Darwin aviation firefighters extend a wet welcome to Bombers and Tigers Dreamtime combatants

Firefighters soak the Virgin flight carrying Essendon and Richmond players and officials to Darwin for the historic AFL Dreamtime Game

The traditional water arch performed by Aviation Rescue Firefighters welcomes Essendon and Richmond to Darwin.

THE Richmond and Essendon playing group involved in tonight’s AFL Dreamtime Game at TIO Stadium got a wet welcome at Darwin Airport yesterday.

The Aviation Rescue Firefighters doused the Virgin jet with twin sprays of water in what has become a traditional welcoming ceremony at the airport.

Firefighter Marius Clarke said his team only did the “water arch’’ on special occasions and the first Dreamtime Game in Darwin was an appropriate time to perform the waterworks.

“We normally do it for people or planes that are retiring or special occasions like the Virgin plane that was the first aircraft back in Darwin after the COVID-19 stuff,’’ he said.

“Our aviation domestic station has its own footy history as well with Bruno Long and Ted Liddy working with us for a long time and myself, Robbie Campbell and Andrew Clarke still employees with ARF.’’