Federal government announces $4.7m funding for AFL NT

The AFL NT has won $4.7m in funding to promote footy in community, with the hopes it will create a pipeline of young talent for a future Territory team.

The AFL NT has won $4.7m in funding to promote footy in community, with the hopes it will create a pipeline of young talent for a future Territory team.

NT Senator Malarndirri McCarthy announced a $2.5m federal funding announcement, as well as $2.2m from the Australian Sports Commission, on the second day of Garma Festival on Saturday.

Ms McCarthy said the funding would promote children to join the sport, particularly young women.

“We’ve all seen what the Matildas can do,” Ms McCarthy said.

“We know that we have aspiring athletes also in the AFL who want to reach the heights, that perhaps they can’t in our remote communities across the Northern Territory.”

The Northern Territory senator said she was “certainly hopeful” the funding and support for remote players would become a future grassroots base for a professional AFL team.

With her eight-year-old child Hadessah and nine-year-old twins Ebony and Indiana all playing Aussie rules for the Nightcliff Tigers, Ms McCarthy said they might one day hope to play on the national stage.

“You never know,” she said.

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said promoting AFL in remote communities was a core part of their role, with the game providing pride and opportunity for young people across the Territory.

“The power of football in that is not lost on the AFL,” Mr Dillon said.

Earlier this year, AFLNT came into conflict with the Alice Springs Regional Council after community competitions were banned from playing in the largest central Australian town.

Remote teams were travelling upwards of 10 hours to play in the Community AFL competition.

Mr Dillon said the funding would assist the AFL to upgrade those remote fields, provide jobs in the community and opportunities for young players across the Territory.

In May, Opposition leader Peter Dutton criticised sporting bodies for coming out in support of the Voice, saying sporting “elites” should not be telling their fans how to vote.

However, Mr Dillon said he had heard no feedback from fans critical of their support for the Yes vote.

He said it was important for the league to voice its support given the high representation of First Nations players.

With the grand final set for when the referendum is expected to be announced, Mr Dillon said there would be some kind of campaign by the AFL in support of the Voice.

Michael Long at Windy Hill 26/09/01 during Essendon AFL training session. Pic Colin Murty.

Retired AFL player Michael Long, who was on the Territory’s finest ever to play the game after making his NTFL debut with the Saints at just 16, said the funding would “create new opportunities for our young men and women”.

“We want our young kids to become good citizens,” he said.

Mr Long, who played 190 games for Essendon in the nation’s top competition, said because of the power of sports in remote communities, the league “has a role to play” in the debates about Australia’s relationship with remote Aboriginal communities.

But Senator McCarthy acknowledged constitutional change was no easy feat, saying it was “one of the toughest things you can do”.

“But our hearts are full, we want to give it our best shot.”