The glow of a Larrakia sunset lit up the Arafura Sea as community gathered at Mindil Beach Casino to launch a weekend of football celebrating AFLW Indigenous Round.
Ahead of Richmond and Essendon's 'Dreamtime in Darwin' fixture at TIO Stadium, the evening was not only a showcase of culture and connection but also a moment to honour one of the game's true trailblazers, Kirby Bentley.
Bentley, a proud Noongar woman, had walked a remarkable journey in sport.
Long before pulling on an AFLW jumper, she was a netball prodigy. Growing up in Mount Barker, which she fondly called "Krakouer country," she fast-tracked her way through the game, representing Western Australia at 14 and earning All-Australian honours at just 17.
By high school she was already competing in the National League, carving out a reputation as one of the most exciting young players in the country.
When the AFLW pathway finally opened, Bentley embraced the opportunity to step into a sport she had always loved.
Signed as a priority player by Fremantle in 2016, she ran out in the AFLW's inaugural round in 2017 and later joined Carlton in 2018. From those early days she had been part of shaping what women's football looked like.
This year's Indigenous Round theme, 'Past Legacies, Future Legends,' could not better capture Bentley's contribution.
She acknowledged the matriarchs and Elders who paved the way before her and saw her own role as part of a continuing story.
"I was playing a really small but crucial role in what that looked like for the future generations," Bentley said.
"If I could leave this game in a better place, it made it so much easier for the next generation. Not just for our people, but for all the women who play this game."
Her humility shone through in every reflection. Even when speaking about the Kirby Bentley Cup, the tournament established in Western Australia in 2014 to give young Aboriginal girls a platform to showcase their skills, she downplayed the personal recognition.
"It did not have to be my name on it," she said. "I was just grateful there was a platform for these young girls. Ideally, if AFL clubs could go and recruit from there, you would see a genuine shift in the style of football we play."
For Bentley, it was never just about sport. It was about representation, pride, and community.
"When we wore our jumpers, we represented more than the team. We represented our people, our families, our friends, everyone who had ridden that wave with us," she explained.
Her advice to the next generation of players was simple but powerful.
"Stand tall and stand proud with who you are. You do not have to get it right every time — there will be people to catch you," she said.
As the launch at Mindil Beach Casino gave way to a weekend of football, Darwin celebrated culture, connection, and the extraordinary legacy of Kirby Bentley.
Her story reminded everyone what Indigenous Round was truly about: honouring the past, empowering the present, and inspiring the future.
