1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,720 Speaker 1: Now we know, a massive weekend of football in the 2 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: Northern Territory. And joining me on the line for a 3 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: wrap up is the head of AFL in the Northern Territory, 4 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 1: Sam Gibson. Good morning to you, Sam. 5 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 2: Good morning Caddy. Thanks for me on. 6 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, good to have you on the show mate. A 7 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: massive weekend, there's no other way to put it. How 8 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: many people did we end up getting through the gates 9 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:22,279 Speaker 1: on Saturday. 10 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 2: Saturday six two hundred and a few more? I think so, yeah, 11 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 2: big crowd. I think I've got a number late in 12 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 2: the women's game which was four thousand, which is great, 13 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:38,519 Speaker 2: and then yeah, a couple of extra thousand come on 14 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,480 Speaker 2: for the men's game. So yeah, big crowd, well behaved 15 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 2: and a great atmosphere. 16 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: Do you reckon that there was an increase in the 17 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:48,479 Speaker 1: number of spectators for the women's final like I've been 18 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: the last few years, and I felt like there was 19 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 1: a lot of people there to watch the women, which 20 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: I thought was awesome. 21 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 2: I think so that sort of typifies women's football in 22 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 2: the North. I think it's such a massive part of 23 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 2: the game here and we saw it with the AFLW 24 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 2: Dreamtime Game in October late last year, and then yeah, 25 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 2: I think we saw it again today, sorry yesterday, big crowd. 26 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 2: The standard of competition is always on the increase, and 27 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 2: it's got a massive following in terms. 28 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: Of the number of people through the gates over the 29 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: course of the week, because I know there was plenty 30 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:30,040 Speaker 1: of senior and junior games held as well, lots of 31 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: junior games. Do we know how many we had through 32 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: the gates over the course of the week. 33 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:41,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, last weekend where we had the junior Grand Finals, 34 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 2: some senior Grand Finals, obviously the preliminary finals in the 35 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 2: Premier footy, it was about eleven thousand, so that was 36 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 2: last weekend obviously six this weekend I think I think 37 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 2: it was around fifteen hundred Friday night for the under 38 00:01:57,040 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 2: eight Eighten Grand Finals, which is really strong. And across 39 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 2: the finals, I'd say it's around thirty thousand across the 40 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:08,959 Speaker 2: four week final period. So that's that's up on previous years. 41 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 2: And obviously it's sort of we thank everyone's support for 42 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 2: the clubs and the players and everyone had put on 43 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 2: the show because it's you know, it's their hard work 44 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,920 Speaker 2: which brings those those crowds through the gates, and you know, 45 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 2: hopefully they enjoyed the atmosphere and being able to play 46 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 2: in front of friends and family. It's it's it's a 47 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 2: really important part of it. 48 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:32,959 Speaker 1: Well, I mean those games were nailed by shows. The 49 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: women's Premier League game coming down to a penalty kick 50 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 1: after the siren. It was pretty exciting stuff, wasn't it. 51 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:44,679 Speaker 2: Yeah, look it was, And the atmosphere for that whole 52 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 2: last quarter of the women's game was phenomenal. You know, 53 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 2: obviously kick after the siren the side of it, which 54 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 2: which was which was unique. But yeah, if you if 55 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 2: you were to, if anyone was at the steam stands 56 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 2: on on Saturday for that game, they would have thought, wow, 57 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:07,080 Speaker 2: this is a huge thing, this Grand Final, and obviously 58 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:09,399 Speaker 2: carried on for the next two and a half hours 59 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 2: with the men's game, which was an electric contest but 60 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:14,239 Speaker 2: also a great atmosphere. 61 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: Yeah it was. I mean they were both phenomenal games. 62 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: I didn't get there, you know, for the DIV two 63 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: games or any of the others that were on earlier 64 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 1: in the day, but I was told that they were 65 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 1: all so awesome. I got told every time when Banks 66 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,639 Speaker 1: were playing, you know, every time someone said who let 67 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: the dogs out? Then the whole crowd was marking it 68 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 1: sounds like it would have been plenty of fun. 69 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, Banks and played off in the Men's Premier 70 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 2: League Reserves and their old rivals, one of the best 71 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 2: rivalries in the NCFL. Probably quite a distinct blue and 72 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 2: white crowd at one end and Grand and the other 73 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 2: at the other. So yeah, great atmosphere for the reserves 74 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 2: and it just ramped up from there. 