Fans out in numbers as Gold Coast Suns played North Melbourne at TIO Stadium
Footy fans were out in the thousands as the Gold Coast Suns played North Melbourne in the AFL’s return to Darwin for 2024. Check out all the photos.
Northern Territory
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Territory footy fans showed their colours as the AFL returned to the Northern Territory for the first time in 2024, for a big match between the Gold Coast Suns and North Melbourne.
There was plenty of Suns supporters in town for the first of their two matches, and the inclusion of Territorians Ben Long, Joel Jeffrey and Lloyd Johnston added to the support for the side.
Johnston’s family were right among the action to watch the Borroloola talent’s first AFL match at TIO Stadium, after he had played in the VFL side against Footscray in 2023.
“He’s the first of our family to play in the AFL and we’re just so proud of him, all the family are,” Janice McCarthy said.
“I was really happy when it was announced he would play this week, we just can’t wait to see him play.
“It makes us proud as Territorians to see those young men playing for the Gold Coast Suns, we’re very thankful for them getting the opportunity.”
Other Gold Coast supporters such as Greg Delaney and his family, made the road trip all the way up from the coast to watch the encounter.
“It’s our first game in Darwin and we drove all the way, we’re foundation members and love to follow the Suns around,” Mr Delaney said.
“We go to watch them every week, we only live about 3km from the ground on the Gold Coast, we saw them play up here on the TV last year and I just thought ‘we’re going to go next year’.
“We love it up here, we’ve been all over from Uluru and Mataranka to the Top End and we just love it.”
But it wasn’t all Suns colours at TIO Stadium, with plenty coming from far and wide to watch North Melbourne play in the Top End for the second time in three years.
Blue and white flags were proudly swung back and forth throughout the stadium as the Territory supporter base cried out “Go the Roos” as often as they could.
ALL THE PHOTOS
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