Richmond, Essendon to play in Darwin AFL double-header weekend at TIO stadium in August

REIGNING premiers Richmond will play Essendon in one of two blockbuster AFL matches in one weekend at TIO Stadium in August

The AFL’s Dreamtime Showcase held annually between Essendon and Richmond will be held at TIO Stadium on August 22. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

THE Territory’s biggest weekend in 2020 just got bigger, with an AFL double header coming to Darwin’s TIO Stadium.

The annual Dreamtime showcase between Essendon and Richmond Dreamtime will fall on August 22 – the same night as the NT Election – while the Territory’s new ‘adopted’ team the Gold Coast Suns will also host a game on the round 13 weekend, which will be, one of two rounds celebrating the Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round.

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AFL General Manager of Broadcasting and Clubs, Travis Auld said taking the Dreamtime game to the Northern Territory.

“The Sir Doug Nicholls Round is a hugely significant round in the season,” he said.

“As part of this round, we’re really excited about the opportunity to play both the Dreamtime Game and the first ever Gold Coast home game in Darwin.”

As the only clubs not yet to have played – or be scheduled to play against the Suns – their opponent will likely be one of Brisbane, Collingwood, Hawthorn, Carlton or North Melbourne.

Gold Coast Suns Chief executive Mark Evans said the two blockbuster games would help grow AFL in the NT and were good for the community.

“The SUNS have always said we want our four-year NT partnership to be about more than just an AFL game – we want it to be great for the Territory and help grow local footy,” he said.

“Both games will showcase the beautiful Territory to a national audience while also allowing thousands of locals to enjoy two quality games of AFL live.”

Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale said the club was looking forward to being a part of this year’s ‘Dreamtime in Darwin’ showcase.

“Dreamtime is a highly significant game for both Richmond and Essendon, and a major event on the AFL calendar,” he said.

“The unique opportunity to play Dreamtime 2020 in Darwin is one that the whole Club looks forward to immensely.”

AFLNT chairman Sean Bowden said his focus would be solely on the weekend’s games, rather than the election and brother and former Tiger Joel Bowden’s hopes of retaining his seat as member for Johnston.

“We’re about football and we’ll be addressing it straight down the line about football and looking forward to a terrific night.

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“People can do their democratic duty during the day and then come to the football afterwards.”

Final ticket and capacity numbers are expected to be released next week and put on sale to the public the following week.