The Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) is an Australian rules football competition, operating in Greater Darwin and the Northern Territory, formerly run by the Northern Territory Football League Incorporated and, since 3 September 2001, is a business name of the AFL Northern Territory Limited. The NTFL is currently branded "TIO NTFL" under sponsorship naming rights held by Allianz, which owns the Territory Insurance Office (TIO). It operates a semi-professional senior men's competition as well as competitions for women and underagers (U11-U17.5 boys and girls).
It is one of few (and the highest level) Australian men's football competitions played during the Australian Summer with the season beginning in October and ending in March, because cricket cannot be played during the wet season, due to high levels of rain, resulting in the football and cricket seasons being swapped. It regularly attracts high-profile semi-professional players from interstate competitions due to its lack of salary cap and the timing of the season, which allows players to play extra matches during the off-season of other competitions. While most other Australian football competitions in Australia operate during the southern hemisphere winter, the NTFL chooses to play in the Northern Territory's 'wet season' from October to March, primarily due to hard playing surfaces and the need to play cricket during the 'dry season'.
History
The NTFL was founded in 1916 with The Wanderers Football Club and Waratah Football Club as founding members. Waratahs are the only club to have competed in every season of the NTFL. Darwin (Buffalos Football Club) was formed in 1917, Nightcliff in 1950, St Marys in 1952, Palmerston in 1972 (as North Darwin), Southern Districts in 1987 and the Tiwi Bombers in 2006 (with full entry in 2007).
The 1974-75 season was abandoned due to the devastation from Cyclone Tracy.
In the 1990s, it ran into financial problems, primarily due to the Northern Territory government luring the league to the new purpose-built stadium at Marrara Oval after its construction in 1991. The move pushed its operating costs up drastically despite contrary promises from the NT government. On 3 September 2001, the businesses of the formerly independent Northern Territory Football League Incorporated, which had overseen Australian Football in the NT since 1917, were taken-over by the Melbourne-based Australian Football League (AFL),AFL Northern Territory Limited, Marrara (2001—) National Redress Scheme causing disquiet among supporters of Australian Football in the Northern Territory.Opinion: The AFL should pay for an NT team, not expose Territorians to high financial and social risks by Opinion 20 July 2024 The Northern Territory Football League Incorporated was subsequently wound-up and de-registered on 19 September 2002,ABN Lookup ASIC register ending its long history and local control of Australian Football. The name, Northern Territory Football League is now owned by the AFL and licensed to AFL NT as a registered business name.ABN Lookup ASIC register NTFL board member Darryl Window orchestrated the takeover.Darryl Window AFLNT Hall of Fame - Administrator
During its history, it has exported successful players to other Australian football competitions and leagues, notable players have included Michael McLean, Maurice Rioli and Michael Long.
In 2006, it was announced that a team representing the Tiwi Islands, called the Super Tiwis would be added to the 2006/07 season for eight games against teams that would normally have the bye. They became a permanent part of the competition in the 07/08 season as the Tiwi Bombers, clad in Essendon Football Club style guernseys of black and red.
There was also a push for an NTFL representative club to compete in the Adelaide-based South Australian National Football League (SANFL). The first of a series of trial matches was held in 2006, with a long term view of admitting a Darwin side into the SANFL. A strong crowd at Marrara Oval witnessed SANFL club North Adelaide defeat a composite NTFL squad by 27 points, demonstrating that a Darwin team could be competitive. There was a push to make the event an annual match,NTFL vs North Adelaide however, the NTFL decided on fielding a side in the AFL Queensland State League from 2009 (which became the Northern Conference of the North East Australian Football League in 2011) and the Northern Territory Football Club was formed.
In 2010 it was decided to merge the NTFL with the Top End Australian Football Association (TEAFA) to create a three division competition in which the NTFL would make the premier League whilst the NTFL reserve competition and clubs from the TEAFA would incorporate the First Division and Second Divisions.
The 2012/2013 season saw Banks Bulldogs and the Central Australian Football Club placed on a four-match trial in the premier League, for possible full-time inclusion. The Bulldogs, originally a part of the TEAFA competition, would stay in the NTFL Division One competition. But the CAFC team would continue their trial run in the premier League, the number of games extended to 10 for the 2013/2014 season. However, the side did not become a permanent team in the competition.
In advance of the 2026/27 season, AFLNT announced that Banks Bulldogs will be granted a license to compete in the Premier League competitions.https://play.afl/news/banks-football-club-elevated-tio-ntfl-premier-league
Competition structure The competition consists of both junior and senior divisions.
The A Grade competition is known as the NTFL Premier League and has ten clubs: Banks, Darwin, Nightcliff, Palmerston, PINT, Southern Districts, St Mary's, Tiwi Bombers, Wanderers, and Waratah.
The men's reserves are divided into three divisions known as Men's Premier League Reserves (B Grade), Division 1 (C Grade), and Division 2 (D Grade): Premier League Reserves consists of all Premier League teams except Tiwi. Divisions 1 and 2 include thirds teams of the premier League clubs, except for the Tiwi Bombers (Palmerston are affiliated with former TEAFA club University), along with the senior teams of two other clubs which were formerly in the TEAFA competition in Tracy Village and the Jabiru Bombers.
The Women's Premier League competition has consisted of the ten Premier League clubs since 2026. Division 1 (B Grade) and 2 (C Grade) Women's hold the reserves for Women's Premier League (some sides) with the addition of Tracy Village and Jabiru.
The junior division is broken into age groups: Under 17.5's, Under 15's, Under 13's, Under 11's, and Under 9's with Boys and Girls divisions across all and Under 11's and 9's having mixed divisions. The junior divisions team numbers vary based on participation levels each year. There are eleven clubs with juniors, the ten Premier League clubs, and Tracy Village.
