The Tiwi islands, 80km north of Darwin, are renowned for their love of AFL and for producing footy legends like the Riolis. Over the weekend excitement reached fever pitch, with not one, but 2 grand finals played. In the men’s, the Ranku eagles defeated the Muluwurri Magpies 60 to 47, while in the women's, the Tapalinga Superstars also beat the Magpies 65 to 20.
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00:00The biggest day on the Tiwi calendar.
00:14The grand final won by the Rancou Eagles.
00:17In a tense game, no one was calling after the team was knocked out in the final round
00:21last year.
00:29After losing the first quarter, the Magpies brought it back for a hard fought battle
00:33with just four points in it with ten minutes to go.
00:36It's amazing to see my team getting over the line first of all and I'm very happy
00:43that we won another premiership anyway.
00:46To get the win today, grand final, is something unreal, we'll never forget.
00:51Absolutely disappointing, we came from second on the ladder all the way.
00:56We tried to beat them for the box seed but I guess they took about three points, I don't
01:00know what's the margin but disappointing.
01:02Earlier the Tapalinga superstars made history in the second ever women's game, clinching
01:08a thrilling victory over the Mullawoodie Magpies.
01:11Last year grand final against them when they won by a point, yeah that was a tough one
01:16but this one, yeah I think we got the right girls.
01:22My daughter, she won the first women's game, she's number seven, I'm so proud, I'd be proud anyway.
01:28More than just a game, an event that unites the community.
01:32I've never seen anything like it, it's quite the spectacle.
01:35Most years the Tiwi Islands are flooded with footy fans and art fans keen to purchase traditional
01:41pieces but this year the event returned to its community roots with locals outnumbering
01:46visitors.
01:48With all art centres closed, most people chose to stay in Darwin to attend the Darwin Aboriginal
01:53Art Fair.
01:56Despite fewer spectators, the passion for footy on this island is as strong as ever.