Gold Coast and Hawthorn in Darwin in late May and Melbourne and Brisbane in Alice Springs

Gold Coast v Hawthorn at TIO Stadium in Darwin and Melbourne and Brisbane in the Red Centre is the Territory’s small share of AFL fixtures in 2021

Darwin born AFL Hawk Shaun Burgoyne has his hands full in this contest with the Suns' Hugh Greenwood. Picture: Sarah Reed

THE Territory’s herculean efforts to stage the annual Dreamtime Game in Darwin has amounted to nothing with the AFL fixturing two premiership games in the north and south in the middle of next year.

The Gold Coast Suns will get another chance to win a game at Darwin’s TIO Stadium when they host Hawthorn in late May.

A week later the highly rated Brisbane Lions travel to TIO Traeger Park in Alice Springs to tackle the Melbourne Demons in Round 12 clash.

AFLNT officials had pushed hard to bring the Dreamtime Game back to the Top End where its cultural significance far outweighs a lights spectacular at the Melbourne Cricket Ground where bums on seat matter more than the game’s importance.

The Suns hope to unveil NT Academy products Malcolm Rosas and Joel Jeffrey in Darwin when they meet Shaun Burgoyne’s Hawthorn.

It will be Hawthorn’s first visit to the Top End since 1991 when Dermott Brereton and Jason Dunstall led the Hawks to a pre-season win over the NTFL Buffaloes.

Red Centre fans should get a footy treat when the highly rated Lions with Brownlow medallist Lachy Neale and Territorian Zac Bailey on board, play Simon Goodwin’s Melbourne.

The Lions were losing preliminary finalists last season and are expected to take some big steps forward in 2021 under the coach with the permanent grin, third year boss Chris Fagan.