PORT Adelaide will play two away matches each season in Darwin for at least the next three years, as part of a deal announced today between the AFL and the Northern Territory Government.

The Power will play two of Richmond, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs each year as part of the AFL’s home-and-away season.

The Power will play Melbourne and the Bulldogs in 2010, with both matches Saturday night games, but some weeks apart.

The unique arrangement will allow Port Adelaide to expand its presence in the Territory, but keep 11 home games at AAMI Stadium.

Port Adelaide Chief Executive Mark Haysman said his club was delighted to be part of the growth of AFL in the Territory and to make Darwin the club's “home away from home”.

“With at least two regular season games a year in the Territory for the next three years we are looking forward to really working in partnership with the AFL-NT to promote the code,” Mr Haysman said.

“This is something our club has really actively pursued over the last six months and we are very pleased to be part of. We’ve had some terrific support from the AFL, the AFL-NT and the Northern Territory Government in making this happen.”

Haysman said the Power would be looking at taking some of its successful community programs up to the Territory.

“We will be working to grow our Top End community presence and we have some excellent community programs operating in SA which we will look at taking north,” Haysman said.

“We’ve got quite a few lads from up there, including the Motlop boys, which also makes for a natural connection for us.”

Haysman said the club would now look to develop a ‘Top End’ Membership product and tourism packages for the club’s SA fans to get up to the Top End.

“The Northern Territory expansion is one part of the club’s long-term business strategy and it’s great to see it begin to come to fruition,” Haysman said.

“We also see South Australia and the Northern Territory as sharing a good business fit, with our common concentration on defence, mining and export industries, so we will be looking at those opportunities as well.”