Pint sized Tiwi Islander and NT Thunder player Bradley Palipuaminni receives NT Thunder's 4th Rising Star nominee after his stellar 4 goal performance against the Brisbane Lions in Rnd 12 of the QAFL.
Whilst there may not be alot of this Tiwi Islander (168cm, 60kg) Bradley Palipuaminni is well travelled and well versed in winning awards.
Started out playing for Palmerston in the NTFL as a 17 year old and represented the Territory in one game as an overage player in 2008 . He moved across to his home town side the TIWI Bombers when they entered the NTFL competition in 07/08 and in the season just gone he won the Best & Fairest award. This is on top of winning the Brother John Pye Medal for a Best on Ground performance for the Tapalinga Superstars who won the TIWI competition Grand Final in the same year.
In between seasons he'd previously played under ex Essendon Star Dean Rioli at Keilor Park & Aberfieldie in Melbourne and now with the introduction of the NT Thunder into the QAFL he's been able to stay at home and build on his games representing the Territory. Recently he also represented QLD in the State U21 game vs. VAFA.
What makes Palipuaminni's form with NT Thunder so outstanding is that the 20 year old rarely trains with the club and his training consists of having run with TIWI teammate Simon Munkara on the islands and local Tiwi island teams. Staying in the territory has also seen Bradley enrol in an Indigenous Training Education Program where he's completing a certificate 1 in Business Studies. He combines his part time studies with a part time job through Sport & Rec Tiwi Island Shire Council and in his spare time he volunteers to umpire Auskick games on the island.