Tiwi Islands Football League

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.The Grand Final of the TIFL is broadcast each year on ABC Northern and more recently, nationally on ABC2.

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%). [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/northern-territory/even-a-cyclone-cant-stop-the-footy/2005/03/19/1111086063413.html Even a cyclone can't stop the footy] ] 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.

Recent results

The Muluwurri Magpies finally triumphed, winning their first ever premiership in more than 30 years that the competition has been running. "They did it in record-breaking style, kicking the equal highest grand final score in TIFL history to beat Imalu Tigers 25/6 (156) to 12/4 (76) at Stanley Tipiloura Oval" [NT News 2.04.2007] in the community of Nguiu on Bathurst Island.

There were emotional scenes as players, their families and friends went berserk after yesterday's (1 April 2007, season 2006/7) win over the Tigers.

The 'pies have made it to the Finals a number of times over the years, including 5 out of the last 6.

Clubs

*Imalu Football Club (Tigers)
*Walama 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)

Former clubs

*Warankuwu Football Club
*Nguiu Football Club

History

John Pye and Andy Howley introduced Australian rules football to Bathurst and Melville islands in 1941.

The locals quickly took to the game and the first dedicated ground was built in 1942.

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 Tiwi servicemen, 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, becoming one of the first Tiwis to succeed in the VFL/AFL. Michael Long was later to do the same in 1993. Adam Kerinaiua played 3 games for the Brisbane Bears in 1992. Malcolm Lynch is a more recent product of the Tiwi Islands playing the AFL. Although these players were not from the TIFL, the success of these players in the elite Australian competition did much to boost the popularity of Australian Rules amongst the local Tiwi Islanders.

In 2006, it was announced that a Tiwi Islands Football Club would join the Northern Territory Football League initially known as the "Super Tiwis". [ [http://ntnews.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,18629572%255E13569,00.html Northern Territory News ] ] The team began 2006 season as the "Tiwi Bombers". [ [http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/10/12/1160246263971.html Tiwis take a leap in their hopes for the side] ]

ee also

*AFL Northern Territory
*Northern Territory Football League
*Australian rules football in the Northern Territory

References

External links

* [http://www.aboriginalfootball.com.au/tifl.html 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]
* [http://www.tilg.nt.gov.au/home/tiwi_links/tiwi_islands_football_league Tiwi Local Government Pages]
* [http://www.theage.com.au/news/northern-territory/even-a-cyclone-cant-stop-the-footy/2005/03/19/1111086063413.html Even a cyclone can't stop the footy]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/nt/content/2006/s1600507.htm Interview with Brother John Pye - founder of Tiwi Footy]