Northern Territory Football League

Last updated

Northern Territory Football League
Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) 2021- logo.png
FormerlyNorthern Territory Football Association (NTFA)
Sport Australian rules football
Founded1916
First season1916;108 years ago (1916)
No. of teams15 (9 premier league, 6 reserves)
Country Australia
Most recent
champion(s)
St Mary's (34th premiership)
(2023/24)
Most titles St Mary's (34)
TV partner(s) Southern Cross Seven
Official website NTFL

The Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) is an Australian rules football semi-professional league operating in Darwin in the Northern Territory.

Contents

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 and the need to play cricket 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 devastation from Cyclone Tracy.

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 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 (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 SANFL club North Adelaide 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, [1] however, the NTFL decided on fielding a side in the AFL Queensland State League from 2009 (which became the Northern Conference of the North East Australian Football League in 2011) and the Northern Territory Football Club was formed.

In 2010 it was decided to merge the NTFL with the Top End Australian Football Association (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 nine clubs (Darwin, Nightcliff, Palmerston, PINT, 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). Divisions One and Two include any thirds teams of the Premier League clubs, excluding the Tiwi Bombers, and the seniors of three other clubs which were formerly in the TEAFA competition (Banks, Tracy Village, and University) and the Jabiru Bombers. 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.

Northern Territory Football League Clubs

Current clubs

ColoursClubNicknameMen's Senior GradesWomen's Senior GradesHome GroundLocationJoined
Banks Bulldogs Football Club colours.jpg
BanksBulldogsPremier Reserves,
Division 1
Division 1,
Division 2
Gardens Oval The Gardens 1978
Darwin Buffaloes Football Club colours.jpg
Darwin BuffaloesPremier Seniors,
Premier Reserves
Premier Seniors,
Division 1
Marrara Oval Marrara 1916
EssendonDesign.svg
JabiruBombersDivision 1Division 2Brockman Oval Jabiru 1982
RichmondDesign.svg
Nightcliff TigersPremier Seniors,
Premier Reserves
Premier Seniors,
Division 1
PSC BM Oval Nightcliff 1950
Nightcliff Spartans Football Club colours.jpg
NightcliffSpartansDivision 1TIO Oval No. 2 Marrara 2011
West Brunswick football club colors.jpg
Palmerston MagpiesPremier Seniors,
Premier Reserves
Premier Seniors Asbuild Oval Durack 1972
University Rats Football Club colours.jpg
PalmerstonRatsDivision 2Division 2TIO Oval No. 2 Marrara 1989
PINT Football Club colours.jpg
PINT GreenantsPremier Seniors,
Premier Reserves,
Division 1, Division 2
Premier Seniors,
Division 1,
Division 2
Marrara Oval Marrara 2022
Watsonia Football Club.jpg
Southern Districts CrocsPremier Seniors,
Premier Reserves,
Division 2
Premier Seniors,
Division 1
Norbuilt Oval Freds Pass 1987
St Marys Football Club colours (NT).jpg
St Mary's SaintsPremier Seniors,
Premier Reserves,
Division 1
Premier Seniors,
Division 1
Marrara Oval Marrara 1952
Tiwi Bombers Football Club colours.jpg
Tiwi BombersPremierPremier Tiwi Oval Wurrumiyanga 2007
Tracy Village Football Club colours.jpg
Tracy VillageRazorbacksDivision 1,
Division 2
Division 1Tracy Village Oval Lyons 1978
Wanderers Football Club colours.jpg
Wanderers EaglesPremier Seniors,
Premier Reserves
Premier Marrara Oval Marrara 1916
Waratah Football Club colours.jpg
Waratah WarriorsPremier Seniors,
Premier Reserves,
Division 1
Premier Seniors,
Division 1, Division 2
Gardens Oval The Gardens 1916

Former Clubs

Former Premier League Clubs

ColoursFootball Club NameNicknameEntered competitionPremiershipsLeft competition
Solid white bordered.svg
GarrisonSoldiers or Keros1934/352 (1936/37, 1938/39)1940/41
Solid white bordered.svg
Rovers/MagpiesMagpies1925/261 (1927/28)1928/29
Solid white bordered.svg
Mobile ForceUnknown1939/401 (1939/40)1939/40
Solid white bordered.svg
WallabiesWallabies1935/3601935/36
Solid white bordered.svg
Air ForceUnknown1938/3901941/42
Solid white bordered.svg
AIF Regiment-ArtilleryUnknown1941/4201941/42
Solid white bordered.svg
Machine GunnersGunners1941/4201941/42
Solid white bordered.svg
NavyUnknown1941/42, (re:1948/49)01948/49
Solid white bordered.svg
R.A.N.Unknown1946/4701946/47
Solid white bordered.svg
R.A.A.F.Unknown1946/4701946/47
Solid white bordered.svg
WinnellieUnknown1947/4801947/48
Solid white bordered.svg
Army/NavyUnknown1947/4801947/48
Solid white bordered.svg
Army/RAAFUnknown1948/4901948/49
Solid white bordered.svg
ServicesUnknown1949/5001950/51
Solid white bordered.svg
KatherineRoos1987/8801987/88

