# Northern Territory Football League

The Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) is an Australian rules football competition, operating in Greater Darwin and the Northern Territory, formerly run by the Northern Territory Football League Incorporated and, since 3 September 2001, is a business name of the AFL Northern Territory Limited. It operates a semi-professional senior men's competition as well as competitions for women (NTFL Women's) and underagers (U12-U18 boys and girls) (NTFL Juniors).
It is one of few (and the highest level) Australian football 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. It regularly attracts high-profile semi-professional players from interstate competitions due to its lack of salary cap and the timing of the season, which allows players to play extra matches during the off-season of other competitions.

## History

While most other Australian football competitions 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 the devastation from Cyclone Tracy.
In the 1990s, it 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 its operating costs up drastically despite contrary promises from the NT government. On 3 September 2001, the businesses of the formerly independent Northern Territory Football League Incorporated, which had overseen Australian Football in the NT since 1917, were taken-over by the Melbourne-based Australian Football League (AFL), causing disquiet among supporters of Australian Football in the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory Football League Incorporated was subsequently wound-up and de-registered on 19 September 2002, ending its long history and local control of Australian Football. The name, Northern Territory Football League is now owned by the AFL and licenced to AFL NT as a registered business name. NTFL board member Darryl Window orchestrated the takeover.
Marrara Oval is now known as TIO Stadium, as part of a naming rights deal with NT health insurance company, Territory Insurance Office.
During its history, it has exported successful players to other Australian football competitions and 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 competition 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, 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.

## Competition structure

The competition consists of both junior and senior divisions.
The A Grade competition is known as the NTFL Men's premier League and has 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 1 and 2 include thirds teams of the premier League clubs, except for the Tiwi Bombers (Palmerston are affiliated with former TEAFA club University), along with the senior teams of two other clubs which were formerly in the TEAFA competition in Banks and Tracy Village, and the Jabiru Bombers.
The A Grade Women's competition has consisted of the nine Men's premier League clubs since 2023.
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. The 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); thile the rest of the junior divisions vary based on participation levels each year, there are ten clubs with juniors, the nine Premier League clubs and Tracy Village.

## Clubs
### Current clubs

| Club | Nickname | Men's Senior Grades | Women's Senior Grades | Home Ground | Location | Joined |
| Banks | Bulldogs | Premier Reserves, Division 1 | Division 1, Division 2 | Gardens Oval | The Gardens | 1978 |
| Darwin | Buffaloes | Premier Seniors, Premier Reserves | Premier Seniors, Division 1 | Marrara Oval | Marrara | 1916 |
| Jabiru | Bombers | Division 1 | Division 2 | Brockman Oval | Jabiru | 1982 |
| Nightcliff | Tigers | Premier Seniors, Premier Reserves | Premier Seniors, Division 1 | PSC BM Oval | Nightcliff | 1950 |
| Nightcliff | Spartans | Division 1 | | TIO Oval No. 2 | Marrara | 2011 |
| Palmerston | Magpies | Premier Seniors, Premier Reserves | Premier Seniors | Asbuild Oval | Durack | 1972 |
| Palmerston | Rats | Division 2 | Division 2 | TIO Oval No. 2 | Marrara | 1989 |
| PINT | Greenants | Premier Seniors, Premier Reserves, Division 1, Division 2 | Premier Seniors, Division 1, Division 2 | DXC Arena (Marrara Cricket Ground) | Marrara | 1981 |
| Southern Districts | Crocs | Premier Seniors, Premier Reserves, Division 2 | Premier Seniors, Division 1 | Norbuilt Oval | Freds Pass | 1987 |
| St Mary's | Saints | Premier Seniors, Premier Reserves, Division 1 | Premier Seniors, Division 1 | Marrara Oval | Marrara | 1952 |
| Tiwi | Bombers | Premier | Premier | Tiwi Oval | Wurrumiyanga | 2007 |
| Tracy Village | Razorbacks | Division 1, Division 2 | Division 1 | Tracy Village Oval | Lyons | 1978 |
| Wanderers | Eagles | Premier Seniors, Premier Reserves | Premier | Marrara Oval | Marrara | 1916 |
| Waratah | Warriors | Premier Seniors, Premier Reserves, Division 1 | Premier Seniors, Division 1, Division 2 | Gardens Oval | The Gardens | 1916 |

