 bar:WW from:1957 till:1960 bar:DB from:1960 till:1961 bar:WW from:1961 till:1963 bar:WE from:1963 till:1972 bar:PM from:1972 till:1974 bar:WW from:1975 till:1976 bar:WE from:1976 till:1977 bar:WW from:1977 till:1979 bar:WE from:1979 till:1980 bar:WW from:1980 till:1981 bar:PM from:1981 till:1982 bar:WW from:1982 till:1985 bar:PM from:1985 till:1987 bar:KR from:1987 till:1988 bar:WW from:1988 till:1989 bar:WE from:1989 till:1990 bar:PM from:1990 till:1991 bar:SD from:1991 till:1992 bar:NT from:1992 till:1993 bar:WW from:1993 till:1994 bar:PM from:1994 till:1995 bar:NT from:1995 till:1996 bar:DB from:1996 till:1997 bar:WE from:1997 till:2002 bar:SD from:2002 till:2004 bar:PM from:2004 till:2005 bar:SD from:2005 till:2006 bar:DB from:2006 till:2007 bar:WE from:2007 till:2008 bar:DB from:2008 till:2010 bar:NT from:2010 till:2011 bar:DB from:2011 till:2014 bar:WW from:2014 till:2016 bar:TB from:2016 till:2017 bar:PM from:2017 till:2018 bar:SM from:2018 till:2019 bar:PM from:2019 till:2020 bar:TB from:2020 till:2022 Legend = left:50 top:20 columnwidth:90


Women's Premier League

The Woman's NTFL competition was all started in 2004 and currently has 10 teams enrolling.


Teams

Premier League Clubs


Grand Finals


See also

*
AFL Northern Territory AFL Northern Territory is the governing body for Australian rules football in the Northern Territory of Australia. It supervises multiple leagues, but is mainly concerned with the co-ordination of the Northern Territory Football League. Th ...
*
Australian rules football in the Northern Territory Australian Football in the Northern Territory (The Territory) (typically referred to by its official name "Australian Football" or more simply as "football" or "footy") is the most popular sport, particularly with indigenous Australian communit ...


References


External links


Official website

Official Twitter


{{Australian rules football in Australia Sport in Darwin, Northern Territory Australian rules football competitions in the Northern Territory Professional sports leagues in Australia