sport news See the $735million stadium that could be home to the AFL's 20th team - as ... trends now
A new AFL club based in the Northern Territory could become reality within the next decade, playing in a new 20,000-capacity stadium in Darwin that would cost up to $735million.
AFL legends Andrew McLeod and Nathan Buckley, along with former AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou, are part of a taskforce exploring this possibility.
The case, unveiled on Thursday, proposes that a new stadium could be constructed in Darwin's city centre within the next seven to 10 years, with costs estimated between $700 and $735million.
This development would enable a Northern Territory team to join the AFL following Tasmania's entry in 2028. The proposal also includes upgrades to Traeger Park in Alice Springs and enhancements to Darwin's TIO Stadium.
Pictured: One of the proposed designs for the new stadium in Darwin that will form part of the Northern Territory's bid to become the AFL's 20th team.
A second concept of what the new stadium could look like if the bid gets the nod from the AFL
Irving Mosquito of the Bombers is pictured celebrating after kicking his first goal on debut in Darwin
A task force, consisting of representatives from the Northern Territory Government, AFL Northern Territory, and leaders from both industry and the AFL, are leading the initiative.
Chaired by AFLNT chairman Sean Bowden and Northern Territory sports minister Kate Worden, the group was established in 2021 to explore the feasibility of introducing an AFL club in the Northern Territory.
Bowden said the proposal would unlock a rich vein of player talent for the league.
'We want to see a dozen new Cyril Riolis, we want to see half a dozen new Andrew McLeods,' he said.
'It will make the AFL a truly national competition.'
AFL legend Nathan Buckley, pictured with partner Brodie Ryan, has thrown his weight behind the Northern Territory bid
The Northern Territory bid taskforce believes the team could be up and running in less than a decade, just after Tasmania joins the competition
North Melbourne are pictured wearing their Indigenous jerseys for their match against the Gold Coast Suns in Darwin in 2022
Demetriou oversaw the expansion of the competition from 16 teams to 18 in his time as AFL boss and said expansion into the NT could unlock new pathways into Asia and beyond.
'There's a lot of things I like about it. The NT has great football history, a lot of great footballers have come from the region and it would be great for that area to have an AFL presence,' he said.
'I'm passionate about the national competition, passionate two new teams came in under my watch and with Tasmania