## Uniforms

| Banks | Darwin | Jabiru | Nightcliff Tigers | Palmerston Magpies | PINT |
| Southern Districts | St Marys | Tiwi Islands | Tracy Village | Wanderers | Waratah |

## Former clubs
### Former Premier League clubs

| Football Club Name | Nickname | Entered competition | Premierships | Left competition |
| Garrison | Soldiers or Keros | 1934/35 | 2 (1936/37, 1938/39) | 1940/41 |
| Rovers/Magpies | Magpies | 1925/26 | 1 (1927/28) | 1928/29 |
| Mobile Force | Unknown | 1939/40 | 1 (1939/40) | 1939/40 |
| Wallabies | Wallabies | 1935/36 | 0 | 1935/36 |
| Air Force | Unknown | 1938/39 | 0 | 1941/42 |
| AIF Regiment-Artillery | Unknown | 1941/42 | 0 | 1941/42 |
| Machine Gunners | Gunners | 1941/42 | 0 | 1941/42 |
| Navy | Unknown | 1941/42, (re:1948/49) | 0 | 1948/49 |
| R.A.N. | Unknown | 1946/47 | 0 | 1946/47 |
| R.A.A.F. | Unknown | 1946/47 | 0 | 1946/47 |
| Winnellie | Unknown | 1947/48 | 0 | 1947/48 |
| Army/Navy | Unknown | 1947/48 | 0 | 1947/48 |
| Army/RAAF | Unknown | 1948/49 | 0 | 1948/49 |
| Services | Unknown | 1949/50 | 0 | 1950/51 |
| Katherine | Roos | 1987/88 | 0 | 1987/88 |

### Other former clubs

| Colours | Football Club Name | Nickname | Entered competition | Premierships | Left competition |
| | Mindil | Sharks | 1991 | 1 | 2019 |

### Northern Territory Football League club songs

| Football club name | Nickname | Name of the football club song | Basis/tune of the football club song |
| Banks | Bulldogs | Dogs Of The North | Sons Of The Sea |
| Darwin | Buffaloes | Old Buffaloes Never Die | Shuffle Off To Buffalo |
| Jabiru | Bombers | | |
| Nightcliff | Tigers | We're From Tigerland | Row, Row, Row From Ziegfeld Follies |
| Nightcliff | Spartans | | |
| Palmerston | Magpies | The Magpies Are A Mighty Club | When Johnny Comes Marching Home |
| Palmerston | Rats | | |
| PINT | Greenants | | |
| Southern Districts | Crocs | The Red, Black And White | Notre Dame March |
| St Mary's | Saints | When The Saints Go Marching In | When The Saints Go Marching In |
| Tiwi Bombers | Bombers | | |
| Tracy Village | Razorbacks | | |
| Wanderers | Eagles | Good Ol' Wanderers Forever | Battle Hymn Of The Republic |
| 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

| Club | Premierships | Runners-up | Premiership years | Runner-up years |
| St Marys | 34 | 19 | 1954/55, 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 | 23 | 30 | 1921/22, 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 | 16 | 16 | 1920/21, 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 | 12 | 14 | 1916/17, 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 | 6 | 9 | 1956/57, 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 | 3 | 5 | 1980/81, 2000/01, 2001/02 | 1975/76, 1977/78, 1979/80, 1999/00, 2002/03 |
| Southern Districts | 3 | 3 | 1997/98, 2006/07, 2017/18 | 1995/96, 2018/19, 2022/23 |
| Tiwi Bombers | 1 | 2 | 2011/12 | 2009/10, 2012/13 |
| PINT | 0 | 0 | N/A | N/A |

## Wooden Spoon tally

| Club | Total | Season/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
## Women's Premier League

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

### Teams

Premier League Clubs
| Club | Nickname | Premierships |
| Big River | Hawks | 0 |
| Tracy Village | Razorbacks | 0 |
| PINT | Queenants | 3 (2020/21, 2022/23, 2023/24) |
| Darwin | Buffettes | 2 (2016/17, 2021/22) |
| Nightcliff | Tigers | 0 |
| Palmerston | Magpies | 1 (2010/11) |
| St Mary's | Saints | 5 (2004/05, 2005/06, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10) |
| Southern Districts | Crocs | 1 (2019/20) |
| Wanderers | Eagles | 0 |
| Waratah | Warriors | 8 (2006/07, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2017/18, 2018/19) |

### Grand Finals

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