The final day of the 2020 TIO CAFL season is upon us with the Community competitions expected to unleash colours and excitement on TIO Traeger Park in Alice Springs this Sunday.
The action begins at 9am with Papunya playing Yuendumu, the two best teams in the MacDonnell Regional Council Under 18s division.
Yuendumu, also known as the Magpies, can make it a premiership three-peat in the Under 18s after claiming the silverware in 2019 and 2018. They will no doubt look to the blistering speed of Tommy Hargraves.
However, it is likely the Eagles from Papunya will go in as favourites as they look to keep their 2020 undefeated record intact. Fresh off Friday's NAB AFL Under 18 All-Star game in Darwin, the pairing of Jesiah Minor and Shane Inkamala are expected to front up on Sunday and do great things.
At 11am it's family, friends and neighbours who will vie for the Central Desert Regional Council Division 2 premiership when Yuendumu take on Mt Allan.
If their Round 10 encounter is anything to go by, in which Mt Allan won by two-points, then we're in for a spectacle. Not to mention that Mt Allan will be fuelled by last year's one-point Grand Final loss.
Yuendumu's standout players include former Melbourne AFL player, Liam Jurrah, Fabian 'Flying' Dickson and Alan Dickson, who kicked the game-winner in last week's Preliminary Final.
Mt Allan's go-to forward is the dynamic, Daniel Stafford, who if it wasn't for his selflessness, could easily kick 10 goals a game.
The final Grand Final of the day at 2:30pm will be the Western Arrernte (Hermannsburg) versus Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) Central Dessert Regional Council Division 1 game.
Two teams who need no introduction, the Bulldogs and the Saints, have earned their place in the decider by being the two best sides all season, each of them only dropping a single game in 2020.
They played each other one, back in Round 6, when Ltyentye Apurte prevailed by 22 points.
Western Arrernte last claimed the flag in 2016, and for Ltyentye Apurte it was as recently as last year, 2019.
The Bulldogs players to watch, include four-time Rovers premiership player Baydon Ngalkin, as well as Rohan Armstrong and Henry Impu.
And on the Saints' side keep an eye on Dylan Alice and Jamal Lynch.
The cost of tickets for Sunday's grand finals remain frozen at 2019 prices; adult entry will cost $10 and a child (4 to 15 years old) will cost $5.
AFLNT once again extends its thanks to broadcast partner ICTV, whose live coverage continues this weekend. The telecast gives those in remote communities who are unable to travel to Alice Springs front row seats to all the action on Channel 41 in Alice Springs and Broome, and narrowcast via channel 601 on the VAST satellite for people with active SmartCards.
The games will also be live streamed via the AFLNTv YouTube channel to an audience far and wide.
AFLNT wishes all teams and communities the very best in finishing off the 2020 TIO CAFL season in-style and reminds fans attending TIO Traeger Park that COVID-19 health and hygiene rules are in place. Please be prepared to fill in a contact tracing form before entry to the ground and remember to do the three; wash your hands, stay 1.5 metres apart and download the COVIDSafe app.
2020 TIO CAFL Community competition grand finals
9:00am - MacDonnell Regional Council Under 18 Grand Final - Papunya vs Yuendumu
11:00am - Central Desert Regional Council Division 2 Grand Final - Yuendumu vs Mt Allan
2:30pm - Central Desert Regional Council Division 1 Grand Final - Western Arrernte vs Ltyentye Apurte
