The Barunga Oval lit up under Friday night lights, marking Round 7 in the SunCable Big Rivers Football League.
In an intense battle between the Arnhem Crows and the Northern Warlpiri Swans, the Crows surged ahead early with four majors, displaying seamless ball movement and precise forward entries. Meanwhile, the Swans struggled to capitalize on their scoring opportunities, plagued by kicking inaccuracies and turnovers.
The Swans fought back in the second quarter, scoring three majors and reducing the margin to just 17 points, with the Crows managing only one additional goal. However, it was the third quarter that truly brought the Swans within striking distance, as they secured three goals to the Crows' two, narrowing the gap to just 10 points heading into the final quarter.
Arnhem intensified their efforts in the final quarter, slotting four goals to the Swans' one. Peter Lane and Tyrese Turner stood out for Arnhem, alongside Kiefin Mardi and Thomas Wurramara, Cassien Sambono impressing with his three-goal haul for the evening.
The final score for the evening stood at Arnhem Crows 11.13 (79) to Northern Warlpiri 7.10 (52).
Unfortunately, the Garrak Bombers faced a tough night against an impressive Katherine Camels lineup, compounded by early injury setbacks.
In a commanding performance, the Camels kept the Bombers goalless until the third quarter, amassing 10 goals and 5 behinds in the first half, compared to just 3 behinds for the Bombers.
Entering the second half, the Camels continued their dominance, capitalizing on a further 20 scoring opportunities, resulting in an additional 10 goals and 10 behinds.
The final score saw Katherine Camels 20.15 (135) triumph over Garrak Bombers 1.3 (9).
Josh Carlin and Daniel Vercoe were standout performers for the Camels, with Carlin notching an impressive 5 majors, closely followed by Vercoe with 4 goals and a mention among the best players. Lachlan Wareham, Ricky Walsh, and Wade Rosas also earned praise for their contributions.
Similarly, Saturday morning's clash between Ngukurr and Eastside was dominated by the reigning premiers, the Ngukurr Bulldogs.
Keeping Eastside scoreless in the first term, the Bulldogs amassed 6 goals and 4 behinds, before adding another 4 goals and 6 behinds by halftime.
The Bulldogs continued their onslaught, adding a further 14 goals and 10 behinds by the final siren, securing a resounding victory with a final score of 24.20 (164) to Eastside's 1.3 (9).
