Located in The Gulf Region of the Territory and the traditional home of the Yanyuwa, Gudanji, Mara and Garawa peoples, Borroloola may be known for its fishing and mining, but that’s about to change.

Bubbling under the surface of the otherwise sleepy town is a cohort of fierce athletes ready to take on the country.

Home to roughly 950 residents the community is filled to the brim with athletic talent, particularly in its junior ranks.

However, for many years this potential has remained untapped.

Now, the community is ready to show the country what it’s got – the Borroloola Strikers.

Born out of the underlying infatuation for the sport - off the back of John Kundereri Moriarty’s efforts of introducing the code more than two decades ago - the round ball game is being championed by young women and girls in the community.

And these players have now been given the opportunity to test themselves at the upcoming First Nations Football Festival in Dubbo, NSW, this week.

The side, composed of players between 14-30 years old, has been training together for the past six months, following a trip to Darwin that saw the side down the reigning Top End champions Mindil Aces 11-0 in a friendly.

From that moment the side has received backing from local business and agencies and earnt the full support of the governing body Football Northern Territory.

Team member and local Alison Morrison, who has been kicking a ball since a toddler, said the opportunity has much greater ramifications within the community than you might expect.

“I’ve actually played soccer my whole life, it’s a sport that’s catched my eyes (sic) the most,” the 25-year-old goalkeeper said.

“I’m so glad that this has been put together.

“So many women in the community sit around all day and do nothing which is unhealthy and not good for your mental (health).

“It’s just the men normally that do the sport stuff.

“So the goal is to involve every girl from every age to participate.”

A senior figure in the side, Morrison believes her team will be competitive but is aware they will face some challenges.

“So many of the girls haven’t left the Territory so it’s going to be very special to see them experience different places for the first time,” she explained.

“We should go good.

“There will be times where the younger girls will get frustrated because they don’t have the experience and knowledge of the team’s we will play, but it will be good learning for them about resilience and belief.

“I reckon if we were to be the champions the girls wouldn’t stop talking about it so that’d get annoying, but I’d still be proud.”

Younger sister of trailblazer and current Central Coast Mariners A-League player Shadeene ‘Shay’ Evans, Sharntel, believes the need to wear boots will be something the other teams won’t even think about.

“We all love to not wear shoes,” the teenager said.

“We never do at home so why do we need to when playing.

“I think that’s the difference between bigger towns and smaller towns.”

Despite having a sister in the big leagues, Evans said she has been left to her own devices, but does still look up to her sister as an inspiration.

“She (Shay) hasn’t said anything – just lets me do my own thing I guess,” Evans said.

“It’s cool that she is good and I know lots of the girls say she inspires them, and me.”

For many, this will be their first taste of organised competition, and one of the Strikers’ most experienced players is eager to use her time in NSW and Darwin to guide the team.

With time at St. George and Hellenic AC, lethal striker Neveah Dixon knows she needs to lead by example at the festival.

“I’ve had a lot of experience playing in NSW and also Darwin which has helped me a lot,” the 17-year-old said.

“I’ve been trying to also help the girls who have only played here (Borroloola). Like communication and that is so important and they need to talk more together.

“And also some of them are a bit lazy when they don’t have it (the ball) so I’ve been showing them how to move (into space) and also defend instead of just watching the ball go (past).”

Dixon said that while she’s been proud to play for her clubs, nothing will make her more proud than to represent her community and her family in Dubbo.

“It’s very cool that I’m going to be able to play for my community and like everyone we want to make our families all proud,” she said.

“No-one in my family play (football) – they all do footy, but I know they cheer for me.

“We want to do our best but know that it will be tough, if we win it would be the greatest thing.”

An extremely expensive venture, the figurehead behind the Strikers Steve McAllan is hopeful the trip won’t be the last.

He also believes that the Strikers can be an example of how to enrich regional communities.

“The whole trip will cost roughly $65k, the money all donated by generous parties,” the general manager of the McArthur River Mine backed Gulf Youth & Community Service said.

“Football has held a presence here for decades, but we are pushing for that next level.

“And when you look at all the amazing athletes who have been given the access to succeed, imagine how many more have the same potential, but not the resources.”

Echoing McAllan’s sentiment, chief executive of Football NT Jamie Monteith wants this to be more than a “sugar-hit”, with plans of using the Strikers as a blueprint for other regions across the Territory.

“The Borroloola Strikers is their name but as a community, one with a rich history of the sport – especially in the female space – we need to make sure we support initiatives such as this the best we can so they can have a taste of what so many others have who don’t live regionally,” he said.

“We’ve seen on our visits to communities around the NT that there is an appetite for football.

“And this isn’t just about seeing how far you can go in football but also providing access to schooling and nutrition and health and all that surrounds that.

“We don’t want this to be a sugar-hit, we want to make sure this is the start of pathways around the Territory.”

Borroloola Strikers in Pictures