About AFLNT

To celebrate the centenary of Territory Football in 2016, Dr. Matthew Stephen produced an essay detailing the sport's achievements and rich history in the NT. 

The following is an excerpt from the essay:

Since football was first played in the Northern Territory in 1916 it has captured the public imagination like no other sport. Names like David Kantilla, Bill Dempsey, Maurice Rioli, Nathan Buckley, Michael Long, Andrew McLeod and Cyril Rioli are synonymous with exhilarating football and the Northern Territory itself.  They are not just football stars but representatives of their family past and present, their football club, and their community.  

Football is woven into to the fabric of Northern Territory life. For some it is the centre of their lives. ‘For the Tiwi people football means hope, it means pride and most of all it means life.’[1] The values invested in football, why it is played, who plays it and who controls it, reveals a great deal about society itself.[2] While today football celebrates and reflects the diversity and achievements the Territory’s communities it has not always been so. As society has changed so has football.

[1] David Moodie, ed. Tiwi Footy Yiloga (Singapore: F11 Productions, 2008), 105.

[2] Vasili, The First Black Footballer, Arthur Wharton 1865–1930: An Absence of Memory. (London: Frank Cass, 1998), p.96

Mr Sean Bowden - Chairman

• Bachelor of Laws (with Honours)
• Partner, Bowden McCormack Lawyers & Advisers
• Former player Richmond Football Club (FC), Port Melbourne FC, Rovers FC (Alice Springs)
• VFA Representative player 1994, 1995
• Premiership Coach, Rovers FC, CAFL, 1996

 
Mrs Dianne Borella

• Master of Public Health
• Diploma of Social Science and Management
• Company Director – Dianne Borella Consultancy Pty Ltd.
• Accredited Trainer – Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid
• Cert IV Mentoring Diverse Groups
• Life Member Nightcliff Football Club
• Past President Rotary Club of Darwin Sunrise
• Recipient of Paul Harris Fellow Award
• Recipient of Sapphire Paul Harris Fellow Award
• NT Thunder Football Club Volunteer of the Year Award
• Long Term Employee – Australian Public Service with experience in Education, Employment, Training, Youth Affairs, Aboriginal Health, Law & Order
• Member of well-respected local sporting family

Ms Kathleen Cole

• Bachelor of Business – Major Accounting
• Graduate Diploma of Public Health – Indigenous Health
• Masters of Community Management
• Fellow of Australian Certified Accountants
• Executive Management within NT 15 years
• Member of Waratah Football Club 12 years
• Executive officer Miriam Rose Foundation
• Independant non-executive director for Perpetual Trustees
• Chairperson of NT Australian Red Cross Advisor Board
• Lived in the Northern Territory for 38 years.
• Graduate of AICD

Mr Rob Auld

• AFL Executive General Manager - Game Development
• Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Accounting
• 15-year career with Lion, working across finance, logistics, and sales in the winery and dairy business units
• Joined the AFL in 2016 as CEO of AFL Tasmania
• 2018 was appointed to Head of Game Development
• 2020 was appointed General Manager of AFL competitions including umpiring, competition management, game analysis, and player movement
• 2021 was appointed Executive General Manager Game Development, which includes responsibility for all participation and programs including the portfolios of Auskick, Schools, Diversity and Inclusion, as well as Community Football governance and facility development

Mr Lincoln Jenkin

• Regional Manager of Carlton & United Breweries NT
• NT resident for over 4 decades, one of those in Alice Springs
• Inaugural member and former Chairman, of Northern Territory FC
• Has a strong NT football background having played in Central Australia  (Federal FC and Wests FC) and Darwin (Wanderers FC and Banks FC) competitions
• Served on a variety of FC committees and coached at several levels, including premiership teams
• Is involved with NT Masters AFL
• Is a lifelong Essendon Bombers supporter

