AFL is in talks to relocate the AFLW Dreamtime game from Melbourne to Darwin.

The AFL is in advanced negotiations with the Richmond Tigers and Essendon Bombers to permanently shift the AFL Women’s (AFLW) Dreamtime match between the two clubs from Melbourne to Darwin.

Originally established as an AFL fixture at the MCG in 2007, the Dreamtime match holds a central position in both the AFL and AFLW’s Indigenous Round.

This AFL match has evolved into a significant event in Australian sports, drawing crowds of up to 80,000 and substantial TV viewership. It stands as the country’s largest collective celebration of Aboriginal culture and sporting accomplishments.

Both Richmond and Essendon have verified to the ABC that discussions with the AFL are underway to designate Darwin and the Northern Territory, where Aussie Rules participation rates for both men and women are the highest in the country, as the permanent home for the AFLW Dreamtime match.

Northern Territory Sport Minister Kate Worden also verified that the government is engaged in discussions with the clubs. She expressed that the NT government is fundamentally supportive of the idea.

“It’s very gratifying … [and] conveys a powerful message about the cultural significance of the game and the Northern Territory’s importance to both clubs, acknowledging our contribution to the game over many years,” she stated.

“The Territory Labor Government has consistently endorsed the idea of hosting men’s and women’s AFL matches in the territory.

“However, all events come with associated costs, and we need to factor this into the budgetary process.”

The initiative to bring the game to the Northern Territory stems from the success of the AFL Dreamtime match in Darwin in 2020, which was moved from the MCG due to COVID, and the introduction of the Dreamtime match to the AFLW in 2022.