Former AFL midfielder Quinton Narkle is set to pull on the boots in the Northern Territory Football League this season after signing with reigning premiers Southern Districts.
The Crocs confirmed the news on Sunday, ending weeks of speculation about which NTFL club the 27-year-old would join.
Nightcliff were considered the early frontrunners given Narkle's close friendship with Tigers star and former teammate at Geelong Brandan Parfitt, but it was Southern Districts who ultimately secured his signature.
Narkle has relocated to Darwin with his partner Taylah Cubillo and their young family, and will line up alongside former AFL names Jed Anderson and Steven Motlop at Fred's Pass.
The West Australian-born on-baller brings a wealth of top-level experience to the NTFL, having played 59 AFL matches across a nine-year career.
Drafted by Geelong in 2016, Narkle showed plenty of promise as a footballer but struggled to cement a regular spot in the Cats' strong midfield before being delisted in 2022.
He reignited his career with Essendon's VFL side the following year, impressing enough to be snapped up by Port Adelaide in the 2023 Mid-Season Draft.
Narkle added 16 games for the Power, featuring in their preliminary final against Sydney, before moving west to Fremantle where he played two more senior matches while mentoring Peel Thunder's younger players.
He joins the Crocs off the back of strong form at State League level having averaged 23 disposals per game in the WAFL in 2025, which included a 42 disposal performance against West Coast in Round 16.
Southern Districts described his recruitment as a major coup.
"Southern Districts Football Club is thrilled to announce the signing of former AFL star Quinton Narkle for the upcoming NTFL season," the club said in a statement.
"With over 50 games of AFL experience and known for his electric pace, silky skills, and footy smarts, Quinton brings a wealth of talent and leadership to the club both on and off the field."
Crocs president Kevin Mulvahil said Narkle's arrival was a major boost for the club.
"We're absolutely thrilled to have someone of Quinton's calibre joining us," he said.
"He's a high-quality player who is hungry to play good footy and contribute to the team.
"It says a lot about our club that players like Quinton want to be part of what we're building here at SDFC."
Narkle's signing further bolsters a powerful Crocs line-up as they look to defend their premiership and claim back-to-back flags for what would be the first time in the club's history.
Districts completed an almost perfect season in 2024/25, losing just the one match across the entire season before going on to defeat St Marys in a high-quality NTFL grand final.
