A packed house of players, officials, volunteers and dignitaries filled The Tanks Arts Centre tonight to usher in the official welcome of the National Diversity Championships in Cairns. On a humid but pleasant night the assembled audience were treated to entertainment, formal welcomes and player interviews as a prelude to the real action on the football field over the next five days.

The evening commenced to the resonating power of the didgeridoo and dance from the Wuba Indigenous performing troupe before Rick Hanlon, AFL Cape York Programs Director and Master of Ceremonies for the night, acknowledged the traditional owners of the land on which we were meeting before introducing State Treasurer and member for Mulgrave, Curtis Pitt, and Marc Harbrow, brother of Gold Coast Suns star Jarrod Harbrow, who gave the traditional welcome on behalf of his people.

The idea of an AFL premiership match being played in Singapore is a long, long way from being a reality, but news from the www.afl.com website suggests that the Brisbane Lions are looking at the option.

 

According to the AFL’s website, “THE BRISBANE Lions' financial woes and restrictive deal with their home stadium, the Gabba, have driven the club to pursue options for a home and away match overseas.

 

Lions officials have started investigating a viable international option which has taken their focus to the Singapore National Stadium.

 

 

The stadium, opened last year, has a capacity of 55,000 and has hosted soccer giants such as Juventus. It has the dimensions to extend to host an AFL match.

The tropical North Queensland city of Cairns will play host to this year’s Kickstart Championships and All Nations Cup this weekend, which together comprise the AFL Diversity Cup. Last year’s event was held in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. The North Queensland city of Townsville held the event in 2013.

The event presents the opportunity for Cairns to further establish its credentials as a regional venue for high calibre AFL events, following on from hosting AFL Premierships matches and other key national events such as the Women’s Championships in 2013.

According to the press release from AFL Queensland:

“AFL Cairns will host the 2015 Kickstart Championships and All Nations Cup (AFL Diversity Cup) at Cazalys Stadium from Friday 10th to Wednesday 15th April. The U15 Kickstart Championships is in its 5th year and the structure has been developed to provide a supported, talented player pathway that compliments the National U16 Championships. It aims to expose indigenous and multicultural players, coaches and umpires to an elite AFL program environment.”

Back when Michael Gallus, director and founder of the Footys4all Foundation, first linked with the Pyramid Power junior football club in Gordonvale, Queensland, he saw and fell in love with Walsh’s Pyramid, the mountain that towers over the small sugar town.

He always stated that one day it was his wish to “have a kick of a footy” at Power Park in Gordonvale, home ground of the Power, and a ground with one of the most picturesque backdrops anywhere in Australia. Last week, Michael got his wish.

As part of his latest Footys4all sojourn to distribute sporting balls to less privileged kids across the country, Michael and his crew of fellow volunteers made their way to Cairns and linked up with the people of the Pyramid Power club to travel the region and visit a number of schools.

The following press release from the AFLNT details the upcoming opportunities for remote Territorian youth at the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre. As detailed in a previous article – Michael Long Learning & Leadership Centre Opens in Darwin – the centre aims to provide opportunities and pathways for remote players to develop, and this chance for a remote player contract with the NT Thunder presents something potentially life changing for recipients.

 

Press Release: NAAFVLS All-Stars Welcomed To MLLLC

 

 

The NAAFVLS Remote All-Stars have commenced their one week education and training themed camp at the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre.

 

With the 2014/15 NTFL season done and dusted there is some evidence coming through that the game in the Northern Territory, most particularly the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL)  is enjoying a strong and rapid growth. It is a long bow to draw to claim that the game is capturing a wider national audience, though there is evidence coming through which may support the idea.

 

A recent press release from the AFLNT noted that:

 

TIO NTFL Drawing Unprecedented Crowds in 2014-15 Season

The TIO NTFL attendance figures for the 2014/15 season are on record pace with more than 70,000 patrons through the gates since Round One in October 2014.

Analysis of the past five years reflects an increase of close to 12 per cent on the 2013/14 season attendance figures.

 

(Picture: Jubilant Wanderers players during NTFL Grand Final - source NT News)

The following article from www.abc.net.au  looks at the recent Tiwi Islands grand-final played last weekend, but largely hidden by the larger NTFL grand finals. It is a fascinating account of both the game itself but also the people, heritage and culture that are as much a part of the game as the players themselves.

 

This is the first of two articles from ABC News which examine both the history and impact of the game on the people of the Tiwi Islands as well as looking at this year’s grand-final.

 

 

The Tiwi Islands – or by the native name Ratuati Irara (two islands) – are comprised of Bathurst and Melville Islands, 80 kilometres north of Darwin where the Arafura Sea meets the Timor Sea. It is also home to the NTFL team, the Tiwi Bombers.

 

(Picture: Bulldogs players receiving quarter-timee instructions)

 

Wanderers Eagles have completed an amazing fairy-tale at TIO Stadium in Darwin tonight when they defeated St Marys to win the 2014/15 NTFL Grand-Final. Six weeks ago no-one would have predicted, or written, this result, yet Wanderers pulled of one of the most miraculous victories and wrote the happiest possible ending to their story.

It was the nearest thing to a David versus Goliath story in many, many years, and David did indeed slay Goliath.

To scenes of unbridled joy, Wanderers fans jumped the fences in ecstasy when the final siren sounded, bringing to a close an emotional, exciting and almost unbelievable run from sixth place to premiers.

Final Scores: Wanderers 11 17 83 d St Marys 7 7 49.

The ultimate game of the 2014/15 NTFL season will be played tonight at TIO Stadium in Darwin. The premier AFL event on the Northern Territory calendar will see the all-powerful St Mary’s Saints chasing their third consecutive flag. Their opponents, Wanderers Eagles, were runners-up last season.

The match tonight presents a host of fascinating potential outcomes and side stories. Not only does the St Marys team face the prospect of a three peat (three flags in a row), they are also after their 31st premiership since they entered the league back in 1952. The last club to achieve three flags in a row was St Marys when they took out the 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10 flags.

Wanderers, the team that made their own fairy tale to come from sixth place just weeks before the finals to reach the big day, get to make amends for last year’s grand-final loss to St Mary’s and chase their own 13th premiership. To read of their run to the finals, follow this link: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article...3072318056

Last night was the officially opening of the Michael Long learning and leadership centre. The facility is designed to assist indigenous youth to follow a football pathway to career, leadership and life options that might not otherwise be available.

World Footy news has reported on this centre’s development since the idea was flagged bag in early 2013. The centre will be of enormous benefit to indigenous Territorian youth. Many players from remote leagues such as Maningrida, Galiwinku, Groote Eylandt, Wadeye, Lajamanu and many more across the Northern Territory will follow this pathway in future years. Not Long now: Football themed learning and leadership centre taking shape

The following media release from AFLNT and the Northern Territory Government highlights the development of the project. The video clip below is also from the AFLNT showing footage of the official opening event in Darwin last night as a pre-cursor to the NTFL Grand-Final.