Alice Springs Town councillor Marli Banks backs AFL’s threat to remove Red Centre match

An Alice Springs councillor does not blame the AFL for threatening to move a scheduled match away from the town following a controversial council decision.

An Alice Springs councillor does not blame the AFL for threatening to remove a scheduled match from the town later this year, calling the proposal “completely reasonable” under the circumstances.

This publication revealed the big league may review its commitment to the Melbourne v GWS clash at Traeger Park following the council’s decision to bar the Central Australian Football League’s community competition from its grounds in 2023.

With the council to meet on April 26, Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour also spoke to several members late last week about the matter.

However, councillor Marli Banks, who has publicly opposed the council’s stance so far, was not anticipating a last minute motion to lobby a change of heart.

“I don’t believe there’s the will in the room to look seriously at the solutions,” Ms Banks said.

“I did email all of council and say we’ve lost our focus on this.

“I don’t support the premise of the argument that links community football to the crime and anti-social behaviours we’re experiencing in town.”

Peak body AFLNT announced it was progressing with a May 7 start date despite the council saying it stood by its decision to bar community footy from Traeger Park.

Alice Springs Town councillor Marli Banks (left), with Franca Barraclough, does not want community football barred from Traeger Park. Picture: Supplied.

AFLNT has not yet released its fixtures for all other CAFL competitions, with the senior men’s grade traditionally starting at the end of April.

Ms Banks said she completely understood why the AFL had threatened to reconsider its commitment to the Alice Springs game, describing the move as “completely reasonable”.

“This issue has become a dog’s breakfast,” she said.

“Where is the incentive for AFL to support a regional game when we are not supporting our local players who live in communities?”

“It’s now going to become who is executing their argument most strongly.

“These things need a diplomatic approach for the whole region.

“There’s this idea that we turn off the football and we’re all going to be hunky-dory ... (it) is so naive to the broader issues they’re facing.”

Melbourne’s Kysaiah Pickett celebrates a goal against Port Adelaide at Traeger Park in 2022. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

The council has previously said it was concerned hundreds of extra football supporters would impact on the town’s rising crime rates.

However, Cr Banks said it was wrong to think these fans were different to any other: “Football fans are football fans.”

Meanwhile, she said the Territory government must shoulder blame for the current status of remote football grounds – with many lacking basic infrastructure – not AFLNT.

Papunya does not have water connected to its oval or have proper road access, while the revamped Santa Teresa had surfacing issues, she said.

However, Sports Minister Kate Worden said the NT government was enhancing remote facilities with $2.97m for oval lights at Gunbalanya and Kalkarindji in its 2023 annual budget.

“We know that something as simple as a sports oval can have huge positive impacts in our remote communities,” Minister Worden said.

“I look forward to seeing them being used for night time footy.”