A $15 million AFL academy for indigenous children in Darwin will soon be formally announced.

Details of the Michael Long Indigenous Football Academy are expected to be unveiled at a media conference in Darwin on Thursday.

Federal Regional Development Minister Simon Crean told ABC radio 1000 girls from remote areas and 1000 boys were expected to attend the academy each year, with about 70 there at any one time.

It has been named in honour of AFL football great Michael Long, who has championed the idea of the academy and will be at Thursday’s announcement.

“It will be the gym, it will be the training facilities, but it will have residential accommodation,” Mr Crean told ABC Radio.

“The ticket of entry is school attendance and proper health checks so this is important in terms of that whole agenda of closing the gap,” he said.

Mr Crean said the academy would be an opportunity not just to develop sports skills, but also indigenous art.

He said the facility was to be based in Darwin, to provide a hub for children in regional areas.

The federal government is spending about $10.5 million of the $15 million need to fund the initiative, Mr Crean said.

“It will be part of their learning experience, their development of skills, the understanding of leadership and the understanding of team work,” Mr Crean said.