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Darwins biggest week end of Footy is here

AFL Northern Territory is delighted to announce that Darwin’s “Biggest Weekend of Footy” is here. For the first time the TIO NTFL Season will coincide with the Defence Jobs AFL Carnival, with both competitions running from Friday October 10th to Sunday October 12th, exclusively at TIO Stadium.

The 2008/09 TIO NTFL Season is set to be the most exciting ever, with the Territory’s premier football competition providing a breeding ground for players to promote themselves as potential inclusions in the inaugural Northern Territory Football Club team.

Tony Frawley, Chief Executive Officer AFLNT said, “The establishment of the NTFC, which will compete full-time in the 2009 AFL Queensland competition, has already attracted established stars from outside of Darwin, such as Liam Jurrah from 2008 AFL Central Australia premiers Yuendumu, to Darwin to participate in 2008/09 TIO NTFL Season. AFLNT is delighted that players of the calibre of Jurrah are moving to Darwin, as it strengthen the TIO NTFL competition and the eight TIO NTFL football clubs.”

TIO NTFL Round 1 kicks off on Friday night with Southern Districts facing a revitalized Darwin at 7.30pm. Saturday October 11th is a double header with Waratah vs. Tiwi Bombers at 3.30pm, followed by Nightcliff and Wanderers at 6.00pm. All matches will be played on TIO Stadium Oval 1.

Richard Harding, Chief Executive TIO said, “TIO is proud to be the Premier sponsor of AFL in the Northern Territory. Football is an intrinsic part of our community in the Northern Territory and TIO is delighted to support the ongoing expansion and success of the game.”

The 2008 Defence Jobs AFL Carnival is set to be as fantastic as ever, with a record around 20 teams competing in three divisions (Navy NTFL, Norforce Community, RAAF Women). The 2008 competition has an international flavor, with AFL Northern Territory delighted to announce that the DFR Timor All-Stars will be competing as an exhibition team. The team will feature at least 8 Timorese footballers, including 4 who will travel from East Timor to Darwin to play, with members of the Australian Defence Force assisting to fill the rest of the positions in the team.

Santa Teresa, winners of the 2007 Army Community Division, will attempt to go back to back, in the hope of again winning the opportunity to play at the M.C.G. After winning last year’s competition as the highest placed Indigenous Community side, Santa Teresa travelled to Melbourne in May 2008 to compete in a curtain-raiser match to the Dreamtime at the G Match at the M.C.G., as part of the AFL’s 2008 Indigenous Round.