One week after AFL decider firms as favourite
SATURDAY, October 3 has firmed as the likely date for the Tiwi Islands Football League's first 'dry' season grand final.
The Tiwis this month abandoned the 2008/09 season due to heavy rains which reduced the season to just four games by the start of January. The league is now in week three of their pre-season cup competition which will culminate in the grand final on Sunday, March 22, a day after the NTFL's 2008/09 premiership decider.
"That (October 3) seems about right because it will be one week after the AFL Grand Final and a week before the start of the NTFL's pre-season carnival," Billy Toy, the league's operations manager, said yesterday.
The Tiwis compete in the NTFL's pre-season competition with handy prizemoney and a chance for an Indigenous team to play at the MCG in the AFL's Indigenous Round the rewards.
A renaming of the oval at Nguiu, the main town on the islands, is also likely. The ground is set to have its name changed from Stanley Tipiloura Oval to Tiwi Oval, a more inclusive name, says Toy.
The name change, due to be made official next month, comes after consultation with the late Mr Tipiloura's family, traditional owners and the Tiwi Land Council.
"We will still honour Stanley Tipiloura at the ground in some way," Toy said, "but the oval's new name will be inclusive of everyone on the islands."
The ground, transformed into a State league level playing field, will be christened for premiership points on Valentine's Day, February 14, when NTFL clubs Tiwi Bombers and Darwin Buffaloes clash in their Round 17 match.
The TIFL board plans to meet next week on Thursday, February 5, two days before the All-Stars v Adelaide match in Darwin.
Kantilla first Bomber to boot 10
ROY KANTILLA etched his name in the history books at the weekend after becoming the first Tiwi Bombers player to kick 10 goals in a NTFL match.
The nephew of the late, great David Kantilla, and whose family name adorns the function room overlooking Marrara Oval, Kantilla powered his side to a 78-point -- 29.12 (186) to 16.12 (108) -- win over Palmerston in their Round 15 clash.
The demolition of the Magpies cements the Tiwis' place in second spot on the league ladder; the Bombers 10 premiership points above third-placed Southern Districts and six shy of leaders St Mary's.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Last Modified on 29/01/2009 22:21