After playing four games each across the day in mixed weather conditions, the two exhausted teams hit the ground at 7pm for the Grand Final with little or nothing left in either side’s tank.
After two 20-minutes halves, the Northern Allies proved too strong for South West Magic and ran out convincing 77-point winners after a long day of football action.
South West Magic defeated the combined Sydney and Canberra-based Northern Allies earlier in the day but the final proved to be a very different result with 13.5 (83) to 0.6 (6) win by the Allies.
“We are absolutely thrilled with the outcome of the weekends carnival,” Luke Penrith, AFL (NSW/ACT) Indigenous Academy Program Manager said.
“We had a good number of spectators, the football club and local volunteers have done an amazing job and the standard of football has been terrific.
“The whole community has banned together to get this historic carnival off the ground and now we have a great blueprint to work off in the following years.
“We hope to return to Wagga Wagga next season with even more sides lining up for a shot at the Jack Atkinson Carnival trophy.”
Allies half-forward Owen Love was awarded best-on-ground for the final, while midfielder Adam Jennings was named player of the tournament.
Osborne's Dali Bloomfield and new Northern Jets recruit Leroy Eggmolesse both stood out for South West.
The Narrgundra Warriors, Rumbalara FC, Cowra and South West Magic contested matches in the lead-up to the main event with a NSW junior match held as the curtain raiser. The NSW talent group was divided into two sides, Team Red and Team Black, with Team Red winning the match 85 to 53
Earlier in the day the NSW Indigenous junior talent group was also made privy to words of wisdom from legends of the game, Michael O’Loughlin, Jason Mifsud and Kevin Sheedy. All three mentors strongly encouraging the boys to pursue their dreams, recognise the importance of courage, discipline, dedication and good character and to never give up on their dreams or their beliefs.
Nearly 200 Indigenous footballers have made careers with AFL teams. Indigenous carnivals have been held around Australia for years. The AFL has Indigenous and multicultural academies in Blacktown and Campbelltown, with about 100 enrolments, with plans to extend to the Riverina and Illawarra.
