Territory footy fans will have it be known that you get so close to the action you can smell the liniment.
On Wednesday 2 May however the smell of school spirit will be in the air as the School Sport NT 12 and Under Australian Football Championships kicks off from 8am at TIO Stadium.
Students from all over the Territory will represent ten teams from six clusters – Arnhem, City, Desert Storm, Northern Suburbs, Palmerston and Rural (PARCS) and Rivers – as they go head-to-head to be crowned overall champions.
The championship was originally scheduled to be hosted by PARCS Cluster at Cazalys Oval in Palmerston however as the grounds were not ready in time School Sport NT Executive Officer Helen Taylor says the chance of playing at the Territory’s home of football will provide participants with great excitement.
"Our young men love their footy and will enjoy their three days in this "classroom without walls" as they play games, try new skills, learn about Asthma in their PD, cool off on the water slides and socialize with others from around the NT as they mix throughout the days," said Ms Taylor.
School Sport NT is a delivery agent for the NT Department of Education and Training (NT DET) in the curriculum areas of physical education and sport, aligned with School Sport Australia (SSA) in providing services and educational opportunities through sport.
The championship concludes at 2:30pm on Friday 4 May at TIO Stadium with presentations to the winners and a representative team announced to travel to Adelaide in July to represent School Sport NT at the School Sport Australia 12yrs and under Championships.