TIO Stadium sold out as thousands watched the Gold Coast Suns v Hawthorn
TIO Stadium was quite literally filled to the brim with the highest attendance in two decades for a spectacle of footy between the Gold Coast Suns and Hawthorn.
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The atmosphere was electric at a sold out TIO Stadium as footy fans from across the Territory were treated to what many are calling the best match in Darwin.
The Suns and Hawthorn delivered an instant classic on the field with two mark of the year contenders and a close battle to the end to start the 2025 Sir Doug Nicholls round.
Gold Coast came out on top for their eighth win in a row in their northern fortress, but for many the night showed there’s a real appetite for footy in the Top End.
The NT gets three matches a year, including the Alice Springs clash, and the AFLW Dreamtime match is on the horizon for a second season in August.
But there’s a want for more whether that means an NT team eventually playing out of a developed TIO Stadium or even further forward a city stadium that can host that dream.
For now though many Territorians will have the memory of one of the best matches the Top End has seen live featuring plenty of players with Darwin connections.
Annette Kingston and Daniel Sandy had made the 650km trip up from Elliott to watch their beloved Hawks in the Territory.
“We’ve made the trip up for them, I’ve been a member for 14 years and a fan for a long time before that too,” Ms Kingston said.
“It’s very good and very exciting to see them come up here, we don’t get to see them very often.”
They weren’t the only ones to mix it with Darwin locals for the game with others coming from interstate to get among the action.
John Southon had come up from Queensland to follow the Suns, a trend he has stuck to every year since they started coming up.
“I’ve been with the club since day do, I’m very happy with them at the moment and I hope it keeps going,” he said.
“And coming up to Darwin with them is always an experience to enjoy.”
Daniel Gorringe and his family were up from Melbourne to see the Hawks and loved their experience in Darwin.
“It’s such a nice, relaxed place, we’ve followed the Hawks to several places but we love it here, everyone is so friendly,” he said.
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