The Northern Territory's expanding economy has it on track to accommodate its own AFL team, according to the region's AFL boss.
AFLNT chief Tony Frawley admitted the proposal was "probably a long way off" but said a Darwin-based team could be plausible in the future if the Territory continued to grow at its current rate.
"Economically, if the Territory is still booming by 2025 you never know," Frawley told the Northern Territory News.
"You might have 500-600,000 people here in 10 years' time.
"Then it changes the whole landscape. Especially when the Gold Coast is only half-a-million people and they are up and running as an AFL club now."
The Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide clash at Marrara Stadium on Saturday night in the first of two matches held in the NT this season.
Adding an extra team to the competition is an option for the AFL, as is relocating one of the league's struggling Melbourne-based clubs such as the Bulldogs, Melbourne or North Melbourne.
Port Adelaide is another side with an uncertain financial future.
Frawley has worked for the AFL in Darwin since 2005 and believes the tropical climate would not be a major constraint.
"So is it too hot to have an AFL club here. I don't know," he said.
"They'll have to spend another $50 million on TIO Stadium to build a new grandstand.
"But the Michael Long Centre will be good enough for AFL clubs because it's got pools, changerooms and everything else, the facilities will be unbelievable.
"Michael Long wants an AFL club up here tomorrow, but in reality it's a long way off.
"But it's not impossible, especially the way northern Australia is developing.
"They're looking at the Sunshine Coast-Cairns corridor as where the next (AFL club) will come from.
"I would say it will be Tassie, but it could even be a northern Australia thing we're very much involved in.
"Maybe six games in the Cairns area and six here, who knows."