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The NTFL is a 7 team Australian rules football semi-professional league operating in Darwin in the Northern Territory.

The premier grade is the largest and most popular football league in the Northern Territory. The league consists of a single division with under 13, under 14, under 15, under 16, under 18, reserves and open (professional) levels of competition.^[1]

Most NTFL matches are played on Marrara Oval (TIO Stadium).

The Tiwi Islands Football League consisting almost solely of Indigenous Australian players traditionally acted as a feeder competition for clubs such as St Marys, but fielded its own team in 2006, the Tiwi Bombers.

Contents 1 Clubs 2 Recent Results 3 History 4 Audience 4.1 Attendance 4.2 Media 4.2.1 Television 4.2.2 Radio 5 See also 6 References 7 External links

• St Mary's Saints
• Nightcliff Tigers
• Darwin Buffaloes
• Wanderers Eagles
• Waratah Warriors
• Palmerston Magpies
• Southern Districts Crocs
• Tiwi Bombers (trial year)

The Darwin Buffaloes defeated St Mary's to win the 2005/06 premiership of the NTFL 13.14 (92) to 6.14 (50).

See Australian rules football in the Northern Territory

The NTFL chose to play in the Northern Territory's 'wet season', primarily due to hard playing surfaces during the 'dry season'. Most other leagues in Australia operate during the winter, but since the Territory does not have a winter, it is played at different times.

The Wanderers Football Club were the founding members of the league in 1916. Waratah Football Club also joined in 1916 and are the only club to have competed in every single season since the formation of the league. Darwin (Buffaloe Football Club) was formed a year later in 1917. Nightcliff formed in 1950. St Marys formed in 1952. Palmerston entered the league in 1973. North Darwin entered in early 1970. Southern Districts entered the league in 1987.

In the 1990s, the league 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 the league's operating costs up drastically despite contrary promises from the NT government.

During this history of the league it has exported successful players to other 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.^[2]

The NTFL attracts strong local crowds. The 2005 Grand final attracted a crowd of over 5,000 people.

In 2006, NTFL 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 Northern).

• AFL Northern Territory

• Official website

Clubs in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL)
Premier Division	St Mary's | Nightcliff | Darwin | Wanderers | Waratah Palmerston | Southern Districts | Tiwi Bombers

Australian rules football in the Northern Territory
Governing Body	AFL Northern Territory
Darwin Leagues	NTFL
Regional Leagues	TEAFA | CAFL | Champions League | Barkly & District | Katherine District | Gove | Tiwi Islands
Women's Leagues	Northern Territory Women's Aussie Rules Football Association
Masters Leagues	Masters Australian Football NT