Tiwi Islands Football Club

The Tiwi Islands Football Club (known as the "Tiwi Bombers") began as a representative club competing in the Northern Territory Football League 2006/07 season.

The club is notable as being the first all-Aboriginal team to play in a major competition [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/a-team-in-big-league-kickstarts-hope-on-troubled-tiwi-islands/2006/10/12/1160246262878.html A team in big league kick-starts hope on troubled Tiwi islands] Article from Sydney Morning Herald] .

The team represents the Tiwi Islands, an aboriginal community in the Northern Territory which has Australia's highest participation rate in the sport of Australian rules football. The franchise was awarded to the Tiwi Islands Football League, which is affiliated with the new club.

The team is affiliated with the Essendon Football Club, where two famous Tiwi Island products Michael Long and Dean Rioli [ [http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/articles/2006/10/14/1160246372873.html Bomber takes role in new territory] Article from The Age] played their football in the national Australian Football League (AFL). Essendon provided jumpers for the team and the team adopted the "Bombers" moniker.

AFL players Austin Wonaeamirri and Dean Rioli have both played for the club.

2006/07 season

The club won six out of seven games in the season, many by significant margins displaying a trademark play-on at all costs fast paced style.Their only defeat was to the eventual NTFL premiers, Southern Districts Football Club, by a small margin.

All of the clubs matches were featured nationally on ABC2, a special feature as part of the NTFL's television coverage. However they defeated the NTFL premiers later in the season in a friendly "mini-Grand Final" rematch.

It was announced early in 2007 that the team would become a permanent part of the NTFL competition in the 07/08 season, although some Tiwi Islands players will be unavailable to play for the Bombers due to contracts to other NTFL clubs.

2007/08 season

In the off season, the club recruited several players from the Southport Sharks in the Queensland State League to boost their height and key position strength.

In the club's maiden season (their first season after the trial season), they started with promise, winning many of their early games and sitting on top of the ladder by mid season.

However injuries and player losses took their toll and the Bombers experienced a form slump later in the season. They recovered in the last few rounds to keep a finals berth. Finishing high on the ladder gave them several chances to reach the Grand Final. However after losing their qualifying final to St Marys, the Bombers lost the first semi-final to Waratah, extinguishing their aspirations for a flag in their maiden season. Some cited the lack of a reserves side as a factor in their up and down season.

Inaugural Squad

Coach: Greg Orsto.
#Stuart Warlapinni (Nguiu / Darwin F.C.)
#Simon Munkara (Nguiu / Darwin)
#Ephram Tipungwuti (Nguiu / Darwin)
#Wayne Pilakui (Nguiu / Darwin)
#Albert Tipungwuti (Nguiu / Darwin)
#Norman Pangirimini (Garden Point / Waratah)
#Sylvanus Tipiloura (Nguiu / Waratah)
#Rupert Pupungameri (Nguiu / Waratah)
#Romeo Ullungura (Nguiu / Waratah)
#Mikelas Tipungwuti (Wurankuwu / Waratah)
#Edward Darcy (Snake Bay / Palmerston)
#Trevor Wilson (Snake Bay / Palmerston)
#Michael Wilson (Snake Bay / Palmerston)
#Shannon Cook (Wurankuwu / Palmerston)
#Bradley Palipuaminni (Nguiu / Palmerston)
#Joel Heenan (Wurankuwu / Palmerston)
#Michael Heenan (Warankuwu / Palmerston)
#Angelo Orsto (Nguiu / Wanderers)
#Robert Cunningham (Nguiu / Wanderers)
#Mark-Lee Thompson (Nguiu / Wanderers)
#Thomas Simon (Nguiu / Wanderers)
#Shane Kerinaiua (Nguiu / Wanderers)
#Adam Whitlam (Wurankuwu / Wandereres)
#Austin Wonaeamirri (Snake Bay / St Marys)
#Francis Vigona-Daniels (Snake Bay / St Marys)
#Willie Rioli (Garden Point / St Marys)
#Owen Henry (Snake Bay / St Marys)
#Paul-Simon Kerinaiua (Nguiu / St Marys)
#Freddy Puruntatameri (Nguiu / St Marys)
#Jack Tipungwuti (Nguiu / St Marys)
#Patrick Puruntatameri (Garden Point / St Marys)
#Sebastian Pilakui (Nguiu / St Marys)
#Sydney Page (Wurankuwu / Southern Districts)
#Giuseppe Tipiloura (Snake Bay / Nightcliff)
#Dean Rioli (Garden Point / Essendon)

Rookie-listed players:
#Roy Farmer (Milikapiti / St Marys)
#David Kantilla (Nguiu / Wanderers)
#Romelo Kantilla (Nguiu / Wanderers)
#Rex Pungauti (Nguiu / Nightcliff)
#Patrick Heenan (Milikapiti / Palmerston)
#Jack Dulla (Nguiu)
#Benedict Stassi (Garden Point)

References