Around 2,000 Central Australian footy fans were treated to fast paced thrills and spills at the AFL Women’s game in Alice Springs over the weekend.

The Department of Tourism and Culture Deputy CEO Andrew Hopper welcomed the Melbourne Demons AFLW team to the Territory in their Round 4 clash against the Collingwood Magpies in the NAB AFLW Competition.

“The Northern Territory Government is a proud sponsor of the Melbourne Demons AFL club, helping to boost the profile of sport in the Territory, and also showcase the Northern Territory to the rest of Australia,” Mr Hopper said.

“AFL is a flagship sport in the NT and it was fantastic to see everyone enjoying the action with the iconic MacDonnell Ranges as a backdrop to the first AFLW game in the Territory for the 2018 season,” said Mr Hopper.

“The weekend’s game was a fantastic addition to our already exciting three year Northern Territory Government sponsorship of the Melbourne Demons.

“Congratulations to Collingwood for taking home their first win for the 2018 season following a 34-point lead over the Melbourne Demons, finishing with a full time score of 58 to 24.”

The weekend’s AFLW game heralded the start of the premiership league games to be played in the Territory in 2018:

·        AFLW Round 4 : Melbourne Demons vs Collingwood – Saturday, 24 February @ 5:40pm, TIO Traeger Park Oval

·        AFLW Round 6: Adelaide Crows vs Fremantle Dockers – Friday 9 March @ 5:35pm, TIO Stadium

·        AFL Round 10: Melbourne Demons vs Adelaide Crows – Sunday 27 May @ 2:50pm, TIO Traeger Park Oval

·        AFL Round 16: Melbourne Demons vs Fremantle Dockers – Saturday 7 July @ 7:10pm,  TIO Stadium

The Department of Tourism and Culture is in the second year of its three year sponsorship with the Melbourne Demons which aims to promote the tourism brand as well as travel packages to the NT, while also encouraging the club’s fans to travel to the NT to watch the games.

This sponsorship of the Melbourne Demons complements the wider AFL Partnership Agreement, hosting two AFL premiership games in the NT every year.

For more information or to book tickets, visit https://www.ntix.com.au/#!/events

Media contact: Department of Tourism and Culture Media Manager: 0476844832