The Australian Football League (AFL) is poised for significant expansion as discussions around a potential 20th club intensify. The Northern Territory, aiming to establish a team by 2032, is in competition with Western Australia, which has recently opened the door to hosting a third club. The AFL is set to welcome the Tasmania Devils in 2028, despite uncertainty surrounding this weekend’s state election and delays in the Hobart stadium project.
With the addition of the Devils, the AFL recognizes the need for a 20th team to achieve a balanced fixture and facilitate a lucrative tenth game each weekend. The Northern Territory is a strong emotional contender for this new club, potentially named the Territory Lightning. However, challenges such as Darwin’s small population and the need for government funding for a new stadium complicate the feasibility of this plan.
As Western Australia considers its options, it presents a financially advantageous scenario for the AFL. The state boasts existing high-quality venues, including Optus Stadium, which seats 60,000 spectators. Earlier hesitations from the WA Football Commission about introducing a third club have softened. CEO Michael Roberts acknowledged the potential for a third WA team, stating that discussions regarding the viability of such an initiative are underway.
Roberts emphasized the importance of ensuring that existing clubs remain sustainable and not reliant on struggling member bases. “We need to understand what is viable, and I think there’s still a lot of work to do to see if a third club would be supported here in WA,” he explained. The Herald Sun reported that a new team would need to maintain an 80 percent attendance rate at Optus Stadium and secure 60,000 members to attract the WAFC’s interest.
The Northern Territory is eager to establish its place in the AFL landscape. Sean Bowden, chair of AFLNT and co-chair of the team taskforce, expressed the ambition to accelerate the timeline, stating, “If we can do it earlier, we will.” The proposed club would wear the state colors of black, white, and ochre and play initial games in Alice Springs during the rainy season before transitioning to a new top-end stadium.
Former AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou is part of the Northern Territory taskforce and has voiced strong support for a national expansion of the league. He believes that the financial backing for a 20th license is assured, but significant groundwork remains. “There is a long way to go, but it’s certainly worth the investment and the time required to invest in a 20th licence,” he stated.
Both regions present compelling arguments for a new club, with Western Australia leveraging its existing infrastructure and financial viability, while the Northern Territory aims to fulfill its aspirations of joining the national competition. The AFL’s decision on the future of its 20th license could reshape the landscape of Australian rules football in the coming years, driving greater engagement in both regions.
