Territory football bosses focusing on player pathways before working towards a VFL side

A full-time Territory representative side in a second tier VFL competition is not the AFLNT’s immediate priority

The traditional Territory representative jumper with white, black and ochre the dominant colours. Picture: GREY MORRIS

A TERRITORY side in a merged VFL-NEAFL competition is not on the immediate agenda of the game’s administrators.

The possibility of a Territory side competing alongside Victorian clubs Collingwood, Richmond and Geelong and former NEAFL sides Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney and the Giants arose after the AFL announced the merger earlier this week.

But AFLNT boss Stuart Totham played the role of a traffic cop yesterday when he put up his hand to signal a halt to any short term plans aimed at the Territory getting involved.

“Our focus at AFLNT is going to be on community footy, programs and participation, government facilities and bedding down our talent programs with head office,’’ he said.

“So we’ve got some work to do in terms of re-establishing our talent base and getting our pathways sorted.

“The teams in various competitions may come back on the radar further down the track.’’

Totham could not clarify any time frames for fielding a Territory representative side.

“Who really knows, I wouldn’t put a timeline on it with so many things to consider,’’ he said. “It will be a complex process if it does happen.’’

Totham other state heads of football are already discussing the future of the game with an emphasis on competitions away from the elite level.

The Territory’s previous route to statewide competitions in the NEAFL and Victoria’s AFLW competitions through the Thunder program were blocked after a decade due to declining crowd and draft numbers and a reduction in sponsorship money.

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