By Matt Garrick

Topic:AFL

Tuesday, 21 July 2026, 7:25 am

Tuesday, 21 July 2026, 7:36 am

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese supports a Northern Territory AFL team.

In short:

Anthony Albanese wants to see a Northern Territory AFL team while visiting the Tiwi Islands.

Anthony Albanese is the first sitting PM to attend a Tiwi Islands footy league grand final.

Northern Land Council chair Matt Ryan likes the PM's support for an NT AFL team and thinks organizations should help make it happen.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese supports an AFL team in the Northern Territory but did not promise funding.

The NT, Western Australia, and the ACT might get the 20th AFL licence.

Tasmania will join the AFL in 2028, making the competition more representative of each state and territory.

This year's Tiwi Islands grand final is the first time a sitting PM has attended.

The NT has never had a top-tier team, despite producing exciting talent from regions like Gove and the Tiwi Islands.

Anthony Albanese visited the Tiwi Islands, the first time a prime minister has travelled there in over 25 years, and supported an NT team.

I'd love to see a team here in the territory, as I'm sure all Territorians would, Anthony Albanese said.

It's a while off, but we'll continue to talk and engage with the AFL.

Anthony Albanese met local players at the Tiwi Islands grand final.

Anthony Albanese was asked if the Commonwealth would help finance an AFL team in the NT.

I don't run the AFL, so I'll wait, and any submissions from the AFL for funding would be welcome, he said.

We'll engage constructively with the AFL.

We have the raw talent

Northern Land Council chair Matt Ryan said an AFL team would bring huge social benefits to the NT.

The AFL wants to increase the number of Indigenous players in the league after a significant decline.

We have the raw talent, and I think we can do it, Matt Ryan said.

I would push that 100 per cent.

Matt Ryan said the NLC should help fund an NT AFL team alongside possible federal support.

It's our team, and I think we should sponsor or support them.

An NT team would help offset the falling number of Indigenous players in the league, Matt Ryan said.

Tiwi Islands women's footy player Mara Munkara said an NT team would mean a lot to the Tiwi people.

It could bring excitement, everyone happy, everyone around Northern Territory, Mara Munkara said.

Mara Munkara says an NT AFL team would bring excitement to the Territory.

A task force is working to build a case for a local NT team.

A business case recommends the federal government fund a new stadium in Darwin to help the NT's chances for a team.

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