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[u][url]http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/05/31/4252_ntsport.html[/url][/u]
THE Northern Territory's 30-year search for membership in an interstate Australian football competition will come to an end next month.
The Northern Territory News understands Queensland's AFLQ competition based in Brisbane and the Gold Coast will be officially announced as the host league at the Gabba in Brisbane on Wednesday, June 11.
The Territory team will be funded by a $2.5 million Federal Government commitment over five years, $1 million from the NT Government over the same period and $500,000 pledges from Melbourne businessman Dick Pratt and airline Qantas.
The cost of maintaining the side in the new 10-team Queensland league from 2009 has been estimated at $1.6 million a year.
Mr Pratt also promised to host a corporate fundraising dinner for the NT side and Qantas will paint one of its planes in NT colours.
While Territory officials are remaining tight-lipped about any announcement, it is believed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd,
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou, AFLNT boss Tony Frawley and AFLQ boss Richard Griffiths will attend the historic launch.
Player development across the NT will be the main focus, with the new team forging close links with the new Gold Coast AFL franchise, the elite NT Thunder underage program and the NT Institute of Sport.
Up to five Territory players could be drafted into the new Gold Coast team every year as part of the AFL's insistence on priority draft picks for players from the Top End.
Talented players from remote NT regions will be relocated to training bases in Darwin and at Alice Springs and given employment and educational opportunities.
Senior NTFL players like Darryl White, Shannon Rusca, Jared Ilett and Port Adelaide Magpie Corey AhChee will be targeted to add experience to the under-23 side.
The announcement of coaching and administrative staff will be made in early August.
The Thunder name is favoured to be retained despite a push from some quarters for the Buffalo logo.
And NT's traditional black, white and ochre jumper will be used.
