The tiny airstrip at Nguiu, the Northern Territory's tropical heartland of Australian football, looked more like Heathrow yesterday as thousands of islanders converged on the township for a day of sport and commiseration. Following the heartbreaking loss of their beloved Tiwi Bombers in the NTFL grand final on Saturday night, the islanders evacuated Darwin by any means to get home in time for the local grand final on Bathurst Island.

Known for their fast-paced game and exquisite skills, the Tiwis see football as more than just sport. At 40 per cent, this hotbed of talent has the highest participation rate in the country and has produced some of the game's greats, including Richmond's 1982 Norm Smith medallist Maurice Rioli, and Essendon's Michael Long, who won the same honour in 1993.

"It's like a religion for us," said Tiwi Land Council's Matthew Wonaeamirri, whose son Austin plays for Melbourne in the AFL. "We've got to get more kids playing footy, to stop them taking drugs and alcohol."

Braving torrential rain, almost 3000 people, including hundreds of tourists, turned out for one of the busiest days on the indigenous sporting calendar. Wearing the brown and gold of the Hawthorn Hawks, the Tapalinga Superstars retained the Maurice Rioli Cup, beating the black and gold Imalu Tigers, from neighbouring Melville Island, 9.15.(69) to 4.6.(30).

Photo of Tiwi Bomber playing in the NTFL.

Also assessing the local talent was Kevin Sheedy, coach of the AFL's newest franchise, Greater Western Sydney, and connoisseur of Tiwi football, having first visited in 1974. "It wouldn't be a bad idea to bring this mob down to play my under-21 team," Sheedy said. "They wouldn't know what hit them because they play a brilliant, attacking, exciting game, something the people in western Sydney would enjoy."

For Essendon's new managing director, Ian Robson, it was a chance to see first-hand how the club's 20-year affiliation with the Tiwis, which includes $75,000 in annual sponsorship, helps combat social dysfunction. "Football has been invaluable here in giving focus to a batch of young men who might otherwise be aimless and lost," Mr Robson said.

But despite the celebrations, the pain of Saturday night's NTFL loss at Marrara Stadium lingered. The Tiwi Bombers raced to an early two-goal lead but were soon outmuscled by Top End powerhouse, St Mary's, who clinched their third consecutive grand final, 11.8.(74) to 9.10.(64). Bombers coach and former policeman Karl Gundersen was philosophical about the loss. "It's a massive positive for the Tiwis," he said. "With so many negatives like drugs and alcohol, these guys are all role models."

Article courtesy of The Australian.

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