Clubs
Current clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome Ground2024/25 Senior GradesFormer LeagueEst.Years in NTFLSenior PremiershipsMenWomenTotalMost recentBanksBulldogsGardens Oval, The GardensPremier, Prem. Reserves,Div. 1Premier, Div. 1,Div. 2TEAFA19781978-1981, 2011-7 Darwin Buffaloes WoodroffePremier,Prem. Reserves,Div. 2Premier,Div. 1– 1916 1917-232005/06Jabiru BombersBrockman Oval, JabiruDiv. 1, Div. 2Div. 2TEAFA1982 2011-2 Nightcliff Tigers Nightcliff Bendigo Community Bank Oval, NightcliffPremier,Prem. Reserves,Div.1 (Spartans),Div. 2 (Spartans)Premier,Div. 1, Div. 2– 1950 1950-72025/26 Palmerston Magpies Cazaly's Arena, DurackPremier,Prem. Reserves, Div. 1 Premier,Div. 1, Div. 2– 1972 1972-32001/02 PINT GreenantsDXC Arena, MarraraPremier,Prem. Reserves,Div. 1, Div. 2Premier,Div. 1,Div. 2TEAFA 1981 2011-2 Southern Districts Crocs Norbuilt Oval, Freds PassPremier,Prem. Reserves, Div. 1, Div. 2Premier,Div. 1, Div. 2– 1987 1987-42024/25 St Mary's Saints Marrara Oval, MarraraPremier,Prem. Reserves,Div. 1 (Sharks)Premier,Div. 1– 1952 1952-342023/24 Tiwi Bombers Stanley Tipiloura Oval, WurrumiyangaPremierPremier– 2006 2007-12011/12Tracy VillageRazorbacksTracy Village Oval, LyonsDiv. 1,Div. 2Div. 1, Div. 2TEAFA19781978-1981, 2011-3 Wanderers Eagles Marrara Oval, MarraraPremier,Prem. Reserves, Div. 2Premier, Div. 2– 1916 1916-122014/15 Waratah Warriors Gardens Oval, The GardensPremier,Prem. Reserves, Div. 2Premier,Div. 1– 1916 1916-162022/23
Uniforms
Former clubs Former Premier League clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome groundEst.Years in NTFLNTFL Senior PremiershipsFate TotalYears AIF Regiment-Artillery 1941 1941/42 0 - Folded after 1941/42 season Air Force 1938 1938/39-1941/42, 1946/47 0 - Folded after 1941/42 season Army/Navy 1947 1947/48 0 - Folded after 1947/48 season Army/Air Force 1948 1948/49 0 - Folded after 1948/49 season Garrison Soldiers, Keros1934 1934/35 21936/37, 1938/39 Folded after 1940/41 season Katherine Roos1987 1987/88 0 - Folded after 1987/88 season, formed Big Rivers Football League Machine Gunners 1941 1941/42 0 - Folded after 1941/42 season Mobile Force 1939 1939/40 11939/40 Folded after 1939/40 season Navy 1941 1941/42, (re:1948/49) 0 - Folded after 1948/49 season Navy 1946 1946/47 0 - Folded after 1946/47 season Rovers/Magpies Magpies1925 1925/26 11927/28 Folded after 1928/29 season Services 1949 1949/50 0 - Folded after 1950/51 season Wallabies Wallabies1935 1935/36 0 - Folded after 1935/36 season Winnellie 1947 1947/48 0 - Folded after 1947/48 season
Other former clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundEst.Years in NTFLNTFL Senior PremiershipsFate TotalMost recentCombined Services Services2010/110 -Folded after 2010/11 seasonMindilSharksGardens Oval No 2, The Gardens19912010/11-2018/190 -Absorbed by St Mary's after 2018/19 seasonOlympic SpartansGardens Oval No 2, The Gardens2010/11-2014/1522014Absorbed by Nightcliff after 2014/15 seasonUniversityRatsMarrara Oval No 2, Marrara19892010/11-2021/2212013Absorbed by Palmerston after 2021/22 season
Northern Territory Football League club songs Club Colours Nickname Club song Basis/tune of club song BanksBulldogs Dogs Of The North Sons Of The Sea Darwin Buffaloes Old Buffaloes Never Die Shuffle Off To BuffaloJabiru Bombers Nightcliff Tigers We're From Tigerland Row, Row, Row From Ziegfeld Follies Palmerston Magpies The Magpies Are A Mighty Club When Johnny Comes Marching Home PINT Greenants Southern Districts Crocs The Red, Black And White Notre Dame March St Mary's Saints When The Saints Go Marching In When The Saints Go Marching In Tiwi Bombers BombersJapparikaOriginalTracy VillageRazorbacksSo Join In The ChorusJust a wee Deoch an Doris Wanderers Eagles Good Ol' Wanderers Forever Battle Hymn Of The Republic Waratah Warriors It's A Grand Old Flag You're A Grand Old Flag
Coverage
Media
Television In 2006, NTFL premier league matches were broadcast nationally for the first time ever on ABC2 each Sunday afternoon from February to March. Previously the matches had only been shown in the Territory on ABC Darwin. In 2008, it reverted to local broadcasting. During the 2014/15 season, the Saturday 3.00pm premier league match was broadcast live on ABC in Darwin. During the 2017/18 season, Southern Cross TV broadcast one game a week on Sunday afternoons. Previously, National Indigenous Television (NITV) broadcast replays of one game a week throughout the week starting Sunday afternoons. KommunityTV (NT News) has broadcast all Men's Premier League matches and one Women's Premier League match per week, with the most recent agreement signed until the conclusion of the 2023/24 season. 7Plus has streamed selected Men's Premier League Finals Matches in the 2023/24, and 2024/25 Seasons.
Radio