Arnhem Crows have continued their remarkable run of success in the Big Rivers Football League, claiming a fourth consecutive women's premiership with a thrilling six-point grand final victory over Eastside.
The Barunga-based club has now won six premierships in seven seasons since joining the competition in 2020, with 2022 the only year the Crows have missed out on the flag.
Arnhem entered the Big Rivers competition in 2020, becoming the first Indigenous community women's team to compete in a senior women's AFL competition.
Since then, more than 60 women have earned premiership medallions with the club.
The achievement is even more significant considering the challenges involved in competing each week.
Based in Barunga, a community of approximately 400 people, the Crows also draw players from surrounding communities including Ngukurr and Beswick, as well as Darwin.
The women make a 200km round trip to Katherine each week to compete in the Big Rivers competition.
Their latest premiership was far from straightforward, with Eastside pushing the defending champions all the way in a closely contested grand final.
Tynequa Bush opened the scoring for Arnhem in the first quarter before Eastside star Billie Byers responded with her side's first goal.
Lynelle Ahfat then found the scoreboard to give the Crows an eight-point advantage at the opening change.
However, Eastside took control in the second quarter through Nikesha Jones, who kicked three consecutive goals to turn the game in the Double Blues' favour.
Arnhem headed into the main break trailing by 11 points and needing to respond.
The Crows did exactly that in the third quarter, with Denisha Koimala, Janita Robertson and Jenna Singh Lippo all kicking goals to regain the lead.
The defending premiers took a nine-point advantage into the final quarter, but Eastside refused to go away.
Robertson kicked an important goal early in the term to extend Arnhem's lead before Byers gave Eastside renewed hope with a goal inside the final four minutes.
The Double Blues continued to attack and added two late behinds, but Arnhem's defence held firm to secure the six-point victory.
Angel Ahfat was among the Crows' best players, finding plenty of the football, while Karen Alangale provided important run and carry along the wing.
Despite finishing on the losing side, Byers was awarded the best-on-ground medal, adding to her 2026 senior women's best-and-fairest award.
The result caps another outstanding season for Arnhem, whose continued success has established the club as a dominant force in the Big Rivers women's competition.
For a team that travels hundreds of kilometres to compete and brings together women from several remote communities, a sixth premiership in seven years is an exceptional achievement.
In the men's competition, Katherine Camels produced an impressive comeback to defeat Northern Warlpiri Mozzies by 12 points in the grand final.
The Mozzies raced to a 22-point lead at quarter-time before Josh Flight sparked Katherine's recovery with three second-quarter goals.
The Camels continued to fight back and trailed by just six points heading into the final term.
Ricky Walsh then kicked two crucial goals, while Brock Reynolds added his second as Katherine took control of the contest to claim the premiership.
Reynolds was awarded the best-on-ground medal, with Flight and Josh Carlin also playing important roles in the victory.