Other former clubs

ColoursFootball Club NameNicknameEntered competitionPremiershipsLeft competition
Mindil Sharks Football Club colours.jpg
MindilSharks199112019

Northern Territory Football League Club Songs

ColoursFootball Club NameNicknameName of the Football Club songBasis/Tune of the Football Club song
Banks Bulldogs Football Club colours.jpg
BanksBulldogs Dogs Of The North Sons Of The Sea
Darwin Buffaloes Football Club colours.jpg
Darwin Buffaloes Old Buffaloes Never Die Shuffle Off To Buffalo
EssendonDesign.svg
JabiruBombers
RichmondDesign.svg
Nightcliff Tigers We're From Tigerland Row, Row, Row From Ziegfeld Follies
Nightcliff Spartans Football Club colours.jpg
NightcliffSpartans
West Brunswick football club colors.jpg
Palmerston Magpies The Magpies Are A Mighty Club When Johnny Comes Marching Home
University Rats Football Club colours.jpg
PalmerstonRats
PINT Football Club colours.jpg
PINT Greenants
Watsonia Football Club.jpg
Southern Districts Crocs The Red, Black And White Notre Dame March
St Marys Football Club colours (NT).jpg
St Mary's Saints When The Saints Go Marching In When The Saints Go Marching In
Tiwi Bombers Football Club colours.jpg
Tiwi Bombers Bombers
Tracy Village Football Club colours.jpg
Tracy VillageRazorbacks
Wanderers Football Club colours.jpg
Wanderers Eagles Good Ol' Wanderers Forever Battle Hymn Of The Republic
Waratah Football Club colours.jpg
Waratah Warriors It's A Grand Old Flag You're A Grand Old Flag

Coverage

Media

Television

In 2006, NTFL premier league 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. 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, 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 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.

Men Premier League premiership tally

ClubPremiershipsRunners-upPremiership yearsRunner-up years
St Marys 34191954/55, 1955/56, 1958/59, 1959/60,
1961/62, 1965/66, 1966/67, 1971/72,
1977/78, 1978/79, 1983/84, 1984/85,
1985/86, 1986/87, 1987/88, 1989/90,
1990/91, 1991/92, 1993/94, 1994/95,
1995/96, 1996/97, 2002/03, 2003/04,
2004/05, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10,
2012/13, 2013/14, 2015/16, 2016/17
2021/22, 2023/24
1960/61, 1962/63, 1963/64, 1967/68,
1968/69, 1969/70, 1970/71, 1972/73,
1976/77, 1981/82, 1982/83, 1992/93,
1997/98, 1998/99, 2005/06, 2010/11,
2014/15, 2019/20, 2020/21
Darwin 23301921/22, 1924/25, 1925/26, 1926/27,
1931/32, 1933/34, 1934/35, 1935/36,
1948/49, 1949/50, 1950/51, 1951/52,
1962/63, 1963/64, 1967/68, 1968/69,
1969/70, 1970/71, 1972/73, 1975/76,
1979/80, 1988/89, 2005/06
1919/20, 1929/30, 1930/31, 1932/33,
1936/37, 1937/38, 1938/39, 1940/41,
1946/47, 1947/48, 1952/53, 1953/54,
1954/55, 1956/57, 1958/59, 1959/60,
1961/62, 1964/65, 1966/67, 1971/72,
1983/84, 1986/87, 1987/88, 1989/90,
1990/91, 1991/92, 1993/94, 1994/95,
2000/01, 2017/18
Waratah 16161920/21, 1928/29, 1929/30, 1930/31,
1932/33, 1937/38, 1940/41, 1946/47,
1947/48, 1952/53, 1953/54, 1973/74,
1976/77, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2022/23
1916/17, 1917/18, 1918/19, 1922/23,
1923/24, 1925/26, 1927/28, 1931/32,
1933/34, 1934/35, 1950/51, 1955/56,
1996/97, 2006/07, 2007/08 2021/22,
Wanderers 12141916/17, 1917/18, 1918/19, 1919/20,
1922/23, 1923/24, 1957/58, 1981/82,
1982/83, 1992/93, 2010/11, 2014/15
1920/21, 1921/22, 1924/25, 1948/49,
1949/50, 1951/52, 1980/81, 1984/85,
1988/89, 2004/05, 2008/09, 2013/14,
2015/16, 2016/17
Nightcliff 691956/57, 1960/61, 1964/65, 2018/19,
2019/20, 2020/21
1957/58, 1965/66, 1973/74, 1978/79,
1985/86, 2001/02, 2003/04, 2011/12

2023/24

Palmerston 351980/81, 2000/01, 2001/021975/76, 1977/78, 1979/80, 1999/00,
2002/03
Southern Districts 331997/98, 2006/07, 2017/181995/96, 2018/19, 2022/23
Tiwi Bombers 122011/122009/10, 2012/13
PINT 00N/AN/A

