NORTH Ballarat Football Club general manager Tony Frawley is to take charge of Australian Rules in the Northern Territory.
He has been appointed AFL Northern Territory chief executive officer.
Mr Frawley takes up the three-year contract, which features an option for another two years, on July 25. He sees the role as a "fantastic opportunity".
"It's a ripper job," he told The Courier from Darwin yesterday at the end of a fact-finding mission.
Mr Frawley said the position had great diversity.
With the support of 17 full-time staff, he will oversee and implement all football programs in the NT, which has Australia's highest AFL participation rate.
"It's an important part of the Northern Territory's social fabric."
He said government backing ensured outstanding facilities and extensive development programs.
As well as being excited by the move, Mr Frawley said he was also sad to be leaving North Ballarat.
"My time with the club has been a wonderful journey and I am indebted to the club for giving me the skills and experience which have enabled me to obtain the North Territory job," he said.
Mr Frawley said North Ballarat was in a great position, financially and on the ground, and he would miss having input into the development of football in the Ballarat region. Mr Frawley, who has spent all his life in Ballarat,
left a teaching career to work in football more than a decade ago.
He was appointed Ballarat regional AFL development officer in 1991 and played a key role in the formation of the Geelong Falcons in 1992 and North Ballarat Rebels in 1993.
He has continued in a developmental position for the Rebels under the Football Victoria banner as well as being NBFC general manager since 1995.
Mr Frawley was instrumental in taking North Ballarat from the Ballarat Football League to the VFL in 1996.
North Ballarat chairman Peter Wilson said while disappointed to lose the services of Mr Frawley, the club was also thrilled to see him moving to such a high profile state role in football.
"We pay tribute to the enormous achievements he has made while with the club.
"He has assisted with its growth and strength in the competition (VFL) over the past 10 years.
"He has also had a strong association with the North Ballarat Rebels and has helped many young players along the pathway to an AFL career," Mr Wilson said.
He said Mr Frawley's departure would mark the end of an era.
"He takes with him a wealth of football knowledge and contacts.
"His loss will be a challenge, but it will also allow the club to revisit its structure and our needs for the future.
"We look forward to implementing a new management team that will build on the strengths that Tony has established," Mr Wilson said.
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