AFLNT introduce junior grade overhaul for 2025-26 NTFL season

The AFLNT will introduce a major restructure of its junior grade system for the upcoming NTFL season, with some clubs voicing concerns.

The AFLNT has undertaken a major restructure of its age grades to prioritise youth development, however some clubs have concerns with the change.

The NTFL’s under-18s competition will now be an under-17.5’s with participating players needing to be less than 18 on December 31 of the year of the competition starting.

Players must also have turned 15 by June 30 of the year the competition starts to play in the top age grade.

However, there has been some push back from clubs about players expecting to play in the under-18s only to fall out of the age grade in the restructure.

As such there will be an age dispensation application for players who turn 18 between July 1 and December 31 of 2025 for the upcoming season.

Other age groups have been switched from even years to odd, as in the under-16s is now the under-15s down to the under-9s, which was formally the under-10s.

St Mary's won the under-18s NTFL premiership in the 2024-25 season. Picture: Jack Riddiford / AFLNT Media

An AFLNT spokesperson said the revisions had come following requests from clubs to conduct a review into the grades to ensure a sustainable age group structure.

It is understood a major reason was low numbers in the under-18s girls competition.

“The NTFL has revised junior and youth age groups, introducing two-year age brackets from Under 9s to Under 15s and expanding the top age Under 17.5 age group,” they said.

“This creates a sustainable pathway to senior competitions and better aligns with the AFL’s national policy.

“The AFLNT will continue to support clubs during the transition to ensure a safe, fun, and fair game environment.”

In a statement released to clubs the primary reasons for the changes was to prioritise ongoing development of the top age youth girls comp and to create a sustainable age group structure.

Southern Districts playing the under-18s NTFL semi-final in the 2024-25 season. Picture: Jack Riddiford / AFLNT Media

Nightcliff Tigers president Mark Dodge said the club had concerns with where the change in age would leave some of his club’s players.

The Tigers girls won the under-18s competition in the 2024-25 NTFL season and were losing grand finalists in the boys competition.

“As a club we have concerns with it and would prefer it was brought in 12 months’ time,” Dodge said.

St Mary’s president Peter Atkinson said his club had reservations about changes to the boy’s competition considering the difference between the new age group and seniors.

“We opposed changes made to the boys competition, but were prepared to support any innovations they wanted to put in for the girl’s competition,” he said.

Originally published as AFLNT introduce junior grade overhaul for 2025-26 NTFL season