Legendary former Hawthorn superstar, Cyril Rioli, will return to the game in an assistant coaching role for the Tiwi Bombers in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL). After his seemingly sudden retirement from the highest level of footy during the 2018 season.

Since then there has been wide speculation as to whether Rioli would return to Hawthorn, return to footy in Darwin or simply remain retired and use his experience behind the scenes. The Tiwi Bombers are delighted that Rioli has chosen to link with the club that hails from his home islands – the Tiwi Islands – north of Darwin.

Rioli, who remained on the islands until he was eight years old, moved to Darwin and then by age 14 was boarding at Scotch College in Melbourne until being drafted by Hawthorn in 2008. Since then, a legend grew – four premierships, a Norm Smith medal, three All-Australian selections, 189 games and 275 goals (some the most memorable in AFL history).

The following story by Hamish McLachlan, printed in the NT News this week, highlights the incredibly difficult journey of indigenous footballers, as recently as just 25 years ago.

In fact, in my own position coaching here in Cairns, North Queensland, I can say with certainty that the racism highlighted by former St Kilda star and media personality Gilbert McAdam, still exists amongst sections of communities. This story is important reading for the focus it brings to a topic that is too often treated with lip service, and at worst, ignored.

I was listening to David Letterman and Barack Obama talking about racism recently. Letterman said, “We can define racism. But we can’t explain it”.

The former US President responded with something like, “People come up with all sorts of reasons to try and put themselves over others, but biologically, there is no reality to racism — we made it up — but over time it manifests itself in very concrete ways and becomes a social reality, with very real impacts”.

The Adelaide Crows soared to a 45-point win over the Carlton Blues at the Adelaide Oval in the 2019 AFLW Grand Final.

Now, the Crows are the only team to win two AFLW premierships.

It was the Blues first AFLW grand final.

The Crows hosted the Blues at the Adelaide Oval in front of a record crowd of 53, 304.

Crows superstar Erin Phillips’ day came to a sad end late in the third term, as she injured her ACL and was stretchered off the ground.

Meanwhile, teammate Chloe Scheer tore her ACL in the match as well.

Blues star forward Tayla Harris also injured her knee after a knock to it. 

Image Source: Michael Wilson

The highly anticipated AFLW Grand Final teams have been released below.

Adelaide vs Carlton, Sunday 31st March 12:30pm at Adelaide Oval

Adelaide Team

Position	Name	#	Name	#	Name	#
Backs	D.Cox	31	S.Allan	39	J.Mules	23
Half Backs	M.Rajcic	32	C.Randall	26	A.Foley	3
Centreline			E.Phillips - C	13
Half Forwards	D.Ponter	15	C.Scheer	4	C.Cramey	22
Forwards	E.Jones	2	S.Thompson	14	D.Varnhagen	9
Followers	J.Foley	24	A.Hatchard	33	E.Marinoff	10
Interchange	H.Martin	6	A.Considine	16	J.Sedunary	17
	S.Li	19	R.Forth	27	N.Gore	7
	H.Martin	8	N.Gore	7	S.Riley	8

In: - N.Gore, S.Riley 

Out: - None

Carlton Team

Position	Name	#	Name	#	Name	#
Backs	J.Van Dyk	36	K.Harrington	9	N.Stevens	21
Half Backs	C.Dalton	15	C.Wilson	20	G.Pound	6
Centreline			B.Davey - C	1
Half Forwards	L.Brazzale	12	B.Moody	16	T.Lucas-Rodd	18
Forwards	D.Vescio	3	T.Harris	7	B.Walker	14
Followers	A.Downie	30	M.Prespakis	4	S.Hosking	10
Interchange	G.Gee	19	J.Edwards	25	J.Hosking	11
	A.Mullane	8	K.Loynes	2
	R.Hicks	24	N.Plane	32

In: - R.Hicks, N.Plane 

Out: - None

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The Adelaide Crows thumped Geelong by 66 points at the Adelaide Oval on a mild day in Adelaide.

It was a superior effort from the Crows, as they made light work of the Cats all day with their tough and relentless pressure.

With the 11 goals kicked by the Crows, 7 of them were kicked by individual goal scorers. 

The Cats struggled to get any flow and momentum to impact the game.

It was a great performance down back for Cats defender Meg McDonald who kept the dangerous Stevie-Lee Thompson quiet all day.

The Crows will host Carlton at the Adelaide Oval in the AFLW Grand Final next week. 

Image Source: AFL Photos

Carlton pulled off a solid upset win by 36 points over a Fremantle Dockers outfit that were outclassed all game long at the Ikon Park on a hot day in Melbourne.

From the wooden spooners last year to making the AFLW Grand Final for the first time.

The Dockers had an exceptional season, but the Blues played their best game of the season so far and the Dockers could not get any flow into their usual reliable formidable game plan. 

It was the first ever AFLW preliminary final at Ikon Park.

The Blues did not disappoint their home crowd with their stifling  pressure and cleaness with their ball skills around the entire ground.

It was the walking wounded for the Dockers during the match.

Image Source: Mike Owen

Irishwoman Ailish Considine will play in her first AFLW final for the Adelaide Crows this Sunday afternoon at the Adelaide Oval.

Considine says that her preparation leading up to preliminary final has been pretty much the same.

“It’s been pretty good this week so far, we had our first training session last night (Tuesday) and we will have our second one tomorrow (Thursday),” Considine said.

“It’s been pretty much the same as every other week we have prepared, same training days and the same way we do every week, because at the end of the day that’s what it is another game and we have to do our best to hopefully win and get the result.”

Image Source: AFL Women's 

Preliminary finals teams have been released below

Carlton Vs Fremantle, Saturday 23rd March 2:45pm at Ikon Park

Carlton Squad

Position	Name	#	Name	#	Name	#
Backs	J.Van Dyk	36	K.Harrington	9	N.Stevens	21
Half Backs	C.Dalton	15	C.Wilson	20	G.Pound	6
Centreline			B.Davey - C	1
Half Forwards	L.Brazzale	12	B.Moody	16	T.Lucas-Rodd	18
Forwards	D.Vescio	3	T.Harris	7	B.Walker	14
Followers	A.Downie	30	M.Prespakis	4	S.Hosking	10
Interchange	G.Gee	19	J.Edwards	25	K.Loynes	2
	A.Mullane	8	J.Hosking	11
	R.Hicks	24	N.Plane	32

In: - J.Edwards

Out: - A.McKay (Omitted) 

The Round Seven NAB AFL Women's Rising Star Nominees are Collingwood's Jordyn Allen, 18 and the GWS Giants Haneen Zreika.

Allen has been vital in the Magpies backline all season and over the weekend on Sunday against the Lions she collected 10 disposals and six marks in her team's first breakthrough win of the season at Victoria Park.

The Magpies selected Allen at pick number 5 in the 2018 NAB AFL Women's Draft.

Allen made her debut in Round One this season and has played every game in her first season at the Magpies.

Allen played for the Dandenong Stingrays and Casey Demons as a defender.

Image Source: Matt King/Getty Images & Collingwood FC