Buffaloes coach Matt Campbell questions the logic of live telecasts in the Darwin region

THE Darwin Buffaloes’ NTFL season is on a knife’s edge and their coach Matt Campbell wants fans of the double blue jumpers to lend their support

Matt Campbell in goalscoring mode for the Buffaloes. He wants Youtube telecasts to be delayed in favour of getting more fans to the footy. Picture: GLENN CAMPBELL

THE Darwin Buffaloes’ NTFL season is on a knife’s edge and their coach Matt Campbell wants fans of the double blue jumpers to lend their support.

The Buffaloes tackle Southern Districts in tomorrow’s Premier League elimination final on the same day the football cousins at St Mary’s and the Tiwi Bombers meet in a qualifying final.

Crowd support has always been a big factor for the Buffaloes, who thrive on the amount of noise coming from their fans.

It is why Campbell wants live telecasts of the NTFL finals in the Darwin region through Youtube to cease in favour of showing the matches on an hour’s delay.

“If the AFLNT is fair dinkum about getting people through the gates they should suspend live telecasts in the Darwin region,’’ he said.

“It’s still great for Territorians and footy fans in the southern states and the rest of the NT who want to watch it live.

“But we’re dying in terms of getting crowd numbers to the footy and finals are a good time to turn that around.

“Whether it’s a delayed telecast in line with the AFL, where a Showdown game in Adelaide between the Power and the Crows is put on delay.

“Get something going, put on half price beers or build another function room with airconditioning that people can sit down and watch the footy.’’

Campbell openly admits he will be disappointed if crowd numbers are small for what potentially is a big day at NTFL headquarters.

“We’ll be fighting to save our season with Cameron Stokes out with a calf injury, Bradley Stokes gone for a while with a hamstring and some other blokes a bit sore.

“Josh Saveka, Mark Quinn, Devin Lines and the two Gove lads (Djamatjama Wunungmurra and Nathaniel Cooper) will be back to hopefully cover that.’’

Campbell said the rivalry involved in both games was the ingredient that would pull the crowds through the gates.

“No disrespect to Nightcliff, but we’ve (Buffaloes and Districts) consistently provided good quality finals footy when we’ve played against each other,’’ he added.

“They are always going to be battles and close games and we’re not expecting anything different this week.’’