Darwin to host 2020 Toyota Sir Doug Nicholls Round ‘Dreamtime’ match

The 2020 Toyota Sir Doug Nicholls Round will take place in Round 13 of the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season, featuring the first ever ‘Dreamtime in Darwin’ game.

Essendon and Richmond will face off on Saturday, 22 August at TIO Stadium as one of two matches, including the first ever Gold Coast home game, in Darwin.

The ‘Dreamtime in Darwin’ match is a rare opportunity to take one of the most meaningful matches on the AFL calendar to the Northern Territory community.

The 2020 Toyota Sir Doug Nicholls Round will be a true celebration of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and their contribution to Australian Football, and how players past and present have inspired generations of Australians.

AFL is partnering with the Northern Territory Government through Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC) to bring the Dreamtime game to Darwin.

NTMEC CEO Tim Watsford said the game was a natural fit for the Territory.

“The Territory has produced many of the game’s greatest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, including family dynasties that have seen grandfather, father, and even son playing in the AFL. The game is a way of life up here. Everywhere, from the Top End to the Red Centre, and out to our most remote communities, you will see kids kicking a footy around,”

“We couldn’t be prouder to partner with AFL to bring one of the most meaningful and memorable fixtures of the season to Darwin.”

AFL General Manager of Broadcasting and Clubs, Travis Auld, outlined the significance of the 2020 Toyota AFL Sir Doug Nicholls Round to the AFL.

“This is the fifth year the dedicated round has been named in honour of Sir Doug Nicholls, an icon of Australian football and someone who represents the exceptional values of the game,”

“The Sir Doug Nicholls Round is a hugely significant round in the season, and as part of this round we’re really excited about the opportunity to play both the Dreamtime Game and the first ever Gold Coast home game in Darwin.

I’d also like to thank the Northern Territory Government and the Seven Network for their support in allowing us to bring the Dreamtime Game to Darwin.”

The 2020 Toyota AFL Sir Doug Nicholls Round will be celebrated in Round 13 the Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Dreamtime in Darwin will be one of two matches at TIO Stadium on that weekend, with a Gold Coast home game to be announced with the remainder of the fixture for Round 13 next week.