The NTFL was founded in 1916 with The Wanderers Football Club and Waratah Football Club as founding members. Waratahs are the only club to have competed in every season of the NTFL. Darwin (Buffalos Football Club) was formed in 1917, Nightcliff in 1950, St Marys in 1952, Palmerston in 1972 (as North Darwin), Southern Districts in 1987 and the Tiwi Bombers in 2006 (with full entry in 2007). The 1974-75 season was abandoned due to the devastation from
Cyclone Tracy. In the 1990s, it ran into financial problems, primarily due to the Northern Territory government luring the league to the new purpose-built stadium at
Marrara Oval after its construction in 1991. The move pushed its operating costs up drastically despite contrary promises from the NT government. On 3 September 2001, the businesses of the formerly independent Northern Territory Football League Incorporated, which had overseen Australian Football in the NT since 1917, were taken-over by the
Melbourne-based
Australian Football League (AFL), causing disquiet among supporters of Australian Football in the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory Football League Incorporated was subsequently wound-up and de-registered on 19 September 2002, ending its long history and local control of Australian Football. The name, Northern Territory Football League is now owned by the AFL and licensed to AFL NT as a registered business name. NTFL board member Darryl Window orchestrated the takeover. During its history, it has exported successful players to other Australian football competitions and leagues, notable players have included
Michael McLean,
Maurice Rioli and
Michael Long. In 2006, it was announced that a team representing the
Tiwi Islands, called the
Super Tiwis would be added to the 2006/07 season for eight games against teams that would normally have the bye. They became a permanent part of the competition in the 07/08 season as the Tiwi Bombers, clad in Essendon Football Club style guernseys of black and red. There was also a push for an NTFL representative club to compete in the
Adelaide-based
South Australian National Football League (SANFL). The first of a series of trial matches was held in 2006, with a long term view of admitting a Darwin side into the SANFL. A strong crowd at
Marrara Oval witnessed SANFL club
North Adelaide defeat a composite NTFL squad by 27 points, demonstrating that a Darwin team could be competitive. There was a push to make the event an annual match, however, the NTFL decided on fielding a side in the
AFL Queensland State League from 2009 (which became the Northern Conference of the
North East Australian Football League in 2011) and the
Northern Territory Football Club was formed. In 2010 it was decided to merge the NTFL with the
Top End Australian Football Association (TEAFA) to create a three division competition in which the NTFL would make the premier League whilst the NTFL reserve competition and clubs from the TEAFA would incorporate the First Division and Second Divisions. The 2012/2013 season saw Banks Bulldogs and the Central Australian Football Club placed on a four-match trial in the premier League, for possible full-time inclusion. The Bulldogs, originally a part of the TEAFA competition, would stay in the NTFL Division One competition. But the CAFC team would continue their trial run in the premier League, the number of games extended to 10 for the 2013/2014 season. However, the side did not become a permanent team in the competition. ==Competition structure==