CHIEF executive Peter Jackson says Melbourne’s new agreement to play four home and away matches in the Northern Territory across 2017-18 is not only commercially viable for the club, but critical from a community perspective.

Jackson said there was no hiding from that fact that it was a significant deal for the club, but stressed that it was imperative AFL clubs also made a genuine impact into regions around the country.

“It’s commercially very important for the football club, because the amount we get for the games are the equivalent of 60,000 at the MCG and we’re not going to get two extra games like that with the current fixture – we can’t see that happening in the foreseeable future,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“If we play those teams back at the MCG that we play in the Northern Territory, we’d be playing in front of crowds of about 20,000.

“Commercially, we’ve got to take that into account.”

Jackson stressed that Melbourne members were not hindered by the deal to play a game in Alice Springs and Darwin next year, which will be repeated in 2018.

“From a members’ point-of-view, they don’t miss out, because we give them two return games against Victorian-based clubs,” he said.

“This year, we had Essendon in round two and we’ve got Carlton in round 22 as replacements games. So the members get their full complement of MCG games and they will continue to, but we can’t guarantee which clubs they’ll be against, because it’ll depend on the fixture.”

With Melbourne set to have a talent academy in Alice Springs, and some access in Darwin, Jackson said it was important Melbourne made a meaningful contribution in the NT.

“The second part of it is that we now have a talent academy that the AFL has given us in Alice Springs and we’re also required to do some talent academy work in Darwin,” he said.

“To continue the relationship with the community up there and to give back and develop Indigenous football and improve Indigenous communities is really important.

“I think the community actions of AFL clubs are really important. The community supports our game and the community, in the end, pays us for what we do and allows us to do what we do. It’s a privilege for us – the players and administration.

“The club needs to give things back to the community, in my view.”

Jackson said there was also a great opportunity for the AFL and NT Government to build the Alice Springs match into a marquee event.

“Rather than looking at the Alice Springs game as being a small game and [people asking] ‘why do you do it?’ I just think it’s so unique that I’d like to encourage the AFL and the Northern Territory Government, and all stakeholders involved to really get behind it,” he said.

“There might only be 5,500 people [at the game], but with the background of the MacDonnell Ranges and you’re there for the Indigenous community – where else in elite sport are you putting on a game like that?

“I just think it’s so unique that we ought to build it up into something that’s great, rather than just another small game in another country area.”