Remote Territory talent was on show at Gunbalanya’s West Arnhem Footy Carnival
Young aspiring players from across remote NT travelled long distances to compete and show off their skills at a critical next generation identification program. Check out the photos.
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Young aspiring players from across remote NT travelled long distances to compete and show off their skills at a critical next generation identification program.
The event at Gunbalanya, located 57km northeast of Jabiru, hosted the two day Under 15s West Arnhem Footy Carnival.
The event draws in teams from across the region, including Maningrida, Jabiru, Minjilang, and Warruwi.
They all make the long trek fuelled by passion and aiming to earn selection into the annual Michael Long Cup, which will be hosted in Darwin in August.
The carnival is a collaboration between AFLNT’s Indigenous Programs team and the Cazalys NT Talent Academy’s remote pathways.
It brings together the NT’s top 50 male and female athletes from throughout the NT for elite development and talent identification.
The West Arnhem Carnival is run as an AFL 9s round-robin format spotlighting the core attributes of Territory footy which are speed, skill, and instinctive teamwork.
Local favourites Gunbalanya upset a strong Maningrida outfit to claim the title in the grand final, with the home crowd creating an electric atmosphere from the sidelines.
Gunbalanya’s own Demesiaus Garlngarr was named the overall MVP of the carnival impressing with his speed, creativity and fearless approach in the contest.
NT Talent Academy head coach Dale Eames said the carnival was a great showcase of skills and the talent in remote regions.
“These carnivals allow youth boys in the West Arnhem region to showcase their skills in a game-sense environment,” he said.
“There’s a lot of skill and speed on display out there, which is exciting to watch.”
The West Arnhem Footy Carnival is one of several regional events delivered by AFLNT Indigenous programs team.
The Academy, which launched its emerging talent initiative in 2024, now offers open trials for boys and girls in the Under 13, 14, and 15 age groups, feeding into selection for the Under 16 NT Squad.
The 2025 West Arnhem Under 15s Carnival was proudly supported by the Australian Sports Commission and the National Indigenous Australians Agency.
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Originally published as Remote Territory talent was on show at Gunbalanya’s West Arnhem Footy Carnival