NT aims for McLeod
Reece Homfray
09Oct07
Andrew McLeod is on NT football's shopping list.
THE Northern Territory wants Adelaide Crows superstar Andrew McLeod to join its new team in the SANFL, possibly as early as 2009.
AFL NT boss Tony Frawley said the 283-game champion, who hails from the Top End, had expressed interest in returning to where his career all began.
Mr Frawley was in Adelaide over the weekend to discuss the Territory's ``boldest bid'' to field a representative team in either the SANFL or West Australian Football League (WAFL).
A decision as to where it plays is not expected until early next year but Mr Frawley said plans were already in place including targeting big name former locals.
McLeod, who won his third best-and-fairest with the Crows last week, is out of contract at the end of next season.
``We would look at 6 to 12 players hopefully coming home from competitions like the SANFL, VFL, WAFL and QAFL,'' Mr Frawley said.
``Once you lose a player to the AFL, generally they stay, but in the Territory they come home. So we would hope Andrew McLeod might come home and spend a couple of years with us.
``He's already indicated that he'll probably come home (and may play for the NT).
``We would look at the (Shannon) Motlop name down here and (Josh) Cubillo there's a couple of those playing down here today (Sunday).''
McLeod could not be contacted for comment on Monday.
The NT team needs $1.3 million a year to operate and a funding application has been lodged with the NT State Government.
Last month, Federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd promised $2.5 million over five years for the project if Labor was elected at the coming federal election.
Mr Frawley said he was ``confident'' the AFL NT would find the extra money.
``We've been looking at this situation for about 20 years and this is the boldest bid they've had,'' he said. ``We'd love to talk to the SANFL about whether they can accommodate us.''
Andrew McLeod is on NT football's shopping list.
