The 2021 season was kicked off at an event hosted by the Nitmiluk Visitor Centre and attended by local football clubs and community leaders such as Alderman Peter Gazey and Katherine MLA Jo Hersey.

The season is scheduled to start on April 24 with men and women's league games set to be played at RAAF Base Tindal.

Before the home and away season, the teams will get their first taste of action at the Umpires Carnival on Saturday.

AFLNT Regional Development Manager for Katherine Gavin May said the carnival will act as a fundraiser for the local umpiring group ahead of the 2021 season.

The Tiwi Bombers from the AFLNT premier competition will be visiting Katherine to take part, according to Mr May.

Meanwhile, four Territory Under 19s Girls have been selected to join the Allies Squad ahead of the 2021 NAB AFLW U19 Championships, including a former local player.

The U19 Allies team is made up of players from NSW/ACT, Tasmania and Northern Territory.

Ashanti Bush, Kasey Marsden, Grace Mulvahil and J'Noemi Anderson travelled to Melbourne for their training camp in preparation for the National Championships games on Monday 12 and Thursday 15 April.

Ms Bush has experience playing in the Big Rivers League, taking to the field for the Arnhem Crows in previous seasons before moving to the NT Thunder Academy.

AFLNT talent manager Simon Hargrave said the players selection was reward for their performance across the past year.

"This is a great opportunity for the girls to play representative footy against some of the best players from Western Australia and South Australia and to showcase our talent," he said.

"Some of our NT players have some good representative experience, for example 17-year-old dual All-Australian J'Noemi has not only previously represented the Territory but was also selected in the U15 Victorian Metro side.

"Ashanti is also no stranger to representative footy after being selected in the NAB AFLW Academy squad this year and kicking a couple of goals in last week's U19 NT Thunder Academy game against Greater Western Victoria Rebels."

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