World Footy News

Last week we posted a story about the grand finals across the five major Australian Football leagues in the tropics (above the Tropic of Capricorn) of Queensland (see: ). This follow up story looks at the grand final stories of the big games across the Northern Territory. As a point of interest, many of these leagues played their finals much earlier in the year, but by including all that we can a bigger picture of the scope of Australian Rules football across the NT can be seen.

 

AFL Gove:

After a year where Gopu and Nguykal went head to head four times throughout the season, with a Gopu dominance (3 wins to 1), the pair finished the season in 1st and 2nd place and ultimately met in the final game of the year. This time, however, it was underdogs Nguykal who prevailed in an upset and largely unexpected finish to the AFL Gove season.

Back in June, Gove also played host to the East Arnhem AFL Carnival.   On the day it was the Galiwinku Giants from Elcho Island who held out the Maningrida All-Stars 65 to 48.

 

Maningrida Footy:

In front of an excited and enthusiastic crown of around 1500 people, the Maningrida Grand Final came down to a battle between 1st place and 2nd place again. In a very tight tussle it was the Nakara Tigers who fell over the line by 4 points over Wanderers.

For more information on Maningrida Footy, have a read of our article at: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/2013012612042646

 

Lajamanu Footy:

The Grand Final of the Kiwiniyi District Football League saw the Gurindji Eagles 10 11 71 defeat the Wiyarla Tigers 6 5 41. The Lajamanu Swans team played seven games in the Big Rivers League. This league is discussed in more detail further on.

Moree information on Lajamanu Footy can be found at: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20130820203434833

 

Elcho Island:

In a thrilling Grand Final in Galiwinku there were many lead changes early as both the Cats and the Blues fought hard. Eventually it was the Cats who got away late to set up a 22 point lead during the last quarter before the Blues came storming home, beaten by the siren. The finals scores saw the Cats 11 11 77 defeat the Blues 10 8 68.

For more information about footy on Elcho Island, go to: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20130218173448607

 

AFL Big Rivers Football League (AFL Katherine):

In the former Katherine District Football League it was the Eastside FC who triumphed over the Ngukurr Bulldogs. The final score saw Eastside 10 14 74 to Ngukurr 8 11 59.

Of note here is the unique make up of the league which sees a 14 round season, but the Ngukurr Bulldogs and Lajamanu Swans play 7 rounds each as they have enormous distances to travel for games. Lajamanu won two games this season, but Ngukurr won enough to scrape into the finals and go past the Beswick Bears, Arnhem Crows and Katherine Camels to reach the Grand Final and play Eastside.

 

Ngukurr Football League:

In their own Ngukurr local football league Grand Final, the Demons were outright favourites over the Kangaroos. It turned out that way early as the Demons scorched away to a 28 point lead. But a send-off saw the loss of a key Demon, setting the scene for a remarkable comeback from the Kangaroos who piled on a 10 goal to 4 second half to pinch the game in a huge upset. Final scores saw Kangaroos 12 8 80 defeat Demons 10 10 70

 

AFL Barkly:

The ladder leader from the home and away games, the Sporties Spitfires, were run down in the finals and missed the Grand Final. In the end it became a battle between the 2nd placed Janapurlalki Eagles (runner up to the Ti-Tree Rosters in 2011 and 2012) and the 5th placed Ali Curung Roos. Final scores saw the Eagles 15 21 111 defeat the Roos 14 7 91 to claim their 6th premiership.

 

Central Australian Football League (CAFL):

The Pioneer Eagles went through the season undefeated and heavy favourite for the flag. Second placed Rovers were seen as the biggest threat. But as is often the way, finals are a different game. The Federal Demons dispatched Rovers and went on the meet the Pioneer eagles in the Grand Final. After losing all matches to Eagles and Rovers all season, they pulled off a stunning upset in a thriller. Final scores saw Federals 15 8 98 defeat Pioneers 15 4 94. After a flag drought that lasted from 1974, Federals have now won two in three years.

 

Tiwi Islands Footy:

This year it was the league’s two most successful clubs, the Imalu Tigers and the Tapalinga Superstars, fighting it out again. Imalu had 16 premierships, Tapalinga had 11. But it was the mighty Tigers who extended their tally to 17 flags with a win against the Superstars. Final score saw the Imalu Tigers 13 7 85 defeat the Tapalinga Superstars 10 9 69. Now the attention of the Tiwi Islands turns to the Tiwi Bombers as they try to win their second flag in the 2013/14 season.