AFLNT director Sean Bowden says there has been a surge in quality players in Territory football

Territory footy fans should get used to seeing more elite footballers in the NTFL over the coming seasons, the AFLNT chairman says.

Darwin footy fans can expect to see more quality footballers in the NTFL in coming seasons, AFLNT chairman Sean Bowden says.

With AFL legend Gary Ablett Jr due to make his Top End debut on Friday for Palmerston against St Mary’s at TIO Stadium, Bowden said the dual Brownlow medallist was just one of many making their way up north to play football in 2022-23.

This season has seen a burgeoning list of ex-AFL stars playing in the Territory, including Steven Motlop, Eddie Betts, Travis Varcoe, Hamish Hartlett, Majak Daw, Harley Bennell and Mitch Robinson.

It comes as Lance “Buddy” Franklin also visited Maningrida to do some community work.

Bowden also said the league had estimated around 60 players had relocated permanently to the Top End for either Men’s Premier League or the reserves competition, due to the Territory’s growing appeal after nearly three years of Covid.

He believed the Dreamtime match between Essendon and Richmond in 2020, plus the league’s ability to keep playing at the height of the pandemic, had made Top End footy all the more popular.

Sean Bowden says the Territory has become a more popular attraction for elite footballers. Picture: Felicity Elliott /AFLNT Media.

“They’re living here,” Bowden said, who is also co-chair of a special taskforce working on a potential bid for a Territory AFL team.

“Which is further confirmation of that trend ... there’s less fly-ins.

“But we’ve got these strong cohorts of people coming up to experience the football season.

“That brings economic activity, population growth, which are significant to the town.”

He said the league had also become a renewed launching pad for AFL players looking to restart their careers, including Boyd Woodcock and Cam Ellis-Yolmen at Southern Districts and Robinson (Darwin Buffaloes).

“It’s more pronounced now ... it's a part of the NTFL,” he said, believing the quality and accessibility of the league had improved.

Mitch Robinson, with Jarrod Stokes, is one of more than 10 ex-AFL stars playing in the NTFL this season: Glenn Campbell.

“There are players (here) who want to further their careers.

“Clubs are being contracted by players who have been on AFL lists.

“It is a huge benefit to our talented young players who get to learn from the exerience of other players

“They’re here to play football ... they realise the competition is strong and people are watching it.

“It’s not the odd star player ... we’re being seen as a more serious proposition.

“There's a real interest with what’s going on with football up here. I think players are reacting to that.”

Around 20,000 people also watched the 2020-21 Men’s Premier League grand final online, with last year’s decider in the same ballpark, helping the NT game integrate with the “mainstream of the Australian football community”, Bowden added.

Travis Varcoe showed off his goal kicking skills for Palmerston against Buffaloes in NTFL 2022-23 Round 6. Picture: Celina Whan / AFLNT Media

“People were texting from all over Australia saying: ‘We’re watching this’,” he said.

“We’ve built a following down south through livestreaming.”

Meanwhile, he said there had been a “high level of anticipation” ahead of Ablett Jr’s debut which would have a strong impact on the wider community.

“He’s not here for a fishing trip, he's here to play football and engage with the football community,” he said.

“It’s an indication that Northern Territory football is moving into the mainframe.

“It’s a testament to what footy is in the Northern Territory.

“They want to be involved. Buddy (Franklin) is another example.”