Thousands dawn for Tiwi Island grand final for full throated celebration of sport and culture

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The Tiwi Islands Grand Final has drawn thousands of locals and tourists to Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst Island, north of Darwin, for a full-throated celebration of art, culture and Australian Rules football. In the men’s, the Imalu Tigers defeated the Muluwurri Magpies 94 to 78, while in the women's the Magpies won a decisive victory over the Walama Bulldogs.

Transcript

00:00Football on the Tiwi Islands in full flight.

00:06Known for its lightning speed and for producing some of the code's biggest names.

00:11Too many talents, Tupunguti and the Riolis and Porintadmaris and Karanawas.

00:21Australian rules football, a topic of conversation on the islands year round.

00:27But today it becomes all-consuming as hundreds who travel from Darwin and interstate find out.

00:33The Tiwi Islands grand final is no ordinary game of footy.

00:37Get the bus!

00:39I've had chats to heaps of strangers who just want to tell me everything about their club.

00:44Really excited. I just want my team to win, that's all.

00:48Nearby art centres buzzing too as visitors discover the unique Tiwi style.

00:53Like this piece by award-winning artist Carol Putanta Mary, which tells a Melville Island Dreamtime story.

00:59She says grand final weekend is an exciting opportunity to share.

01:03You learn about our art, our culture and whatever, our stories on the painting.

01:11After a convincing win from the Mullawoodi Magpies in the women's match,

01:15the men's side unbeaten all season, hoping to make it a double victory for the club.

01:21But it soon becomes clear that's not to be.

01:23The Imalu Tigers' strategy too refined for the Pies.

01:28Aggression and power and stability and run.

01:33Run, you know, and hit them in the centre.

01:37As the siren sounds, emotions run high and the fans flood the field.

01:41Come on!

01:43The team from Melville Island celebrating their first Premiership win in 12 years.

01:51I'm grateful this day.

01:53My team, yes I'm the goal. Obviously the goals.

01:55I can't count how much, but I'm pretty happy.

01:57Like so many grand finals played here, it was neck and neck right until the final quarter.

02:01But the Tigers were just too strong, clawing ahead in the last quarter to claim the victory

02:07and write another chapter in the history of this legendary game of Aussie rules.

02:11Hello.

02:31Never mind.

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