AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) is looking forward to having an NT Thunder under 18 men’s side play in a revamped Victorian TAC Cup in 2019.
The details of what that looks like are still to be worked out with AFLNT CEO Stuart Totham and AFLNT Talent and Pathways Manager Wally Gallio travelling to Melbourne next week to meet with AFL officials.
The plans for next year are that NT Thunder along with our fellow-division two under 18 Academy competitors in the Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast Suns, Sydney Swans, Greater Western Sydney and Tassie Mariners will all play in the TAC Cup, which will likely have a name change to reflect a new national under 18 league.
Totham said the meetings next week would focus more broadly on all of our football talent programs.
“We’re pleased that the AFL has considered the NT in a revamped national U18 competition and are as interested in our players' development and aspirations as we are.
“When we sit down with them we will also be talking about the structure of all our talent and high performance programs so that any of the men, women, boys or girls involved with NT Thunder or the NT Thunder Academy are provided with the best opportunities to showcase their talent and be given more exposure at a national level,” Totham said.
AFLNT will provide an update on the meetings and outcomes at a future time, when appropriate to do so.