Dr Josie Douglas

• Executive management experience- General Manager Health Services Division (Central Australian Aboriginal Congress) and Executive Manager,
• Policy and Governance (Central Land Council)
• A long-time advocate for social justice, community, and policy development in Aboriginal Affairs
• Extensive background working for the Aboriginal community-controlled sector
• Has held senior research roles at
• CSIRO and Charles Darwin University Award-winning researcher, including the recipient of the prestigious W.H. Stanner Award (2017)
• Ministerial appointments at the Commonwealth and NT level (education and training, environment, AFL)
• Community volunteer

Mr Nigel Browne

• Current CEO of the Larrakia Development Corporation, serving as a Director from 2005 and Chair from 2010-2013
• Bachelor of Laws
• Crown Prosecutor (ODPPNT)
• Aboriginal Lands (SFNT)
• Policy Adviser (Chief Minister's Office)
• Director The Healing Foundation
• Director Aboriginal Area Protection Authority (NT)
• Director Menzies School of Health Research
• Director National Center for Indigenous Excellence
• Served as a Patrolman with NORFORCE and is a service Legal Officer (RANR)
• 2011 National Indigenous Legal Professional of the Year
• Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Mr Thomas Wilcox

• 20 years of experience in legal and corporate governance roles in Australia and overseas, predominantly in the resources sector
• Currently General Counsel & Company
• Secretary of ASX-listed New Century Resources Limited
• Former captain, premiership player and Executive Committee member with the University Blues Football Club in the Premier Division of the Victorian Amateur Football Association
• Master of Laws (LLM); Bachelor of Laws (LLB); Bachelor of Commerce (BCom)
• Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD)

Download the 2023 AFLNT Annual Report here. 

Download the 2022 AFLNT Annual Report here. 

Download the 2021 AFLNT Annual Report here. 

Download the 2020 AFLNT Annual Report here. 

Download the 2019 AFLNT Annual Report here. 

Download the 2018 AFLNT Annual Report here. 

Download the 2017 AFLNT Annual Report here. 

Download the 2016 AFLNT Annual Report here. 

Download the 2015 AFLNT Annual Report here. 

Download the 2014 AFLNT Annual Report here. 

Download the 2013 AFLNT Annual Report here. 

Life Membership is to be awarded by the AFLNT via the AFLNT Board at the Annual General Meeting. 

There are three categories of life membership - Honorary, Player and Umpire.

According to the AFL Northern Territory Consitution, the guidelines for receiving AFLNT life membership stipulate; 

9.3 Life Members
(d) The Board may by resolution elect a person to a category of Life Membership provided that the person satisfies the relevant criteria as follows:

(i) Honorary Life Member: An Honorary Life Member is any person who has rendered outstanding service to Australian Football in the Northern Territory and only two such appointments may be made in each Financial Year;

(ii) Player Life Member: A Player Life Member is any person who has:

(A) played 200 Men’s Senior Australian Football games (in aggregate) for a Club (or Clubs) in the NTFL Premier League, the NT Thunder (or any successor representative team) or a Northern Territory representative team; or

(B) played 150 Women’s Senior Australian Football games (in aggregate) for a Club (or Clubs) in the NTFL Premier League, the NT Thunder (or any successor representative team) or a Northern Territory representative team;

(iii) Umpire Life Member: An Umpire Life Member is any person who has:

(A) umpired 200 Men’s or Women’s Senior Australian Football games (in aggregate) as a field and/or a boundary umpire in the NTFL Premier League, or any game in which the NT Thunder (or any successor representative team) or a Northern Territory representative team competes;

(B) umpired 200 Men’s or Women’s Senior Australian Football games (in aggregate) as a goal umpire in the NTFL Premier League, or any game in which the NT Thunder (or any successor representative team) or a Northern Territory representative team competes, and has given not less than ten (10) years’ service to Australian Football in the Northern Territory; or

(C) not met the requirements of clauses 9.3(c)(iii)(A) or 9.3(c)(iii)(B) above, but has umpired 200 Men’s or Women’s Senior Australian Football games (in aggregate) as either a field and/or boundary umpire and a goal umpire in the NTFL Premier League, or any game in which the NT Thunder (or any successor representative team) or a Northern Territory representative team competes, and has given not less than ten (10) years’ service to Australian Football in the Northern Territory.

