AFLNT defers opening weekend of CAFL community comp as feud with Alice Springs Council continues

The AFLNT has deferred all games from the opening weekend of the CAFL community competition as a feud with the Alice Springs Town Council continues.

The Central Australian Football League Community Competition has been deferred just days out from its opening round after it was barred from all Alice Springs Town Council grounds.

AFLNT released fixtures for the CAFL’s community competition several weeks ago, with four Round 1 games scheduled at Traeger Park for May 7.

It came despite the council banning all community competition games for the 2023 season from its grounds, following concerns that fans from remote communities would contribute to social issues plaguing the town.

It has since taken things to a new level, barring all Central Australian Football League games from Traeger Park, arguing AFLNT had breached its licence agreement for the ground.

However, due to ongoing disagreements between the league and council, the games set to be played on May 7 have been deferred until later in the season.

The opening round of the 2023 CAFL community comp has been deferred. Picture: Charlie Lowson / AFLNT Media

Mutitjulu Cats senior coach Craig Woods said it was disappointing for decisions to have taken so long at the expense of the competition.

His club is one of the four impacted by the opening weekend deferral, alongside Arlparra, Papunya and reigning premiers Mt Allan.

Ltyente Apurte, Utju, Ti Tree, Western Aranda, Tijikala and Yuendumu are so far unaffected by the deferral with their Round 1 matches still on track to be played on May 14.

“It’s definitely disappointing for me and the wider community from Central Australia,” Woods said.

“It’s disappointing that’s it got to this point and that it has taken this long to resolve something so important.

“They could have professionally talked about or sorted it out at the end of last season.”

The silver lining for Woods was that should the schedule stay as it is, they’re set to play their first match of the season at home against Titjikala.

Cats coach Craig Woods called it disappointing to the fixtures had taken so long to come out. Picture: Sarah Reed

“Probably the good thing for us is it that if stays to schedule we’ve got a home game in front of our people,” he said.

“It takes time to sort out these kinds of issues, especially what the community of Alice is facing with break-ins and stealing.

“It’s something a none of us would want to rush into.”

The peak body had to move all Round 1 town games to Anzac, Jim McConville and Albrecht ovals after security guards barred access to Traeger.

Other AFLNT-run football programs such as the Footy for Life all abilities program, talent programs and other community football programs were also barred from the main ground.

Meanwhile, NT Police investigated reports of violence at a CAFL town game at Albrecht Oval on Saturday night.

“Police spoke with two individuals following a football match; however, no complaint is forthcoming,” a spokeswoman said.

“Anyone who witnesses anti-social behaviour is urged to contact police on 131 444.”

The spokeswoman would not say if there would be an increased police presence for the community competition matches.