About 10 Indigenous Territorians could run out in an AFL game in Darwin next season

With close to 10 Indigenous Territorians at two AFL clubs, the league has the chance to create one of the feel-good matches of the 2023 season in Darwin. Take our exclusive reader poll.

It could be the biggest celebration of Indigenous football in the Territory in a long, long time, with the Gold Coast Suns set to play two matches in Darwin next AFL season.

There have been plenty of elite level matches held in the Top End, marking the importance of First Nations footballers’ contribution to Aussie Rules.

For example, the annual Dreamtime game between Essendon and Richmond was rescheduled to Darwin in August, 2020, as Covid wreaked havoc across the country.

Nearly two decades earlier, Carlton also took on an ATSIC Chairman’s All Stars team – loaded with first class First Nations talent like Andrew McLeod, Adam Goodes, Chris Johnson and Daryl White – in February, 2003 in front of more than a reported 17,000 people at Marrara.

However, some are now hoping we might see the return of the Bombers up north, for the Gold Coast Suns’ annual Darwin match, for similar reasons.

The NT News understands the Suns will play two matches next season in Darwin over consecutive rounds, similar to the same time as the 2022 season.

Gold Coast took on North Melbourne and Hawthorn on May 28 and June 4 respectively.

Territory product Joel Jeffrey celebrates after scoring a goal against North Melbourne Kangaroos at TIO Stadium in June. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

With the AFL yet to announce its full 2023 fixture, a Suns v Bombers clash in Darwin could see close to 10 Indigenous Territorians run onto TIO Stadium next year.

And what better place to celebrate one of the two Sir Doug Nicholls Rounds than up in the Top End?

After all, the Dons acquired three young Territory products in the AFL national and the rookie drafts, with Palmerston teenagers Alwyn Jr and Jayden Davey, and Tiwi Bombers’ Anthony Munkara, snapped up.

They will join fellow Tiwi product Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti at Tullamarine, who returned on a one-year deal after stepping away from the game in May.

Meanwhile, former Hawk and Kangaroo Jed Anderson will join the Suns as a rookie.

Gold Coast also picked up former Wanderers defensive ace Lloyd Johnston, who hails from the remote community of Borroloola.

Jed Anderson celebrates a goal for his former club North Melbourne against the Gold Coast Suns in June in Darwin. Picture: Felicity Elliott/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Johnston will join young NT players Malcolm Rosas Jr and Joel Jeffrey, who were recruited by Gold Coast in recent seasons.

Suns players Jy Farrar and Sean Lemmens also have strong family links to the Territory.

Call us biased, but there is a huge opportunity for the AFL to create one of the biggest feel good games of the 2023 season.