A $15 million AFL academy planned for Darwin has been hailed as a boost for both the development of indigenous children and the Northern Territory’s chances of one day getting a team in the big league.

The Michael Long NT Thunder Learning and Leadership Centre, which is to be built at TIO Stadium in Darwin, was formally announced on Thursday.

Essendon AFL great Michael Long told media in Darwin the academy was the result of years of lobbying governments and would give remote children opportunities they may otherwise miss out on.

“We want to give them a smorgasbord of things that they have never seen before,” Long said.

“We are looking at programs from music, to arts … and obviously TV, radio.”

Any children in the Northern Territory who have good school attendance and regular health checks will be eligible to attend the academy, with a focus on those living in remote areas.

About 1600 students are expected to spend around a week at the academy in the first year, with numbers ultimately building up to 5000 annually.

NT Chief Minister Paul Henderson said the academy would be a “game changer” in terms of indigenous health, education and job prospects.

The academy would also be the launch pad for the NT Thunder becoming an AFL team, Mr Henderson said.

“If the Gold Coast can do it, the Territory can do it,” he said.

Federal Regional Australia Minister Simon Crean said the new academy would use football and the arts to try and help bridge indigenous disadvantage.

“We have got to tie into those things and just be creative in the way in which we break this cycle,” he said.

The academy is being funded by the federal and NT governments, the AFL and $3.5 million from the Aboriginals Benefit Account.