THE WORLD knew how Brian Lara felt about cricket when he named his first-born daughter Sydney, after the city where he hit his first Test century.

Those who meet the kids of the Tiwi Islands and parts of the Northern Territory hold no doubt about the sport of choice for the residents there. Young Mark Harvey, from the north west of the Territory, and his neighbour, Wayne Carey, are living proof that passions lie squarely with Australian football.

If you were one of the 3000 who attended the Tiwi Islands Grand Final on Bathurst Island, 80 kilometres north of Darwin, a few weeks ago, you may have run into Ablett, Salmon or Silvagni, players in the local competition up there.

"It's just such a strong part of life up here that people are so passionate about," says Andrew Farley, AFL Northern Territory commercial operations manager.

And it's a passion spawned long before some of the Islands' exports became household names, famous for their feats at the pinnacle of the game.

"Football is really part of the lifeblood of the Tiwi Islands," Farley says. "The islanders take great pride in football.

"The likes of Michael Long, Dean Rioli, Maurice Rioli, these sorts of people, have all come from the Tiwi Islands. There are some very good role models that have been developed out of there."

And they are loyal to their roots. Retired Essendon premiership player Dean Rioli even donned footy boots again to help the Tiwi Bombers win the right to join the Northern Territory Football League last season. Melbourne's Austin Wonaeamirri is the Bombers' first recruit to AFL ranks, joining Melville Island's Cyril Rioli, who has impressed in his first few games for Hawthorn.

But despite success at the highest level, it is community football that has captured the hearts of the region's people. The main event for the year, the Tiwi Islands Grand Final, sees up to 500 out-of-town visitors join the 2600 strong-population of Melville and Bathurst Islands through various means, including the private chartering of around 30 aircraft, to get to the big game. 

What they witness is a unique style of football, one exhibiting a local flair that players have adapted since the 1940s, when Catholic missionaries introduced them to the game.

"The Tiwi Islanders play a very fast-paced, skilful sort of game. They're generally smaller players so they run fast and the skills are very, very good," Farley says.

The fast, free-flowing style of play saw only three stoppages in four quarters of football in the recent grand final between the Imalu Tigers and Tapalinga Superstars.

The Tiwi brand of football is evident in other ways, too. Unmatched in their enthusiasm, players were so keen to continue the match after half-time that they took their positions five minutes early and waited for the umpires to return to the field.

The Superstars' coach implored his team before the game to "be disciplined, but don't be too serious".

The sides entered the field to music, accompanied by children, dogs, balloons and streamers. Supporters changed ends at each quarter with the teams – something that is a rarity in mainland competitions.

But on Melville and Bathurst Islands, it's the norm. With 35 per cent of the population playing the game – said to be the highest participation rate of any community in Australia – the majority of the remaining 65 per cent are cheering them on.

Beyond their obvious love for the game, the Tiwi Islanders' respect for the code and what it represents is clear from the way they play. They are known for their 'play the ball' mentality, resulting in a distinct lack of physical violence in matches.

Farley recalls a game between Santa Teresa (from Ltyente Apurte Community, 70km south-east of Alice Springs) and the Tiwi Bombers in a match at Darwin's TIO stadium. It was a hard-fought game from start to finish, but after the siren the teams formed a giant circle on the field in the spirit of sportsmanship.

As a spectator, such sights are uncommon, especially at a professional level where teams are spurred to symbolic gestures by occasions like Harmony Day. The genuine sportsmanship and respect for the game that is innate to Tiwi Islanders is something that people from all sports and backgrounds can learn from.

And with the AFL announcing expansion plans for the Gold Coast and Sydney, watchful team scouts will no doubt ensure that the Tiwi Islands at least feature more prominently in the football world.