Muluwurri and Tapalinga to contest inaugural TIFL women’s grand final

More than 300 women played in the inaugural Tiwi Islands women’s league, which draws to a close in a grand final this weekend. Read what to expect.

The inaugural Tiwi Islands Football League Women’s competition is set to draw to a close this weekend in a thrilling grand final between the Muluwurri Magpies and Tapalinga Superstars.

The women’s competition has enjoyed a sensational first year with seven teams and more than 300 women playing across the 14-round season that began in August.

And after a gripping finals series minor premiers Magpies will take on the fourth-placed Superstars in the grand final on Sunday afternoon.

The Magpies travel in each week from Milikapiti and proved they’re a force to be reckoned with led by coach Bianca Daniels and key players Arthurina Moreen and Loretta Cook.

The Superstars are based at Wurrumiyanga itself and after finishing fourth navigated through finals to contest the grand final.

The side is coached by Andrea Puautjimi mother of Tiwi Bombers and Tapalinga captain Kimberly Cunningham and sisters Jessica Cunningham and Roberta Cunningham.

AFLNT hosted open forums in March to gauge interest in the competition attracting 50 women, and the want from the league only grew from there.

Tiwi Islands Women's Footy has seen a massive surge in their inaugural season. Picture: AFLNT Media

The expansion across the islands is linked to investment from AFLNT, the Australian Sports Commission and National Indigenous Australians Agency to increase participation.

The committee is 100 per cent run by women, and plans are underway already to bring the TIFL women’s competition in line with the men’s for the 2024 Dry Season.

AFLNT remote development manager Danyon Smillie said the competition had enjoyed wonderful engagement from across the communities in its first season.

“Each club has shown enormous growth over the season with all teams training together and working towards making the league strong,” Smillie said.

“It’s with the support of league sponsor Tiwi Partners and community leaders like Mary Dunn and the effort she has put in on and off the field that have made the inaugural season so successful”

Victoria Canning from the Ranku Eagles said she realised the competition was going to be big when more than 100 girls turned up for their first training session.

“Our first training session we had over 100 girls turn up, the competition is becoming huge, and this season has been amazing for the Islands,” she said.

“It’s a close-knit small community, it’s like a religion here, everyone gets around it on a footy day the whole community comes down to watch the women play.”

First bounce is at 1.30pm at Stanley Tipiloura Oval with ceremonies commencing from 1pm.

A SeaLink ferry is scheduled to depart from the Cullen Bay Terminal for fans wanting to travel and see the game.