Golly gosh it was good to see recently retired Essendon star Dean Rioli wearing that red and black vest again. Not for Essendon, but for the all-Aboriginal Tiwi Island Bombers at Marrara Stadium in Darwin. They beat the legendary St Marys by 34 points. Ted Egan started off the St Mary’s team five decades ago. It’s open to all, but it established the football and political careers of people like Cyril and Maurice Rioli and the Long family. St Mary’s is where Dean Rioli got his start, and now it seems they are facing a new challenger, because the Tiwi Island Bombers are aiming to join the NTFL. The story was featured on Monday’s 7.30 Report.
AFL was taken to the Northern Territory during World War II, by Brother John Pye, a Catholic priest who is still kicking at 99. The Tiwi Island Bombers captain Thomas Simon said football united the community then (and remember, that part of the world was still a frontier society), and it is arresting the suicide rate now. Four nights training a week gives the men focus, and the community hope. The fact that the entire stadium, including Marion Scrymgour, and indigenous MP, was rooting for the Tiwi Islanders must be a hell of an endorsement.
It’s also good news for the AFL. There’s been a massive surge in the numbers of indigenous people in the AFL. They have been mentored by great players like Michael Long and by superb coaches like Essendon’s Kevin Sheedy, who specialises in keeping his indigenous players supported and grounded. Indigenous AFL players have dealt with unbelievable amounts of crap – remember Nicky Winmar raising his shirt to point to his black skin? Remember Eagles fans goading Michael O’Loughlin at Subiaco during the finals? It’s never been easy and still isn’t. But can you think of any other profession in which indigenous men hold 8% of positions? Can you think of any other sector in which the highest honours are now regularly taken by Aboriginal people, competing against white folks? The Brownlow, that symbol of all that is best and fairest in the greatest game in the country, was first won by Gavin Wanganeen (1993), who then went on to win the premiership with the Baby Bombers. Adam Goodes has won it twice (2004 and 2006), and Michael O’Loughlin is a regular contender. It would be impossible to imagine the count without indigenous players now, because every team in the modern competition relies on the pace and silky skills of its indigenous players.
But their presence in the AFL doesn’t just benefit our game. When these players leave the game they go back to their communities. They go back as leaders. And they give their communities hope.
2 responses so far ↓
Bring Back EP at LP // Oct 18, 2006 at 12:33 pm
how can one attempt to play a winter sport in a place that doesn’t have Autumn let alone winter?
Five // Oct 18, 2006 at 10:50 pm
That did occur to me, but then Victorians play kick to kick all year. When you think about it, the NT sides do play in the wet season, so at least there is mud.