The ninth Sir Doug Nicholls Round, which pays tribute to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who has contributed to the game and community, began in Darwin this season with the Gold Coast SUNS and Geelong match at TIO Stadium on 16 May 2024. The SUNS Darwin matches fell around BASSINTHEGRASS Music Festival, 18 May 2024 – providing more incentive for visitors to ‘come for the footy, stay for BASS’. Independent research found 19.2 percent of people who attended BASS also attended the SUNS v Geelong match (held two days before BASS) and 8.6 percent who attended BASS also attended the Suns vs North Melbourne match (held a week before BASS). The third match went ahead in Alice Springs at TIO Traeger on Sunday June 2 against the Fremantle Dockers. Top-flight footy in the form of Premiership level AFL games will continue to be played in the Territory after a three-year agreement was signed in 2023. The deal between the Northern Territory Government and AFL will see Gold Coast SUNS play two games in Darwin each year from 2024-2026, while Melbourne Football Club will head to the Red Centre for a match each season. AFL Round Gold Coast SUNS v North Melbourne - Darwin TIO Stadium, Saturday, 11 May 2024 Gold Coast SUNS v Geelong - Darwin TIO Stadium, Thursday, 16 May 2024 Melbourne Football Club v Fremantle - Alice Springs TIO Traeger Park, Sunday, 2 June 2024 52