1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,200 Speaker 1: And some wonderful news for the Northern Territory. We add 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: another draft d to the list well after A Shanty 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 1: Bush was taken by the Gold Coast Sons in last 4 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:12,880 Speaker 1: night's nab afl W draft at number eight. And joining 5 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: us on the line is Stue Totham, the CEO of 6 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:17,119 Speaker 1: afl NT. Good morning to you. 7 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 2: Stew good one and Katie, how are you very well? 8 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:22,279 Speaker 1: Mate? Tell us what happened last night? 9 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 2: A Shandy Bush has got the opportunity that she's dreamed 10 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 2: of it the Gold Coast, which is terrific and a 11 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:34,639 Speaker 2: crific reward for her effort, her training and persistence and 12 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,199 Speaker 2: the top display she put on with the Buffalo's up 13 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 2: here through the NTI Thunder Academy and then at Hawthorne 14 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 2: in the VFL. So she's been on a bit of 15 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:46,519 Speaker 2: a journey and a Shanney gets opportunity of the Gold 16 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:48,279 Speaker 2: Coast now, which is just terrific. 17 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:51,720 Speaker 1: How exciting. Now she hails from Beswick, as I understand. 18 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's exactly right. So she's yeah, she's from a 19 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 2: fair way away from a lot of things, I guess, 20 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 2: and to find her way into the AA. So it's 21 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 2: just terrific. Views and now that these are the sort 22 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 2: of stories and pathways that need to be opened up 23 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 2: to give more kids opportunities, more young men and women 24 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 2: opportunities to play at the top level. So she's a 25 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 2: bit of a groundbreaker and we certainly are so proud 26 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:15,759 Speaker 2: of her and wish her all the best on her 27 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 2: AFLW journey which begins now. 28 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, and Stu, the announcement was in front of a 29 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 1: group of friends and family at the Michael Long Center, 30 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:28,399 Speaker 1: including well, you know, members of her community as well 31 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 1: and afl NT and others. What was the reaction. 32 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 2: She was super, super proud and proud to represent her 33 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 2: family and have those people there, and there were some 34 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:42,960 Speaker 2: people that have been along the journey with her as well. 35 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:47,319 Speaker 2: So just a really nice moment to savor and enjoy. 36 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 2: And I'm sure she's waken up this morning with a 37 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 2: few butterflies in the tummy and knowing that you know, 38 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 2: there's a lot ahead of a lot of hard work, 39 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 2: and you know it's an exciting challenge for it. 40 00:01:57,360 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: It really is. And you touched on this just a 41 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 1: moment ago about the development obviously of our players here 42 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 1: in the territory. What's it like for you when you know, 43 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:08,960 Speaker 1: when you do see one of these young whether it's 44 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: a man, a young man or a young woman drafted 45 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: then into the a f L or the afl W, 46 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: it's really exciting. 47 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 2: And we had to see a quick story Katie. We 48 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 2: had Richie Fijo a couple of years ago host our 49 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 2: staff conference and at the end of the conference he 50 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:27,639 Speaker 2: wrapped it up and he said, at AFL N T 51 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 2: with the agents of opportunity, and that's how we see it. 52 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 2: We hopefully provide, you know, we play our role to 53 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 2: provide the opportunity for these kids to find it to 54 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:39,079 Speaker 2: the next level. And it's complex. Like a Shane, He's 55 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:40,920 Speaker 2: got a lot of people to think, like I said, 56 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 2: through all of our junior footing, you know, through Dawn 57 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 2: Buffalo's into the Thunder program Orthord. So there's often a 58 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 2: lot of people involved to get these athletes to the 59 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 2: top level and everyone should take credit for that because 60 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 2: it's not that easy to do and it doesn't happen 61 00:02:56,280 --> 00:03:00,040 Speaker 2: that often, but for us makes us really proud and 62 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 2: sort of enforceing some of the good stuff that we 63 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,639 Speaker 2: do and you know, kicks us on to the next one. 64 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 2: You know, we're super keen to seeing more AFLW players 65 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 2: at the top level. We know there's going to be 66 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 2: four more teams in the next twelve to eighty months, 67 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 2: so there's more opportunities to territory girls coming up, that's 68 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 2: for sure. 69 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 1: How wonderful. I just think it's a fantastic story. I 70 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,679 Speaker 1: love seeing young territorians, particularly, you know, when they're out 71 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: in remote communities. It will come from those remote communities 72 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 1: doing so well. I think it's wonderful stuff. Mate. We've 73 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:32,080 Speaker 1: had a bit of a roller coaster when it comes 74 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 1: to hosting AFL games this season. How are we looking. 