Furthermore, a person shall not be deemed to be elected as a Life Member until they have notified the Company that they accept their election as a Life Member of the Company. 

A person who has accepted their election as a Life Member shall be announced at the next Annual General Meeting. 
 

The Northern Territory Football Club aka NT Thunder was established in 2009 to utilise the power of Australian Rules Football in tackling anti-social behaviour, deliver educational outcomes and provide employment opportunities for Territorians.

NT Thunder recognises the fact Australian Rules Football is the language that breaks all barriers across the NT and through a diverse and unique set of core objectives the club has cemented its place as a high profile, successful sporting organisation that provides life changing opportunities, penetrates cultural differences and adds significant value to the local community.

In 2018 the NT Thunder women's team joined the Victorian Football League (VFL) women's competition, making the finals in its inaugural year. 

NT Thunder won the 2011 Eastern and Northern premiership in 2011 (two separate grand finals) and also won the 2015 NEAFL premiership.

There is a rich history and culture at NT Thunder thanks to the dreams and tireless work of many.

In September 2019, AFLNT confirmed it would not enter teams in the NEAFL and VFLW competitions in 2020, see here for more information.

To see historic news, videos, fixtures and result information, plus 2019 player profiles and much more be sure to visit the NT Thunder website. 
 

Officially opened on March 13 2015, the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre (MLLLC) is designed to harness the power of AFL football in the Northern Territory (NT) to give young Indigenous Territorians the same opportunities as all Australians.

The Centre has a focus well beyond football, delivering education programs for indigenous students from remote areas.

School attendance, engagement and behaviours, completion of secondary education, work readiness and awareness of opportunities are some of the many outcomes the MLLLC education programs focus on improving.

The MLLLC was established following the success of the AFLNT’s remote projects, which were set up in 2008. These projects are currently based in eight communities and surrounding regions across the NT, which deliver strong programs, that inspire and engage communities to promote education, health, wellbeing and employment outcomes through the power of football.

The Centre has accommodation facilities for up to 72 people, a state-of-the-art gym, pool/recovery, education spaces and corporate facilities for functions and events.

If you would like more information about these projects or would like more information about the Centre, please contact the MLLLC at mlllc@afl.com.au.

Inspiring, educating, empowering and uniting communities through Australian Rules Football.

AFLNT is the only peak sporting body in the Northern Territory with a full-time presence throughout multiple remote regions.

Recognised as the ‘jewel in the crown’ of AFLNT, the remote projects have a broad focus that includes positive; social, health, education and employment outcomes. The comprehensive delivery of football programs in remote Aboriginal communities is also unique to AFLNT and no other AFL state bodies.  

The remote projects are situated in locations from the tropical top end to the red deserts of Central Australia including the following regions and communities; Central Australia, Lajamanu, Wadeye, Tiwi Islands, Maningrida, Elcho Island, Gove and Groote Eylandt. Previously Ngukurr, Borroloola, Gapuwiyak and Gunbalanya. Serviced areas include communities, outstations and homelands. 

By harnessing the passion for Australian Rules Football, remote-based football initiatives are delivered by AFLNT to save extensive and dangerous travel time to access structured and supported sporting environments. Remote based football programs allow people to play their sport of preference on country of significance without the potential distractions of urban locations. 

All football initiatives are participatory driven to include; children, youth and adults (males and female) in various programs. Football activities involve targeted messaging and specific programs based on advice from community elders, funding bodies and service providers. The remote projects are delivered in a culturally sensitive manner with consideration for local customs, traditions and cultural practices.

