Footy fever is returning to the Top End, with the AFL today confirming the fixture details for the Round 11 and 12 matches at Darwin’s TIO Stadium.
The Gold Coast SUNS will take on Hawthorn as part of the prestigious Sir Doug Nicholls Round on Saturday, 28 May 2022 at 7:10pm local / 7:40pm AEST. The Territory’s adopted team will then return to TIO Stadium the following Saturday, 4 June 2022 at 4:05pm local / 4:35pm AEST, for their Round 12 match against North Melbourne.
A third Territory AFL match will take place in Alice Springs at TIO Traeger Park later this year between the Melbourne Demons and Port Adelaide, with more details to be released soon.
The games are part of the Northern Territory Government’s partnership with the AFL, which sees Gold Coast SUNS and Melbourne Demons play a game in the NT each season. There will be three games this year due to COVID restrictions affecting the roll-out of games in 2021.
Tickets for the Round 11 game will be on sale via www.ticketmaster.com.au from next week. Tickets for Round 12 will be on sale at a later date. The Gold Coast SUNS will also be offering special Territory SUN memberships, which guarantee access to the games, starting at $20 for one-game junior general admission and $55 for adults, or $39 for juniors and $75 for adults for two-game memberships.
Head of AFLNT Sam Gibson said:
"A big thank you to the Gold Coast Suns, Northern Territory Government and the AFL for working together to ensure our Territory footy fans have the opportunity to watch multiple elite games live in their backyard this year after COVID interruptions last year.
"After a history making sold-out 2020 clash against Carlton, the Suns are back again after missing out on playing in the Top End last year due to COVID restrictions.
“A special shout out to the Gold Coast Suns for their persistence in bringing games to the Territory. We appreciate the commitment to the relationship with AFLNT and the Territory footy community. I thank Mark Evans, Stuart Dew and his team for bringing AFL footy to the Territory in 2022.
“We also extend our gratitude to Channel 7, who will showcase free-to-air another aspect of our incredible Territory to a national audience.
“Territorians have two awesome AFL blockbuster Gold Coast Suns games in just two weeks to look forward to and will also see the Melbourne Demons at the peak of their powers in Alice Springs later in the season. We hope the Territory community will get amongst it, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy AFL footy being back in the NT again.”
AFL Executive General Manager Clubs and Broadcasting Travis Auld said:
“We are thrilled to be able to return to the Northern Territory after last year’s disruptions. We recognise how important football is to the Northern Territory community, so it is exciting to have back to back matches in Darwin across Rounds 11 and 12,” Mr Auld said.
Executive General Manager of Social Policy and Inclusion Tanya Hosch said:
“Australian Football is loved and enjoyed by many people, and we must never underestimate the impact football has been gifted by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the country. We look forward to returning to TIO Stadium in Sir Doug Nicholls Round and seeing the NT locals embrace their much loved football across round Round 12,” Ms Hosch said.
Northern Territory Minister For Major Events Natasha Fyles said:
“It’s great to have live AFL return to the Northern Territory, treating locals to the highest level of footy.
“Territorians love their footy and live sport and always jump at the opportunity to enjoy these nationally acclaimed sports events when they hit the Territory.
“It’s always fantastic when a Sir Doug Nicholls Round game takes place in the Territory. The round celebrates the contribution of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players at the heart of the sport, and the Territory is the heart of Aboriginal culture in Australia. There could not be a better combination.
“Two Saturday night games in a row, one on free-to-air Channel 7 across Australia, is a great result for the Territory, with thousands of fans set to tune in to watch. Meanwhile, interstate fans will be keen to enjoy a week-long Top End break to see their team play not once, but twice. This is great news for our tourism and hospitality sectors.
“We also see AFL returning to the Red Centre after a hiatus due to COVID last year. Red Centre footy fans are some of the most enthusiastic fans around, so it’s great they will be able to enjoy live, professional AFL in their region.”
Gold Coast SUNS player Sean Lemmens said:
“We’re really excited to be heading back to Darwin this year and playing back-to-back home games up in the Top End for the first time.
“It’s a special experience for myself and the other Indigenous players to be able to represent the SUNS during Sir Doug Nicholls Round, and even more special to be able to do that in Darwin.
“I have a lot of family up there in Darwin and the Tiwi Islands who always love to come and support the SUNS when we play in the NT. We know the local community are super passionate and absolutely love their footy in the NT so hopefully we can see as many people as possible come out to support the SUNS at TIO Stadium.”