75 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 2: Well, we have been a bit of a challenge for 76 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 2: the team here, but we've also went through it last year, 77 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 2: you know, and we had to get us three games 78 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 2: in three weeks. And yeah, it's sort of coming towards 79 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 2: the end, isn't it, Katie. I think the opportunities are 80 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 2: drying up. We still do have a little fleether of 81 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 2: hope for a game late in the year, which will 82 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 2: keep on top of but yeah, it's running We're running 83 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 2: out of time, which is disappointed for the community not 84 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 2: to have a fully if that's how it works out. 85 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 2: But you know, again, where it's COVID. Lots of people 86 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 2: have been being impacted far more than we are, so 87 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 2: we just keep things in perspective, and you know, we've 88 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 2: got plenty of things to work on here, kadios. I've 89 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 2: said before, we've got an NTFL season that starts in 90 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:20,040 Speaker 2: a couple of months, and we will just head down, 91 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 2: bump up, helping our clubs get ready for that season 92 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:25,919 Speaker 2: and see how we go and how is everybody looking, 93 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 2: how the club's looking at this point, just a couple 94 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 2: of months out from the AFL season kicking off. Yeah, 95 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 2: not too bad. We've done a lot of work with 96 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 2: the clubs and they've done a lot of work. We'll 97 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:38,279 Speaker 2: finalize the sixture in the next two or three weeks, 98 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 2: finalize all the sort of rules and regulations. We've got 99 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 2: an INTERFL conference later in August which will go through 100 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:46,720 Speaker 2: a few things. So yeah, it's all you know, it's 101 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 2: a lot of work being done by everyone, and it's 102 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,160 Speaker 2: all heading in the right direction, and hopefully we get 103 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:55,720 Speaker 2: another terrific season of INTERFL. Fully, last year was an 104 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:59,919 Speaker 2: absolute rival and we're hoping that we put on you 105 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 2: similar show again next season. 106 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:05,040 Speaker 1: Oh no doubt. There will be flying in those players 107 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: is always sort of a juggle, but I'm anticipating that 108 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 1: during COVID times even more so. Is there going to 109 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 1: be any sort of change to the rules with those 110 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 1: flying players at this stage? 111 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:18,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, Look, it's interesting, Katie. We've been talking. We've got 112 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 2: a bylaw subcommittee which is made up of our clubs 113 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:23,600 Speaker 2: and us and we've worked through different rule changes and 114 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 2: that gets washed through our presidents and then onto the 115 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 2: leadership here at AFLING. So it's a fair process with 116 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 2: any rule changes. And yeah, last year we change some 117 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 2: rules to allow more players to come up not fly in, 118 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:37,479 Speaker 2: but driving we call them, so come up here and 119 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 2: leave them had a massive impact on our competition with 120 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 2: the quality of player we had here. So you know, 121 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:45,480 Speaker 2: we're still going to work through some of those rules. 122 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 2: But one thing we are focused on is keeping the 123 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 2: product at a high level, which means some of these 124 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 2: talunter players we need to keep coming into our competition 125 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 2: enhancing the product. We're also helping our young players develop 126 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:00,120 Speaker 2: as well, so we're looking at all of that. I 127 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:04,039 Speaker 2: doubt whether we'll see more flyings as such. You know, 128 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:06,719 Speaker 2: we want that focus on people that are here. It's 129 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 2: definitely to stay. We want them to have that real 130 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:11,359 Speaker 2: impact on their clubs. So but we're working with our 131 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:14,840 Speaker 2: clubs to work through those rules and we'll hopefully have 132 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 2: those out in the next few weeks. 133 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 1: Well, Stuarts, I'm always good to catch up with you. 134 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: I appreciate your time. 135 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 2: Thank you.