Tiwi Islands Football League
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The Tiwi Islands Football League is an Australian rules football competition in the Tiwi Islands, Northern Territory, Australia. Australian Rules football is the most popular sport on the Tiwi Islands.
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[edit] Tiwi football
The Tiwi Islands Grand Final is an event held in March each year that attracts up to 3,000 spectators and is a tourist attraction for the Northern Territory. The Tiwi Australian Football League has 900 participants out of a community of about 2600, the highest football participation rate in Australia (35%). [1] Tiwi footballers are renknowned for exquisite one touch skills. Many of the players have a preference for participating barefoot. Many of the male players also play for the St Marys Football Club in Darwin's Northern Territory Football League.
[edit] Recent results
Pumarali Thunder & Lightning won the 2005/06 TIFL premiership over runners up Muluwurri Magpie Geese.
[edit] Clubs
- Imalu Football Club (Tigers)
- Wlama Bulldogs (formerly Irrimaru Football Club)
- Pumarali Football Club (Thunder & Lightning)
- Tapalinga Football Club (Superstars)
- Muluwurri Magpies (Magpie Geese - formerly Taracumbi Football Club)
- Tuyu Football Club (Buffaloes)
- Ranku Football Club (Eagles)
[edit] Former clubs
- Warankuwu Football Club
- Nguiu Football Club
[edit] History
John Pye and Andy Howley introduced Australian rules football to Bathurst and Melville islands in 1930.
The locals quickly took to the game and the first dedicated ground was built in 1941.
In 1944 the first games consisting of a full complement of 18 players and matches according to the rule book were played.
In 1954, the St Mary's Football Club began enlisting Tiwis, and in the following year with the assistance of a majority of Tiwi players won the NTFL premiership.
In the 1960s, the most talented export of the TIFL, David Kantilla had a successful career in the NTFL, which reached a peak when he later became a professional player in the South Adelaide Football Club (SANFL) premiership ruckman, and winning leading goal kicking and Best and Fairest awards at the club. The league's top goalkicking award was later named after him.
In 1982, Tiwi Maurice Rioli won the Norm Smith Medal for the Richmond Football Club. Michael Long was later to do the same in 1993. Although neither of these players were from the TIFL, the success of these players in the elite Australian competition did much to boost the popularity of Australian Rules amongst the locals.
In 2006, it was announced that a "Super Tiwis" side would join the Northern Territory Football League. [2] The team began 2006 season as the "Tiwi Bombers".[3]
[edit] See also
- AFL Northern Territory
- Northern Territory Football League
- Australian rules football in the Northern Territory
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Aboriginal Football list of TIFL Grand Final scores and winners of Brother John Pye Award, Ted Whitten Award, David Kantilla Award and Mitch Lee Award
- Tiwi Local Government Pages
- Even a cyclone can't stop the footy
- Interview with Brother John Pye - founder of Tiwi Footy
| Governing Body | |
| Darwin Leagues | |
| Regional Leagues |
TEAFA | CAFL | Champions League | Barkly & District | Katherine District | Gove | Tiwi Islands |
| Women's Leagues |
Northern Territory Women's Aussie Rules Football Association |
| Masters Leagues |
Masters Australian Football NT |