Wooden Spoon tally

ClubTotalSeason/s
Wanderers
28
1930/31, 1931/32, 1932/33, 1933/34, 1935/36, 1946/47, 1953/54, 1954/55, 1955/56, 1956/57, 1963/64, 1964/65, 1965/66, 1966/67, 1967/68, 1968/69, 1969/70, 1970/71, 1971/72, 1976/77, 1979/80, 1989/90, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2007/08
Waratah
23
1919/20, 1921/22, 1924/25, 1926/27, 1936/37, 1949/50, 1951/52, 1957/58, 1958/59, 1959/60, 1961/62, 1962/63, 1975/76, 1977/78, 1978/79, 1980/81, 1982/83, 1983/84, 1984/85, 1988/89, 1993/94, 2014/15, 2015/16
Darwin
16
1916/17, 1917/18, 1918/19, 1920/21, 1922/23, 1923/24, 1927/28, 1928/29, 1960/61, 1996/97, 2006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14
Palmerston
11
1972/73, 1973/74, 1981/82, 1985/86, 1986/87, 1990/91, 1994/95, 2004/05, 2017/18, 2019/20, 2023/24
Nightcliff
5
1950/51, 1952/53, 1992/93, 1995/96, 2010/11
S. Districts
4
1991/92, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2005/06
Tiwi
4
2016/17, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23
St Marys
1
2018/19
PINT
Nil
N/A

Competition timeline

Northern Territory Football League

Women's Premier League

The Woman's NTFL competition was all started in 2004 and currently has 10 teams enrolling. [2]

Teams

Premier League Clubs

ClubNicknamePremierships
Big RiverHawks0
Tracy VillageRazorbacks0
PINTQueenants3 (2020/21, 2022/23, 2023/24)
Darwin Buffettes2 (2016/17, 2021/22)
Nightcliff Tigers0
Palmerston Magpies1 (2010/11)
St Mary's Saints5 (2004/05, 2005/06, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10)
Southern Districts Crocs1 (2019/20)
Wanderers Eagles0
Waratah Warriors8 (2006/07, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2017/18, 2018/19)

Grand Finals

YearsPremiersGF ScoreRunner-upDateLocation
2004/05St. Mary's(1)7.5.47 - 0.3.3Darwin Buffettes (1)2005Marrara Stadium
2005/06St. Mary's(2)8.11.59 - 3.2.20Waratah (1)2006Marrara Stadium
2006/07Waratah(1)3.1.19 - 2.5.17Darwin Buffettes (2)2007Marrara Stadium
2007/08St. Mary's(3)7.2.44 - 5.4.34Waratah (2)2008Marrara Stadium
2008/09St. Mary's(4)9.12.66 - 4.4.28Palmerston Magpies (1)2009Marrara Stadium
2009/10St. Mary's(5)9.5.59 - 3.6.24Waratah (3)2010Marrara Stadium
2010/11Palmerston Magpies(1)6.5.41 - 4.7.31St. Mary's (1)2011Marrara Stadium
2011/12Waratah(2)9.8.62 - 2.1.13St. Mary's (2)2012Marrara Stadium
2012/13Waratah(3)13.5 (83) - 8.4 (52)St. Mary's (3)Saturday, March 9, 2013 (1:15 pm)Marrara Stadium
2013/14Waratah(4)6.7 (43) - 3.6 (24)Darwin Buffettes (3)Saturday, March 8, 2014 (4:00 pm)Marrara Stadium
2014/15Waratah(5)9.4 (58) - 0.4 (4)Tracy Village (1)Saturday, March 7, 2015 (4:15 pm)Marrara Stadium
2015/16Waratah(6)6.14 (50) - 4.8 (32)Wanderers (1)Saturday, March 12, 2016 (4:30 pm)Marrara Stadium
2016/17Darwin Buffettes(1)6.9 (45) - 4.3 (27)Waratah (4)Saturday, March 11, 2017 (1:30 pm)Marrara Stadium
2017/18Waratah(7)9.5 (59) - 4.0 (24)Darwin Buffettes(4)Saturday, March 10, 2018 (4:30 pm)Marrara Stadium
2018/19Waratah(8)3.3 (21) - 0.3 (3)Southern Districts (1)Saturday, March 9, 2019 (4:30 pm)Marrara Stadium
2019/20Southern Districts(1)6.3 (39) - 3.3 (21)Waratah (5)Saturday, March 7, 2020 (4:30 pm)Marrara Stadium
2020/21PINT(1)7.4 (46) - 5.5 (35)Darwin Buffettes (5)Saturday, March 20, 2021 (4:00 pm)Marrara Stadium
2021/22Darwin Buffettes(2)4.10 (34) - 2.4 (16)Nightcliff (1)Saturday, March 19, 2022 (4:00 pm)Marrara Stadium
2022/23PINT(2)12.8 (80) - 6.4 (40)Waratah (6)Saturday, March 18, 2023 (4:15 pm)Marrara Stadium
2023/24PINT(3)4.3 (27) - 3.4 (22)St. Mary's (4)Saturday 16 March 2024 (4:15pm)Marrara Stadium

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. NTFL vs North Adelaide
  2. "Women's Premier League Premierships".