Katherine’s Big River Hawks need total support from the community to be able to play in Darwin

KATHERINE’S place in the NTFL competition can only proceed with the right amount of commitment and community support

The Big River Hawks will still be represented in the NTFL’s under-18 competition despite the withdrawal of their women’s side.

KATHERINE’S place in the NTFL competition can only proceed with the right amount of commitment and community support.

That was Big River Hawks treasurer and club spokesman Thomas Manning’s response to the town’s Women’s Premier League side withdrawing from their debut NTFL season.

The Hawks will not finish the 2019-20 season after breaching the AFLNT’s forfeit rule when (3.1.1) when they were non starters on three occasions.

Manning said all intentions had been good when the club joined the WPL this season.

“The AFLNT and the Big River Hawks committee thought having a Women’s Premier League team in Katherine would have a strong positive impact and help towards addressing some of the social issues,’’ he said.

“We think in the future there needs to be more community support. It’s a big ask to travel regularly and a game becomes a whole weekend away from families for the players.

“It’s a bus trip sometimes leaving early in the morning and returning late at night. (So) it’s a big commitment and it’s hard for many players, with some travelling over 600km return each weekend.’’

Manning said there were more serious challenges confronting players from communities throughout the region, who needed to travel on a weekly basis just to get to games.

“It’s not just a team, it takes a significant group of community support and volunteers to make this happen and on behalf of the Big River Hawks committee, I’d like to say thank you to all those that helped us throughout the season and continue to support the under-18 boys team,’’ he said.”

“Our 18 boys haven’t finished their season and we’re focused on supporting them this Sunday at Garden’s Oval as they play against the Waratahs in the curtain-raiser before the Men’s Premier League Game”

Manning said the Hawks planned to meet with the AFLNT in the coming weeks to try and resolve the distance issue and plan for the start of the Big Rivers Football League season.”