DARWIN local and Port Adelaide listed player Marlon Motlop assisted in the launch of the Power Primary Schools Challenge at St Johns High School.

The Power Primary Schools Challenge is a participation based program aimed at getting children of a Primary School age actively involved with AFL Football at a young age.

“Up to 40 primary schools around Darwin, Palmerston and the Rural areas are taking part in the round robin carnival,” said AFLNT Special Projects and Participation Manager Xavier Moloney.

Motlop will be on hand to umpire the game between Essington and Parap Primary Schools and also field questions from eager AFL fans.

“The kids thoroughly enjoy their football, I am pleased that Port Adelaide are putting some resources into the schools up here, as this is where I learned my trade,” says Motlop.

“Being Darwin born and bred I am excited at the prospect of helping develop football among the kids in the region.”

Port Adelaide has also come on board to provide resources and assistance to AFLNT School programs this year.

“Port Adelaide are assisting us with this carnival and also supporting our AFL School Ambassadors who put a lot of time and effort in to promote our AFL programs in their schools,” explained Moloney.

The Power Primary Schools Challenge will run for the next eight weeks and will culminate in a large carnival on March 19th at TIO Stadium where all schools will participate in a full day round robin carnival.

Port Adelaide will be playing two games at TIO Stadium during to 2010 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. They will take on Melbourne on May 22nd and Western Bulldogs on July 17th.

The Primary Schools Challenge is the start of a long-term plan for the Power to engage with the Northern Territory community.