History
- See Australian rules football in the Northern Territory
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 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 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.
However, the governing body of 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.
Further structural changes to the NTFL have been mooted for the 2013/2014 season, with the Banks Bulldogs and the Central Australian Football Club placed on a four-match trial for the 2012/2013 competition.
Read more about this topic: Northern Territory Football League
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