Now we know, a massive weekend of football in the Northern Territory. And joining me on the line for a wrap up is the head of AFL in the Northern Territory, Sam Gibson. Good morning to you, Sam.

Now we know, a massive weekend of football in the Northern Territory. And joining me on the line for a wrap up is the head of AFL in the Northern Territory, Sam Gibson. Good morning to you, Sam.

Good morning Caddy. Thanks for me on.

Good morning Caddy. Thanks for me on.

Yeah, good to have you on the show mate. A massive weekend, there's no other way to put it. How many people did we end up getting through the gates on Saturday.

Yeah, good to have you on the show mate. A massive weekend, there's no other way to put it. How many people did we end up getting through the gates on Saturday.

Saturday six two hundred and a few more? I think so, yeah, big crowd. I think I've got a number late in the women's game which was four thousand, which is great, and then yeah, a couple of extra thousand come on for the men's game. So yeah, big crowd, well behaved and a great atmosphere.

Saturday six two hundred and a few more? I think so, yeah, big crowd. I think I've got a number late in the women's game which was four thousand, which is great, and then yeah, a couple of extra thousand come on for the men's game. So yeah, big crowd, well behaved and a great atmosphere.

Do you reckon that there was an increase in the number of spectators for the women's final like I've been the last few years, and I felt like there was a lot of people there to watch the women, which I thought was awesome.

Do you reckon that there was an increase in the number of spectators for the women's final like I've been the last few years, and I felt like there was a lot of people there to watch the women, which I thought was awesome.

I think so that sort of typifies women's football in the North. I think it's such a massive part of the game here and we saw it with the AFLW Dreamtime Game in October late last year, and then yeah, I think we saw it again today, sorry yesterday, big crowd. The standard of competition is always on the increase, and it's got a massive following in terms.

I think so that sort of typifies women's football in the North. I think it's such a massive part of the game here and we saw it with the AFLW Dreamtime Game in October late last year, and then yeah, I think we saw it again today, sorry yesterday, big crowd. The standard of competition is always on the increase, and it's got a massive following in terms.

Of the number of people through the gates over the course of the week, because I know there was plenty of senior and junior games held as well, lots of junior games. Do we know how many we had through the gates over the course of the week.

Of the number of people through the gates over the course of the week, because I know there was plenty of senior and junior games held as well, lots of junior games. Do we know how many we had through the gates over the course of the week.

Yeah, last weekend where we had the junior Grand Finals, some senior Grand Finals, obviously the preliminary finals in the Premier footy, it was about eleven thousand, so that was last weekend obviously six this weekend I think I think it was around fifteen hundred Friday night for the under eight Eighten Grand Finals, which is really strong. And across the finals, I'd say it's around thirty thousand across the four week final period. So that's that's up on previous years. And obviously it's sort of we thank everyone's support for the clubs and the players and everyone had put on the show because it's you know, it's their hard work which brings those those crowds through the gates, and you know, hopefully they enjoyed the atmosphere and being able to play in front of friends and family. It's it's it's a really important part of it.

Yeah, last weekend where we had the junior Grand Finals, some senior Grand Finals, obviously the preliminary finals in the Premier footy, it was about eleven thousand, so that was last weekend obviously six this weekend I think I think it was around fifteen hundred Friday night for the under eight Eighten Grand Finals, which is really strong. And across the finals, I'd say it's around thirty thousand across the four week final period. So that's that's up on previous years. And obviously it's sort of we thank everyone's support for the clubs and the players and everyone had put on the show because it's you know, it's their hard work which brings those those crowds through the gates, and you know, hopefully they enjoyed the atmosphere and being able to play in front of friends and family. It's it's it's a really important part of it.

Well, I mean those games were nailed by shows. The women's Premier League game coming down to a penalty kick after the siren. It was pretty exciting stuff, wasn't it.

Well, I mean those games were nailed by shows. The women's Premier League game coming down to a penalty kick after the siren. It was pretty exciting stuff, wasn't it.