75 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 1: Hey, just going back to the Women's Premier League game, 76 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 1: young gun Chequela Gardner Dunn taking out the Best on Ground, 77 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 1: wasn't she in the women's game? 78 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 2: Yeah she did. Sheelviously won the Rising Star this year. 79 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 2: I think she kicked Saint Mary's first three goals on 80 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 2: the weekend, just electric around the contest. Clearly got a 81 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:19,119 Speaker 2: big future in the game. Yeah, judged Best on on Ground, 82 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:23,600 Speaker 2: which is pretty amazing really someone of her age. Yeah, 83 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 2: she was terrific. And look it was both teams really 84 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:31,600 Speaker 2: quitted themselves well, not not just yesterday sorry Saturday, but 85 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 2: also throughout the year and it was it was a 86 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 2: great Grand Final, quite fitting in. 87 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 1: The men's prems who ended up winning Best on Ground 88 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: in that game. 89 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 2: Southern districts ruckman White Ryan so he had had a 90 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:48,040 Speaker 2: big year obviously, pold quite well in the in the 91 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 2: Nichols Medal, and yeah, it had a big impact. It 92 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 2: was quite quite an even spread I think across the 93 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 2: ground for Southern districts and Saint Mary's a lot of 94 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:01,840 Speaker 2: really good contrub this. But yeah, why it took the 95 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 2: Chainey metal home. 96 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 1: Hey, a couple of people sort of questioning why the 97 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: why you guys have made the decision to not allow 98 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 1: people on the ground sort of during halftime and when 99 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:17,279 Speaker 1: those presentations were happening as well. Was that something that 100 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 1: hasn't happened in the past. 101 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 2: No, that's consistent with previous years, and it's just it's 102 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 2: a sheer volume of people matter. Obviously, after after each 103 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 2: of the Grand Finals, people come on and celebrate with 104 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:37,839 Speaker 2: their teams or commiserate, but quarter time halftime, it's just 105 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 2: just that sheer volume of people. It's a pretty standard 106 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:45,480 Speaker 2: practice across ground finals across the country for that to occur. Obviously, 107 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:50,159 Speaker 2: this is a little bit from from the year round 108 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 2: games and having a la season where people are able 109 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 2: to come on. But yeah, with four thousand people there 110 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 2: during the women's game, as I said, it's it's just 111 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 2: not quite that easy to control. So it's it's a 112 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 2: decision which is consistent we've got's been done in the past. 113 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: Now, Sam, we know, you know obviously it's the end 114 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:11,720 Speaker 1: of the season, but it's not the end really for 115 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:14,840 Speaker 1: AFL in the Northern Territory. I mean, what's the wash 116 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:16,239 Speaker 1: up now and what's next? 117 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, look we are we're a twelve month sport as 118 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 2: in Okadi. It's you know, it doesn't stop now. We've 119 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:26,840 Speaker 2: will quickly go into a review of the season and 120 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:31,600 Speaker 2: make sure that everybody in clubs, administrators, everybody gets a 121 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,279 Speaker 2: bit of time off as well, which is important. But 122 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 2: we'll kick off. We've got the rep matches between the 123 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:43,159 Speaker 2: ANTIFL and the Central Straine League early in April, so 124 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 2: that that's a good thing to be bringing back for 125 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 2: the first time in forty odd years. I think it 126 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 2: is that those games be down at Trega Park in 127 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:57,159 Speaker 2: our Springs. Obviously the AFL games in May, which which 128 00:06:57,240 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 2: promised to be pretty big contests. You know, you look 129 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:02,280 Speaker 2: at it. Even over the weekend you got Hawthorne absolutely 130 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:04,279 Speaker 2: flying and they'll be up here to take on the Suns, 131 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 2: who haven't lost in a fair while here in Darwin. 132 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 2: So that's that's a great match on fifteenth to May, 133 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 2: and it also playing the Bulldogs who are going okay 134 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 2: and to the territory kickoff soon and in addition to 135 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 2: everything else around the talent season, so it's a big 136 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 2: dry season for us. Obviously, the NCFL is a big 137 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 2: highlight on the calendar and to watch people enjoy the 138 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 2: weekend was fantastic, but we get on with the rest 139 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 2: of the year now. 140 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 1: Well. Sam, good to catch up with you. I hope 141 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: you all get a couple of hours to maybe calm 142 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 1: down slightly this morning. I don't know whether you will, though. 143 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: Good to catch up with you, mate, Thanks so much 144 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 1: for your time this morning. 145 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 2: Thanks Katich pray, thank you.