AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) has released the 2022/23 TIO Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) senior season fixture, starting on Friday September 30 and for the first time featuring an aligned model for the Men’s and Women’s Premier Leagues.
This season Men’s Premier League (MPL), Women’s Premier League (WPL) and MPL Reserves teams will play the same opponent on the same weekend each round.
The opening round - to be played across Friday 30 September and Saturday 1 October – will be headlined by the highly-anticipated MPL Grand Final rematch between Waratah and reigning premier St Mary’s to kick off the season under lights at Gardens on Friday night.
Round One will also see PINT play its first MPL match when it takes on Nightcliff away, while TIO Stadium will host the Nungalinya Cup between the Darwin Buffaloes and Wanderers.
A highlight of the WPL will be the Tiwi Bombers entering the competition. This milestone is another significant step forward for women’s football and the game more broadly in the Territory. Tiwi have been able to join the WPL thanks to a partnership with Tracy Village in the form of staff and players with NTFL experience. The NTFL is appreciative of both clubs for their eagerness to work together in a way that will facilitate a completely aligned Premier League Competition.
The WPL Grand Final rematch between 2021/22 premiers Darwin Buffaloes and Nightcliff will take place in Round Eight.
AFLNT acknowledges the incredible, ongoing support of long-standing NTFL Premier Partner TIO, who celebrated 30 years of supporting Territory footy last season.
Click here for the 2022/23 TIO NTFL Men’s Premier League fixture.
Round Three on Saturday October 15 will be a special occasion across the competition as the NTFL celebrates Indigenous Round, with the Tiwi & Jabiru Bombers and the Darwin Buffaloes to be showcased at TIO Stadium.
Former AFL superstar Gary Ablett Jr. is set to make his NTFL debut with the Palmerston Magpies in what shapes as great Friday night clash at TIO Stadium in Round Eight.
Other fixture highlights include the ‘Battle of the Beaches’ between Waratah and Nightcliff at Gardens in Round Eleven, while there will be a competition bye for representative football on the weekend of January 21/22.
AFLNT Community Football Manager, Leigh Elder, said the fixture has come together after consultation with clubs and stakeholders across the competition and promises a fantastic season ahead.
“We are looking forward to an exciting season under the new aligned model, and appreciate the hard work done by all clubs to create what will be fantastic season”
