Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has backed the Northern Territory to host the AFL's 20th team when they expand.
The competition is set to welcome Tasmania in 2028, with Ken Hinkley recently named as the Devils' inaugural coach.
Their inclusion makes for a lopsided competition with 19 teams, and the AFL has already begun discussions, albeit early, on the possibility of a 20th team.
Western and South Australia have put forward propositions of hosting a third side in their state, but a club in the Northern Territory, which already has a strong foothold in Australian rules football, would make the AFL truly national.
"I'd love to see a team here in Territory, as I'm sure all Territorian would," Albanese said, according to News Corp.
"It's a while off, we'll continue to talk and engage with the AFL as well."
The Northern Territory has produced some of the game's best players, whilst also playing host to Gold Coast in Darwin, and Melbourne in Alice Springs.
“The Northern Territory has a great history of producing great footballers,” he said.
“Of course in this area, surnames like Rioli, I met Cyril Sr when I visited here (last time).
“I don't run the AFL so I'll wait, certainly any submissions from the AFL would be welcome.
“We'll engage constructively with the AFL.”
"The AFL have charged the responsibility to the AFL NT taskforce to come up with some recommendations and some strategies," Demetriou said in April on SEN's podcast 'This is Your Journey – thanks to Tobin Brothers'.
"It's populated by some very good people. Peter Jackson, the ex-CEO of Essendon and Melbourne, Nathan Buckley, Andrew McLeod, some local Territorians in business and Sean Bowden is the chair.
"It's got the right people working on it. There's a great football heritage coming out of the Northern Territory. Great football has been produced out of the NT and great footballers.
"Participation rates are going through the roof, particularly amongst girls now.
"If they could have a team, I think it'd be a great thing to help bridge the gap with the Indigenous community, which a lot of governments over the years haven't been able to do."
A strategic business case was revealed in May, 2024, which laid claims that a stadium could be built within the next 7-10 years at a cost of $700-735 million, falling in line with Demetriou's intended target for the introduction of the 20th team.
"The year 2032 is a good target year because it's when the next broadcast rights come around," Demetriou said.
"There'll be 19 teams in the competition, so having a 20th would avail itself to having a 10th game to sell (each round).
"It's pretty exciting, I think."
The strategic case also includes plans for upgrading Traeger Park in Alice Springs and further improvements to TIO Stadium in Darwin.
