Gold Coast Suns set to take on Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium

Thousands of AFL fans from across the Territory and beyond filled TIO Stadium for Gold Coast’s match against Adelaide Crows. See all the fan pics here.

Lifelong Crows fan Kathy Owen made the trek across the country to support her beloved side in Darwin, while Territorians were out in force barracking for the Suns.

Ms Owen and her son Shannon Owen have followed the club from state to state all year, and they couldn’t pass up the chance to watch the side in the Top End.

After meeting the Adelaide players at TIO Stadium the night before, following the club’s late arrival, they were among the first at Mararra on Saturday pulling for their team.

Shannon Owen and Kathy Owen are lifelong Adeliade Crows and were in Darwin for the match against the Gold Coast Suns. Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“We’ve been to watch them everywhere this year, Sydney, Adelaide, Gold Coast and now Darwin,” Ms Owen said.

“I love it up here. My son loves it too. We just want to live up here, we’re going home to Melbourne tomorrow where it’s nine degrees.

“We’ve been following the Crows since they came into the league, my kids go for the Crows and my grandkids go for the Crows.”

There were plenty of Suns supporters as well with plenty of Darwinites adopting the Gold Coast as their second team.

Samuel De Boer and Antony McWilliams are Essendon and Bulldogs fans respectively but were pulling for the Suns for their commitment to the Top End.

“I support the Bulldogs but came down to support the Suns,” Mr McWilliams said.

“They play up here each year and you have to support the local team when they’re not playing yours.”

Meanwhile, Territory footballing royalty Patrick, Sean and Joel Bowden were at TIO Stadium early on pulling for the CAFL Rep team from their native Alice Springs against Waratah.

However, there was plenty of confusion before the start of the big game when spectators and staff alike were forced to evacuate on to the field as sirens blared.

In a statement an AFLNT spokeswoman said the evacuation was enacted after smoke in a kitchen prompted a fire alarm.

“AFLNT’s emergency management plan for TIO Stadium was enacted today prior to the AFL game,” the statement read.

“The stadium’s fire alarm sounded due to smoke in a kitchen prompting an evacuation as per the emergency management plan.

“AFLNT would like to commend staff, match officials, patrons and other stakeholders for their cooperation.

“There was no impact on the start time for (the) game.”

All the fan pics

Brodie, Giselle, Miranda, Alessio (Ayres Family) at the Gold Coast Suns AFL match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Patrick Bowden, Sean Bowden and Joel Bowden at the Gold Coast Suns AFL match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Tim Ruciack and Sue Ruciack at the Gold Coast Suns AFL match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Cumaiyi Family at the Gold Coast Suns AFL match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Noah O’Dwyer, Joshua Alber and Dirk Alber at the Gold Coast Suns AFL match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Ian Morris at the Gold Coast Suns AFL match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Ash Perez and Marley Perez at the Gold Coast Suns AFL match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Samuel De Boer and Antony McWilliams at the Gold Coast Suns AFL match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Adelaide Supporters Club Peter Kauschke (President), Sue Retallick, Carmel Johnston, Exe Goodings, Graeme Goodings, Shaylee Hollobone, Matt Flack, Elliot Flack, Mason Flack, Tammy Hollobone, Nick Hollobone, Kirsten Kingsford, Luke Kingsford, Jackson Kingsford, Jason Waugh, Ethan Waugh, Rafael Espinoza-Hosking and Felipe Espinoza at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Ben Giesecke and Kate Giesecke at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Gemma Davey, Callum Davey, Harrison Davey and Greg Davey at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Kerry-lee Daniell, Drew Daniell, Madison Daniell, Alana Marnell and Gill Marnell at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Sebastian Rockman and Mathias Rockman at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Michael Kennedy (5) and Vincent Nichols (8) at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Riley Parr, Sean Parr and Liza Parr at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Anthony Fiorani, Livio Fiorani and Kathy Fiorani Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Maya O’Dwyer at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

James Pavlou, Jodie Pavlou, Dayna Manning and Maddison Pavlou at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Rafael Espinoza-Hosking and Felipe Espinoza at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Corinne Price and Rob Clutterham at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Maya Moon at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Summer O’Dwyer at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Vee Magkos, Jessie Heit, Faith Robertson and Summer O’Dwyer at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Lisa Stott, Alijah carroll and Azariah carroll at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Anthony Frangoulis, Kellie Frangoulis and Scarlett Frangoulis at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Richard Norman and Nicole Norman at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Agnes Gumurdul and Mollie Teale from Arnhem Land supporting the Suns at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Rachel Barnett and Lachy Barnett at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Zoe Robinson and Tegan Bate at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Jayden Fraunefelder at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Katie Nicklin, Rhys Nicklin, Kade Nicklin and Cruze Nicklin at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Rory Maslin Heinrich, Braxton Maslin Heinrich, Savanah Maslin Heinrich, Taryn bull, Travis Heinrich and Halle Bull at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Emily Campbell, Olivia Campbell, Alexander Campbell and Fairy Jill at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Pedro Wonaeamirro at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

David Bryant, Peyton Bryant and Dannielle Bryant Gold at the Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

John Sauthorn at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Andy and Maureen at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Aaron Knight and Thomas Owen at the Gold Coast Suns match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Everything you need to know

TIO Stadium is once again the place to be with the Gold Coast Suns playing the second match of their Darwin doubleheader against a firing Adelaide Crows side.

The Suns are three for three in the Top End over the past two years, but the Crows probably pose the greatest challenge yet based on recent form.

But the team, which has worked hard on cementing a relationship with the region, will have plenty of support owing to its Territory talent including Malcolm Rosas, Joel Jeffrey and Ben Long.

Territory Suns Malcolm Rosas, Jy Farrar, Joel Jeffrey, Ben Long and coach Stuart Dew, ahead of the match against Western Bulldogs. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Starting the day of footy is an historic match-up between the CAFL representative team and NTFL premiers Waratah from 3pm.

Tahs have a host of players on-board who beat Southern Districts in the grand final including skipper Brodie Carroll, Ed Morris and Tom Cree.

Meanwhile, one of their own Abe Ankers will instead be playing for the Central Australian team coached by former North Melbourne player Matt Campbell.

The Bonson and Ah Mat gates will both open from 2.30pm for the match with tickets available at both.

The main entertainment between Suns and Crows begins at 7pm following a welcome to country.

Our snappers will be at the game so be sure to check back here later on to see if you got spotted among the action.