Yeah, look it was, And the atmosphere for that whole last quarter of the women's game was phenomenal. You know, obviously kick after the siren the side of it, which which was which was unique. But yeah, if you if you were to, if anyone was at the steam stands on on Saturday for that game, they would have thought, wow, this is a huge thing, this Grand Final, and obviously carried on for the next two and a half hours with the men's game, which was an electric contest but also a great atmosphere.

Yeah, look it was, And the atmosphere for that whole last quarter of the women's game was phenomenal. You know, obviously kick after the siren the side of it, which which was which was unique. But yeah, if you if you were to, if anyone was at the steam stands on on Saturday for that game, they would have thought, wow, this is a huge thing, this Grand Final, and obviously carried on for the next two and a half hours with the men's game, which was an electric contest but also a great atmosphere.

Yeah it was. I mean they were both phenomenal games. I didn't get there, you know, for the DIV two games or any of the others that were on earlier in the day, but I was told that they were all so awesome. I got told every time when Banks were playing, you know, every time someone said who let the dogs out? Then the whole crowd was marking it sounds like it would have been plenty of fun.

Yeah it was. I mean they were both phenomenal games. I didn't get there, you know, for the DIV two games or any of the others that were on earlier in the day, but I was told that they were all so awesome. I got told every time when Banks were playing, you know, every time someone said who let the dogs out? Then the whole crowd was marking it sounds like it would have been plenty of fun.

Yeah, well, Banks and played off in the Men's Premier League Reserves and their old rivals, one of the best rivalries in the NCFL. Probably quite a distinct blue and white crowd at one end and Grand and the other at the other. So yeah, great atmosphere for the reserves and it just ramped up from there.

Yeah, well, Banks and played off in the Men's Premier League Reserves and their old rivals, one of the best rivalries in the NCFL. Probably quite a distinct blue and white crowd at one end and Grand and the other at the other. So yeah, great atmosphere for the reserves and it just ramped up from there.

Hey, just going back to the Women's Premier League game, young gun Chequela Gardner Dunn taking out the Best on Ground, wasn't she in the women's game?

Hey, just going back to the Women's Premier League game, young gun Chequela Gardner Dunn taking out the Best on Ground, wasn't she in the women's game?

Yeah she did. Sheelviously won the Rising Star this year. I think she kicked Saint Mary's first three goals on the weekend, just electric around the contest. Clearly got a big future in the game. Yeah, judged Best on on Ground, which is pretty amazing really someone of her age. Yeah, she was terrific. And look it was both teams really quitted themselves well, not not just yesterday sorry Saturday, but also throughout the year and it was it was a great Grand Final, quite fitting in.

Yeah she did. Sheelviously won the Rising Star this year. I think she kicked Saint Mary's first three goals on the weekend, just electric around the contest. Clearly got a big future in the game. Yeah, judged Best on on Ground, which is pretty amazing really someone of her age. Yeah, she was terrific. And look it was both teams really quitted themselves well, not not just yesterday sorry Saturday, but also throughout the year and it was it was a great Grand Final, quite fitting in.

The men's prems who ended up winning Best on Ground in that game.

The men's prems who ended up winning Best on Ground in that game.

Southern districts ruckman White Ryan so he had had a big year obviously, pold quite well in the in the Nichols Medal, and yeah, it had a big impact. It was quite quite an even spread I think across the ground for Southern districts and Saint Mary's a lot of really good contrub this. But yeah, why it took the Chainey metal home.

Southern districts ruckman White Ryan so he had had a big year obviously, pold quite well in the in the Nichols Medal, and yeah, it had a big impact. It was quite quite an even spread I think across the ground for Southern districts and Saint Mary's a lot of really good contrub this. But yeah, why it took the Chainey metal home.

Hey, a couple of people sort of questioning why the why you guys have made the decision to not allow people on the ground sort of during halftime and when those presentations were happening as well. Was that something that hasn't happened in the past.

