How would a Northern Territory team go in the AFL?

[Jascave]

With the Gold Coast Suns really struggling after being smashed to pieces by the other expansion team, GWS, would it have been better for the AFL to create a team in the Northern Territory along with the Giants instead of the Suns?

The Northern Territory AFL side would be known as the NT Buffaloes, with home games alternating between Darwin and Alice Springs.

The NT club would play a couple of seasons in the SANFL to prepare themselves for their AFL debut.

So, how would the NT Buffaloes side line up in its first AFL game in Darwin (allowing for early priority/draft/trade selections)?

 

[Runnin Blue]

Well they just helped win the AFLW premiership, so I'd say pretty alright.

 

[sverik25]

If Tasmania can't support a team, there is no way the NT will be able to.

 

[Rotayjay]

Anybody have a list of Territorians who currently play in the AFL?

 

[10571z]

Alice springs has a population of 25,000.. Even if literally every person in town rocked up to the game the crowd would be poor.

At least there theme song is already worked out with the darwin buffaloes song

http://websites.sportstg.com/club_i...D=111808&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=20510496

Probably the weirdest song ever

 

[Bokonon_]

Climate? It wiĺl be a rude shock for teams from down south lobbing into mid 30's heat out of the southern winter. I know playets can adapt to climate, the locals play in the wet season. It's more the rapid change with a day or so to acclimatise. All for it in principle, territorians are used to travelling but Darwin to Alice might also be a stretch for significant numbers.

 

[gavaniacono]

I'd be stepping on their toes b4 first bounce.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Too much of a divide. If you go there there's 2 sectors, league fans and Aussie rules fans, and they are a lot more stubborn than those in QLD and NSW, you'll rarely find a leaguey who even glances at the AFL and vice versa

 

[LordLucifer]

With the Gold Coast Suns really struggling after being smashed to pieces by the other expansion team, GWS, would it have been better for the AFL to create a team in the Northern Territory along with the Giants instead of the Suns?

The Northern Territory AFL side would be known as the NT Buffaloes, with home games alternating between Darwin and Alice Springs.

The NT club would play a couple of seasons in the SANFL to prepare themselves for their AFL debut.

So, how would the NT Buffaloes side line up in its first AFL game in Darwin (allowing for early priority/draft/trade selections)?

There is already a club called the Buffaloes playing in the NTAFL.

The other thing is, they play in the opposite season, they are starting their cricket season right now.

 

[Bokonon_]

There is already a club called the Buffaloes playing in the NTAFL.

The other thing is, they play in the opposite season, they are starting their cricket season right now.

I considered that. The Thunder play in the NEAFL in synch with the Souther winter though, and very successfully on the field at least. So I dismissed it as a real issue.

 

[Mr Mister]

Zero chance. It's a nice thought, if they could have exclusive rights to indigenous players they would be an incredible team to watch (see how the NT Thunder has performed in the NEAFL).

 

[rumply]

Australia's just too ****ing big for it to be viable, I'm originally from up there and would love to see it happen but just like Tassie, not in this lifetime

 

[sonnywalters]

Night games would be fine.
Main issue is probably just cost of flights ?
They certainly could not do worse than the GC that is for sure. At least the locals know and love their footy.

TIO stadium is ok but not great.
A modern stadium/upgrade at Gardens (maintaining the heritage features of course) would be absolutely sensational and the entire town would be rocking if that happened.

Time zone for Darwin is decent. A 7.40pm bounce in Darwin goes to air in Melbourne at 8.10. That is good for TV.

 

[Killer Kowalski]

It could work if the games were played at midnight

 

[sonnywalters]

Australia's just too ******* big for it to be viable, I'm originally from up there and would love to see it happen but just like Tassie, not in this lifetime

Yeah. Flight is no problem from Adelaide and Brisbane but for everyone else it would be another long flight.

 

[10571z]

Night games would be fine.
Main issue is probably just cost of flights ?
They certainly could not do worse than the GC that is for sure. At least the locals know and love their footy.

TIO stadium is ok but not great.
A modern stadium/upgrade at Gardens (maintaining the heritage features of course) would be absolutely sensational and the entire town would be rocking if that happened.

Time zone for Darwin is decent. A 7.10pm bounce in Darwin goes to air in Melbourne at 7.40. That is good for TV.

How would cost of flights be an issue for the afl...

 

[sonnywalters]

AFL would be ok.
Broke ass clubs like mine would probably complain.

 

[Murraj1966]

GC license should be moved to Tassie but if it were to be moved it would go to WA you'd think

 

[Superstar swan]

good luck recruiting players to the nt

 

[WCErevival]

Its about population. As rubbish as GC is at the moment there are more people there than all of Tasmania. The NT has no chance of ever getting a team with a total population of about 200k. Thats in the entire thing not just one area.

 

[ScarlettFever]

Anybody have a list of Territorians who currently play in the AFL?

Don't have a list but could rattle a few off:
Steven may
Shaun Burgoyne
Steven Motlop
Nakia cockatoo
McDonald-tipungwuti
Curtly Hampton
Ben long
Brandon parfitt
Cyril Rioli
Willie Rioli
Daniel Rioli

That's all I got off the top of the head.

Anyway, there is no way a team would work in the NT any time soon. Lack of population, location and funds would mean that the team would never be able to be self sufficient and would need to rely on AFL handouts to stay afloat.

You could argue that is what the GC and GWS are doing but reality is that they have a market which could potentially be tapped, eventually, just due to sheer weight of numbers.

As others have said, there just isn't the population.

 

[Kent Brockman]

Alice springs has a population of 25,000.. Even if literally every person in town rocked up to the game the crowd would be poor.

At least there theme song is already worked out with the darwin buffaloes song

http://websites.sportstg.com/club_i...D=111808&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=20510496

Probably the weirdest song ever

Holy shit this is the best thing I have ever listened to

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

Not a chance

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

Alice springs has a population of 25,000.. Even if literally every person in town rocked up to the game the crowd would be poor.

At least there theme song is already worked out with the darwin buffaloes song

http://websites.sportstg.com/club_i...D=111808&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=20510496

Probably the weirdest song ever

wtf...

 

[gandaal]

Let's start a new team up in Cranbourne instead. After all the City of Casey has a bigger population than the entire Northern Territory combined.