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Santa Teresa wins chance to play at the MCG

The AFL Northern Territory wishes to advise that Santa Teresa has won the opportunity to play at the M.C.G. after winning the Army Community Division of the Defence Jobs AFL Carnival. While a record 26 teams in three divisions (Navy Premier, Army Community, RAAF Women’s) competed for $10,000 of prize money, it was the chance to play at the M.C.G. that enticed a record 14 communities from right across the Territory.

Having traveled over 3,000km to play in the three day Carnival, the side from Central Australia will now travel to Melbourne, to play a curtain raiser at the M.C.G. as part of the AFL’s 2008 Indigenous Round. This follows the Tiwi Bombers match in July this year, when they easily beat Victorian Indigenous side Rumbalara in the curtain raiser of the AFL’s Dreamtime at the G match.

In a pulsating Grand Final versus Tiwi Community, the team from Ltyente Apurte Community - located 70km South-East of Alice Springs - ran away deserved victors 9.7 (61) to 2.8 (20). Santa Teresa also won both individual awards in their division, as Travis Ellis won the Army Courage Award for the most courageous player of the Carnival and goal kicking sensation Shane Mullerdad won the Army Best Player award, after kicking a record number of goals throughout the Carnival.

The side, unbeaten in all 7 games, now eagerly await the scheduling of their match as the AFL finalizes the fixtures for the 2008 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. For their match in Melbourne, Defence Force Recruiting is looking to provide team tracksuits and host a function during the trip.

The team’s win will bring great pride and joy to the region, boosting morale for a community that has been targeted as one of the Federal Government’s intervention communities as part of its intervention plan, setup to stop child sexual abuse in Northern Territory Aboriginal communities. Santa Teresa, a former Catholic mission and dry community, is one of 73 Northern Territory Aboriginal communities that have been targeted for special treatment. That means oversight by Federal Government officials and the intervention of volunteers, doctors and police from outside, all backed up by the army.

Northern Territory Senator, Nigel Scullion, said of the achievement:
“It’s fantastic that Santa Teresa has won the opportunity to play at the M.C.G., fantastic for the players and the community.
“The win against the famed Tiwi champions by a remote Central Australian community team is in itself a solid achievement but the chance to play at the M.C.G. will live in the memory of players and their families for all time.”

In the two other Divisions, the Tiwi Bombers went back to back as they easily accounted for a young St. Mary’s side, taking out the Navy Premier Division 14.17 (101) to 1.5 (11). In the RAAF Women’s Division the St. Mary’s Women made sure the club ended up with some silver-wear by beating Waratahs in the Grand Final. Carla Yovonich won the RAAF Award as the Best Player of the Grand Final.