Hey, a couple of people sort of questioning why the why you guys have made the decision to not allow people on the ground sort of during halftime and when those presentations were happening as well. Was that something that hasn't happened in the past.

No, that's consistent with previous years, and it's just it's a sheer volume of people matter. Obviously, after after each of the Grand Finals, people come on and celebrate with their teams or commiserate, but quarter time halftime, it's just just that sheer volume of people. It's a pretty standard practice across ground finals across the country for that to occur. Obviously, this is a little bit from from the year round games and having a la season where people are able to come on. But yeah, with four thousand people there during the women's game, as I said, it's it's just not quite that easy to control. So it's it's a decision which is consistent we've got's been done in the past.

No, that's consistent with previous years, and it's just it's a sheer volume of people matter. Obviously, after after each of the Grand Finals, people come on and celebrate with their teams or commiserate, but quarter time halftime, it's just just that sheer volume of people. It's a pretty standard practice across ground finals across the country for that to occur. Obviously, this is a little bit from from the year round games and having a la season where people are able to come on. But yeah, with four thousand people there during the women's game, as I said, it's it's just not quite that easy to control. So it's it's a decision which is consistent we've got's been done in the past.

Now, Sam, we know, you know obviously it's the end of the season, but it's not the end really for AFL in the Northern Territory. I mean, what's the wash up now and what's next?

Now, Sam, we know, you know obviously it's the end of the season, but it's not the end really for AFL in the Northern Territory. I mean, what's the wash up now and what's next?

Yeah, look we are we're a twelve month sport as in Okadi. It's you know, it doesn't stop now. We've will quickly go into a review of the season and make sure that everybody in clubs, administrators, everybody gets a bit of time off as well, which is important. But we'll kick off. We've got the rep matches between the ANTIFL and the Central Straine League early in April, so that that's a good thing to be bringing back for the first time in forty odd years. I think it is that those games be down at Trega Park in our Springs. Obviously the AFL games in May, which which promised to be pretty big contests. You know, you look at it. Even over the weekend you got Hawthorne absolutely flying and they'll be up here to take on the Suns, who haven't lost in a fair while here in Darwin. So that's that's a great match on fifteenth to May, and it also playing the Bulldogs who are going okay and to the territory kickoff soon and in addition to everything else around the talent season, so it's a big dry season for us. Obviously, the NCFL is a big highlight on the calendar and to watch people enjoy the weekend was fantastic, but we get on with the rest of the year now.

Yeah, look we are we're a twelve month sport as in Okadi. It's you know, it doesn't stop now. We've will quickly go into a review of the season and make sure that everybody in clubs, administrators, everybody gets a bit of time off as well, which is important. But we'll kick off. We've got the rep matches between the ANTIFL and the Central Straine League early in April, so that that's a good thing to be bringing back for the first time in forty odd years. I think it is that those games be down at Trega Park in our Springs. Obviously the AFL games in May, which which promised to be pretty big contests. You know, you look at it. Even over the weekend you got Hawthorne absolutely flying and they'll be up here to take on the Suns, who haven't lost in a fair while here in Darwin. So that's that's a great match on fifteenth to May, and it also playing the Bulldogs who are going okay and to the territory kickoff soon and in addition to everything else around the talent season, so it's a big dry season for us. Obviously, the NCFL is a big highlight on the calendar and to watch people enjoy the weekend was fantastic, but we get on with the rest of the year now.

Well. Sam, good to catch up with you. I hope you all get a couple of hours to maybe calm down slightly this morning. I don't know whether you will, though. Good to catch up with you, mate, Thanks so much for your time this morning.

Well. Sam, good to catch up with you. I hope you all get a couple of hours to maybe calm down slightly this morning. I don't know whether you will, though. Good to catch up with you, mate, Thanks so much for your time this morning.

Thanks Katich pray, thank you.

Thanks Katich pray, thank you.