Tiwi Bombers player Brayden Puruntatameri charged with assault following pre-match incident

A NTFL footballer will face court next month after police investigated a pre-match incident in Round 5.

A Tiwi Bombers player will face court next month following an alleged assault before a Men’s Premier League match.

Brayden Puruntatameri, 24, has been charged with assault and will face Wurrumiyanga Local Court next month.

The NT News understands Puruntatameri, who made his Premier League debut the previous weekend against Nightcliff in Round 4, was frustrated at not being selected for the match against PINT.

Puruntatameri was visibly agitated after speaking to club officials and leaving the change rooms area at Stanley Tipiloura Oval during the Women’s Premier League match on October 29.

Police were called to the ground and spoke to club officials.

It was the same day police were called to Nightcliff Oval after a Tigers player, Hannah Turnbull, was headbutted by Waratah's Naomi Celebre in the first quarter of a Women’s Premier League game.

Celebre received a three-week ban from the league’s match review panel over the incident. 

NT Police were unable to confirm if charges had been laid.

Police investigate two incidents at NTFL matches

Police are investigating alleged assaults at two NTFL football games on the same day.

A Tiwi Bombers player was suspended following an alleged incident in the change rooms before a Men’s Premier League Round 5 game against PINT on October 29.

The NT News understands the player became frustrated because he was not included in the final 22 against the Greenants at Stanley Tipiloura Oval.

The player was seen leaving the change rooms in an agitated state and was yelling at several club staffers before eventually leaving the Bathurst Island ground.

Police then arrived at the scene to speak to club officials.

Naomi Celebre received a three-week ban for headbutting a Nightcliff player. Picture: Celina Whan/AFLNT Media.

A NT Police spokesman told the NT News an alleged assault was being investigated but no charges were laid.

It soured an otherwise memorable day for the club, winning its first Men’s Premier League match in 988 days while playing its first game on the islands since December last year due to a Covid-enforced break.

Tiwi Bombers have been contacted for comment.

It follows a probe after Waratah player Naomi Celebre headbutted Nightcliff captain Hannah Turnbull at Nightcliff Oval on the same day at a Women’s Premier League match.

Turnbull was later judged best on ground by her club.

A spokesman also confirmed the police were investigating after a report of an alleged assault during the game.

No charges have been laid.

Celebre was banned for three weeks by the match review panel after pleading guilty to the charge, which was classified as intentional conduct, high impact and high contact.

Tiwi Bombers suspended over change rooms ‘altercation’

A Tiwi Bombers player has been suspended following an alleged incident in the change rooms before their Men’s Premier League Round 5 game against PINT.

The NT News understands the player was frustrated because he was not included in the final 22 against the Greenants at Stanley Tipiloura Oval.

The player was seen leaving the change rooms in an agitated state and was yelling at several club staffers before eventually leaving the Bathurst Island ground.

It comes after a post-match melee in the Big Rivers Football League grand final, involving Ngukurr Bulldogs supporters where three people received fines.

It is still the subject of an AFLNT investigation.

The incident on Saturday occurred during the later stages of the Women’s Premier League game, also between Tiwi and PINT.

A police patrol car then attended with officers talking to Bombers staff after the incident.

The player reportedly played the previous game against Nightcliff, only to be dropped for the Round 5 clash.

A Tiwi Bombers player has been suspended following an incident in the change rooms before the match against PINT. Picture: Alison McGowan / AFLNT Media.

In a statement, an AFLNT spokesman said the league was aware of an off-field incident on Saturday.

“(We) are supporting the Tiwi Bombers Football Club while they work through their internal process,” the spokesperson said.

The incident soured an otherwise great day for the club, with the men’s side winning its first game since February, 2020 while the women’s team played their first match at home in its short history.

Former North Melbourne player Majak Daw also made his NTFL debut, kicking two goals for the Bombers.

Club president Lindsay Whiting confirmed an “altercation” occurred and the player had been suspended.

“We will support him to seek help,” Whiting said.

PINT declined to comment on the matter.

NT Police was sought for comment.