The 2023 TIO Central Australian Football League (CAFL) season will come to an end this Saturday 9 September when the highly anticipated ‘town’ competition grand finals are played and won.
Starting on Friday night with Souths taking on the Alkamilya Panthers in the Under 16 Junior Women’s division at 5:45 pm and culminating with the Senior Women’s Grand Final between Alkamilya Panthers and Wests at 6:15 pm on Saturday evening, it’s set to be a massive two days of Territory footy action at TIO Traeger Park.
In the Under 15 Junior Men’s division on Friday night, Rovers who finished on top of the ladder, will take on Federal. They’ve met 4 times this season and they’re two wins apiece in the head-to-head stakes. Last year Fed’s enjoyed a victory over Souths to become the premiers and remarkably it will be the fourth season in a row that the team has played in the Under 15s Grand Final.
The Under 18 Boys Grand Final will be a replay of the 2022 grand final between Pioneer and South at 11:00 am on Saturday morning. Minor premiers Pioneer have been standouts throughout the season, and this match-up provides them an opportunity for redemption, going down in last year’s Grand Final to Souths by 16 points.
The Men’s Reserves Grand Final at 1:00 pm features a matchup between minor premiers Federal and the tough Wests; a remarkable effort by the Wests who finished fourth in the home and away season and went on to win back-to-back elimination finals, to make it to the big dance. Federal has held the monopoly of the competition with only one loss for the season, at the hands of Wests in round 9, the margin only 4 points.
At 3:30 pm after 18 rounds of football, the TIO CAFL Senior Men’s competition will culminate when Federal takes on Souths in the Grand Final. Finishing the home and away season with a whopping 12:0 ratio, the red and whites are standout favourites to take home the silverware. With 2023 TIO CAFL Minahan Medallist, and skipper Abraham Ankers at the helm, the side is expected to put on a stellar performance in this match-up. Going down by only 5 points in last year’s Grand Final and finishing third for the home and away season, Souths managed to out-strengthen both Rovers and 2022 Premiers Pioneer to secure their spot in the grand final.
The curtain will close on the 2023 TIO CAFL season and the Senior Women’s premiership cup will have a new home by the end of Saturday with either minor premiers Alkamilya Panthers or Wests set to claim the spoils after their game begins at 6:15 pm. With only one loss for the season, Alkamilya is well-versed in taking the silverware home. Finishing third on the ladder for the home and away season, Wests went from strength to strength in the TIO CAFL finals series with outstanding back-to-back performances in elimination finals and are the only team this season to have a win over the Panthers.
Ticket prices will be $7 for adults, $2 for children aged 16 and under, and free for children three years and under.
2023 TIO CAFL Town Grand Finals - TIO Traeger Park Oval
Friday 8th September
- 5:45pm – U16 Girls, South v Alkamilya
- 7:15pm – U15 Boys, Federal v Rovers
Saturday 9th September
- 11:00am – U18 Boys, Pioneer v South
- 1:00pm – Senior Men Reserve Grade, Federal v West
- 3:30pm – Senior Men, Federal v South
- 6:15pm – Senior Women, Alkamilya v West
