AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) and Tiwi Islands Football League (TIFL) are excited to announce the livestream of the 2021/22 TIFL Grand Final this Saturday, 7 May.
The match will be available on AFLNT’s YouTube channel for spectators to watch live if unable to attend the game and will also be shown on NITV free to air next Sunday 15 May.
The annual pilgrimage to Wurrumiyanga's Tiwi Oval on Bathurst Island for the season decider attracts up to 3,500 fans from the Tiwi population to visitors from Darwin and "down south'', usually in March. This season, the COVID pandemic forced the league to postpone the season for two months from early January but resumed with four home and away matches and a finals series in which Melville Island teams Imalu Tigers and Muluwurri Magpies landed on top.
Both the Tigers and Magpies will cross the Aspley Strait and meet at Bathurst Island’s Wurrumiyanga Oval for this year’s TIFL Grand Final in hopes to win the Maurice Rioli Premiership Cup.
This season Imalu have proved they are the team to beat after narrowly missing out on the premiership last season. Coached by former backman Gideon Pangiraminni, the team has been well-disciplined with lots of speed although the backline has been a major part of the side’s success. 2020/21 TIO NTFL Under 18 Best and Fairest Abala Medallist Xavier Singh Lippo will be handy up through the middle and up forward, along with speedsters Joe Bourk, Brayden Rioli, Ronaldo Puruntatameri, Gerard Justin Puruntatameri and Jockameter Mclennan.
After a nailbiting two-point preliminary final win over the Tipalinga Superstars last Saturday, Mulunwirri scored their Grand Final position. Led by former Melbourne Demon, Austin Wonaeamirri, the Mulunwirri midfield has been outstanding this season and the inclusion of TIO NTFL Wanderers Stanley and John Tipiloura has proved handy. With Ben Ullungura, Paul Babui, Sylvester Tipiloura,Rodney Moreen, Donald Mungatopi, Charlie Sinclair, Callan Newman and Adam Henry on the Magpies side, it is hard to pick who will become the 2021/22 TIFL Premiers.
This season will mark Imalu’s 19th or Muluwurri’s third premiership in the league’s 52nd year history.
TIFL President Willie Rioli Sr said the resumption of the season resulted in a rare Saturday and dry season Grand Final decider.
"Everything normally happens on a Sunday after the NTFL grand final, but this time we've got a Saturday game, so I'm encouraging people locally and across Australia to make it a tourism type of adventure,'' he said.
"They can stay over for the weekend and make a big couple of days where they get to learn our culture and watch the grand final that means so much to our people.''
The Grand Final’s Best on Ground player will receive the Brother Pye award for their outstanding skill and impact on the game. This award was named after John Pye who introduced Australian Rules football to Bathurst and Melville Islands in 1941.
2021/22 TIFL Awards to be presented at half time of the Grand Final:
Ted Whitten Best and Fairest Medal
Dwayne Kerinauia 19 votes, Tapalinga Superstars
David Kantilla Leading Goal Kicker Award
Dale Cunningham 45 goals, Imalu Tigers
Edmund Johnson Best Defender Award
Shane Austral, Muluwurri Magpies
Mitchell Lee Rising Star Award
Paul Babui, Muluwurri Magpies
2021/22 TIFL Grand Final Information:
Imalu Tigers v Muluwurri Magpies
1.30pm Saturday 7 May 2022
Tune in LIVE: https://youtu.be/E7VnH9qGx20
Watch the game back on NITV free to air on Sunday 15 May at 11am local / 11:30 AEST
The broadcast will be produced by local company KIK Digital.