With a community development focus to inspire, educate, empower and unite communities through Australian Rules Football. Building the capacity of community members to drive the direction and oversee local football initiatives is the aspirational goal of each project.  

Eleven Remote Development Managers (RDMs) are employed to live in the remote regions below to deliver the projects:

• Barkly
• Big Rivers
• Central Australia
• Galiwin'ku
• Gove
• Groote Eylandt
• Gunbalanya
• Lajamanu
• Maningrida
• Tiwi Islands
• Wadeye

An overview of the football themed activities delivered by the Remote Development Managers are as follows:

• Facilitating local community-based football competitions for adult males and females, youth males and females and modified junior competitions. 
• Junior Game Development programs to promote AFL skill development, including school based and community wide ‘Auskick’ programs.
• School based football initiatives to promote school attendance, leadership, sportsmanship and teamwork. Healthy lifestyle choices, mentoring and leadership are also major components of the school-based programs along with educational support. 
• The Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre (MLLLC) - providing a conduit between the Darwin based MLLLC program and students from remote community schools. Facilitating the pre and post camp programs and assisting the selection of students for camps. 
• Facilitating and managing remote community football carnivals and festivals for multiple remote community in a safe, welcoming and structured environment. Ensuring all remote community carnivals don’t impact school attendance and community harmony.  
• Facilitate community-based umpiring, coaching and football administration training courses and accreditations.  
• Assist in identifying talented footballers for NT state academy teams and programs for all participating age groups and genders.
• Assisting the Geelong Cats, Melbourne Demons, Hawthorn Hawks, Essendon Bombers and Collingwood Magpies Football Clubs, complete their Next Generation Academy commitments throughout the remote regions of the NT.
• Providing opportunities for local trainee positions, CDP hosted agreements and casual roles to work for AFLNT. 

AFLNT Contacts

General enquiries – aflnt@afl.com.au

Sponsorship/partnership/finance – ntcommercial@afl.com.au

Community Footy – aflnt.football@afl.com.au

Michael Long Learning & Leadership Centre Academy – mlllc@afl.com.au

Events – aflntevents@afl.com.au

Media Enquiries - aflnt.media@afl.com.au

Postal Addresses

Darwin

PO Box 43196
CASUARINA  NT  0811

Alice Springs   

PO Box 379
ALICE SPRINGS NT 0871 

AFLNT resides on Larrakia Country. We acknowledge the Larrakia people as the Traditional Owners of the greater Darwin Region and pay our respects to Larrakia Elders past and present. We are committed to a positive future for all Aboriginal people.
 

TIO NTFL Club Vacancies

If your club or organisation is interested in advertising a position related to Northern Territory Football on our AFLNT Careers page, please send your job ad (in Word format) to aflntmedia@afl.com.au. Please make sure you provide the completed version as changes once the ad has been posted are limited.

Ongoing AFLNT Vacancies

NTFL Match Managers

• To view position description, click here.
• Email your application to aflnt.football@afl.com.au

NTFL Commentators 

• Love NTFL footy? Love to yarn? We want to speak with you! 
• Email interest to aflnt.media@afl.com.au

AFLNT Photographers

• To view the position description, click here.
• Email your application to aflnt.media@afl.com.au

Kiosk/ Bar Staff - TIO Stadium

• Email your application to jenny.elliott@afl.com.au

TIO Stadium

TIO Stadium, formerly Marrara Stadium, is the premier outdoor stadium in the Northern Territory and was built in 1991, primarily to cater for Australian Football. TIO Stadium has a unique Territory feel with open air viewing and traditional football sights from the grassy mounds. You are able to watch AFL games in the comfort of an air-conditioned corporate box, the Kantilla’s members' bar or from the premium viewing alfresco wings.

TIO Traeger Park

TIO Traeger Park Oval, known as the jewel in the centre, is the premier playing field in Alice Springs. TIO Traeger Park Oval has beautifully manicured lawns which are meticulously maintained to perfection and attracts national sporting fixtures to the region.

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