Talking Footy

Bbear wrote: ↑Sun May 29, 2022 7:58 pm

Rugby League in the NT is acomprehensive utter failure if compared to AFL.
Australian rules has 10 league competitions.
To name a few, Tiwi islands, Central Australia, Katherine, NTFL.
Australian rules football is and has always been the biggest sport up north, it's part of the culture.

NRL is struggling to maintain 2 league competitions with some clubs shutting up, unable to attract players due to lack of interest.
Rugby league is not part of the NT sporting culture, never will be, and is nothing more than a silly sporting curiosity.
NT people like most sane Australians despise and hate Rugby league.

Fred wrote: ↑Mon May 30, 2022 11:10 am

And this from Wikki - again take it as you will

Australian rules football is the Territory's most popular sport, particularly with indigenous Australian communities in Darwin, Alice Springs and the Tiwi Islands. The governing body for football in the territory is the AFL Northern Territory.

18% of all Territorians in 2017 participated in Australian Football,[1] the highest participation rate in Australia (and second worldwide). The sport also produces more professional Australian Footballers per capita in the Australian Football League than any other state or territory.

The Northern Territory is home to several representative teams, most notably the Aboriginal All-Stars. Also the Flying Boomerangs represent Australia internationally and the Northern Territory has a strong local competition, the Northern Territory Football League. A professional club, the Northern Territory Football Club (NT Thunder) was formed in 2008 and competed in the second tier semi-national NEAFL competition. Following a 2018 scoping study, in 2021 the Northern Territory AFL taskforce launched an official bid to enter a team into the national Australian Football League (AFL) competition which is under consideration by the league for entry around 2030.[2]

Since the debut of Reuben Cooper in 1969 a large number of Territorians have played in the AFL, though a significant percentage have launched their professional football careers from other states, particularly South Australia. A proportionately high number of AFL players per capita are now from the Territory. Perhaps the most accomplished born and raised player is Australian Football Hall of Famer Andrew Mcleod. Fellow Hall of Famer Nathan Buckley is the only Territorian to win the prestigious Brownlow Medal. Darwin-born Shaun Burgoyne holds both the AFL games and goals records with 407 games and 302 goals. Burgoyne and Cyril Rioli have played in 4 AFL premierships, more than any other Territorian.


And for RL.

Rugby league is administered by the Northern Territory Rugby League. The territory has the highest participation rate per capita for Rugby League than any other state governing body in Australia. The National Rugby League has conducted numerous clinics and hosted regular pre-season matches in the territory since 1998. Local domestic competitions are based in Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine and Gove. A combined Northern Territory team also participates in the Affiliated States Championship.



A good measure may be "how many Northern Territorians (born and breed) have played at the NRL and AFL levels"? I know there is a lot in the AFL but have no idea re: NRL.

Fred wrote: ↑Mon May 30, 2022 3:14 pm

Okay - there was the redit posts too.

But hey, if it is that important to you - let's all say NT is dominant RL heartland. Makes not one iota of difference to me either way.

truthbomber wrote: ↑Mon May 30, 2022 6:19 pm

Fred wrote: ↑Mon May 30, 2022 3:14 pm

Okay - there was the redit posts too.

But hey, if it is that important to you - let's all say NT is dominant RL heartland. Makes not one iota of difference to me either way.

there was crap fumbler
again
NTers enjoying their NRL way more then derpball ... clearly

& if it made no difference to you either way , you wouldn't be desperately posting lame wiki articles & chucking tantys

Beaussie wrote: ↑Mon May 30, 2022 8:16 pm

I would like to see the NT get the 20th licence. Truly national competition then. Hopefully it happens with the NT government starting to get serious with their bid.

Bbear wrote: ↑Mon May 30, 2022 7:34 pm

Aboriginal All Stars vs Carlton attracted a huge record sellout crowd of 17000 in 2003, these figures won't be beaten for years.
AFL cannot afford to lose its dominance in NT as is is such fantastic recruiting area of skilful scintillating players have contributed enormously to the game.
Many players have become super star household names .
The Territory has contributed great players way beyond their small population would suggest, a unique situation.