Northern exposure: How Collingwood is doing great work in Tennant Creek, Barkly and the NT

Collingwood retuned to Tennant Creek in Warumungu country recently as the Pies continued their clinics and community work in the Northern Territory region of Barkly.

Despite the heavy downpour and flooding in the area the Pies also managed to travel a further 250 kms north to visit Elliott, and 170 kms south to Alekarenge, but unfortunately their usual visits to other remote communities such as, Marlinja (Newcastle Waters) and Mungkarta couldn’t eventuate as teeming rain and impassable roads impacted the agenda.

The Pies had an entouraqge of players, coaches and admin staff. Leon Davis was amongst the action for the Pies once again, as Leon, Jack Ginnivan, Sengalese international rookie Bassirou Faye and former Bomber now VFL Magpie Josh Eyre and others were doing their thing amongst an eager and enthusiastic group of budding superstar kids.

There were quite a few of the Magpie ladies doing a lot of work both on and off the field, led by Barrawarn Indigenous Programs Manager Debby Lovett, along with Maddi Southam and Ash Webber and others. Great synergy was on display by all the Collingwood men and women working in conjunction AFL NT led by Wayne Green in Tennant Creek and Kelli Zaleski from Alice Springs.

There was also an evening discussion which included a well catered bbq with steaks the size of which could only be found in the Territory.

Assistant VFL coach Harmit Singh spoke about the Collingwood Next Generation Academy and coaching footy in the Barkly. And AFL NT gave a detailed roadshow around governance of football clubs and an overview of football in the Central Australian region.

The Pies were also very supportive in Tennant Creek with the ” No More Violence” work which is a Territory-wide campaign to combat domestic violence.

It cannot be underestimated the importance the crucial amount of community work Collingwood do in the Barkly Region. So often left under the radar and under resourced in all facets of life, Aussie Rules football is the lifeblood for so many kids and adults in the Barkly Region, Indigenous and non Indigenous.

And the number of women becoming involved in the AFL in the Barkly region and the Territory is growing quickly and exponentially every year.

The AFL cannot take this for granted. One only has to look at how the AFL in complacent ignorance took their eye off the ball in Tasmania to see how quickly an important corner of empire can be lost, as they now scramble madly to make up lost ground.

Soccer is gaining a growing foot hold in the Barkly Region as the John Moriarity Foundation continues to do the hard work of promoting the game and creating opportunities for youth in the region and in the Territory.

John Kundereri Moriarty is a Yanyuwa man from Borroloola which is in in the Barkly Region. Among many other achievements he was also an Australian soccer international representative back in the 70s.

John’s foundation is very committed to creating sporting pathways with soccer for Indigenous youth in the Territory; and the Barkly Region is central to the organisation’s hard work.

The Northern Territory is a heartland of Aussie Rules footy, just like Tasmania WAS. It would be a travesty if the AFL were to let the Barkly slip through its fingers and sit back and watch soccer and other sports do the hard yards in the coming generations to take over as the number one sport in the region and eventually the Territory.

While there’s plenty of scope for all sporting codes to thrive in the Territory, it would be hugely remiss for the AFL to take things for granted here like they did in Tasmania and let the proud history and the mantle as the number one sport in the Territory to gradually be eroded away in coming generations.

Rugby League and Rugby Union also have a solid foothold in Darwin. Having the Suns in the north in Darwin, and Melbourne in the south in Alice Springs works ok for those cities, but it’s crucial Collingwood remain the club for the Barkly.

We need a club solely focused on and committed to the region, not clubs that will do the odd fly in fly out, how’s ya mother see ya later day trip. We need a club who is fully committed and fully engaged in and to the community, as the Pies track record shows they are.

A lot of our youth in the Barkly Region also play in the Alice Springs and Darwin AFL competitions, and various community competitions and carnivals. They become feeders in keeping the bigger comps strong.

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The local lads here also compete in the annual Michael Long cup in Darwin. This is just one example how Aussie Rules provides a great opportunity for some of the disengaged youth in the Barkly Region to become fully engaged, excited and supported in being involved in something beyond the limited opportunities and resources in the Barkly.

It takes a lot of hard work at a community level to make these things happen, year after year after year. Collingwood have played a significant role in providing support and inspiration to make these dreams a reality for footballers in the Barkly Region.

The Pies take this work very seriously with former player and current assistant coach of the Collingwood Community Magpies, Daniel Wells, managing Collingwood’s indigenous community programs which includes developing the Pies’ NGA zone around Tennant Creek and the Barkly.

The excitement and direction Wellsy generates with the locals, and the joy, enthusiasm and commitment Collingwood brings to the schools and all their remote community work is priceless.

In the future we would like more AFL draftees coming through the region but we’re realistic enough to know this is a long term project. Local lad Jake Neade from Elliot has showed it can be done with his time at Port Adelaide. Collingwood also currently have NT lad Jake Long, son of the legend, on their VFL list.

But it’s the community work that should be the priority and not the focus on draftees. Without the community interest and grassroots development there will be no draftees, there will be no Aussie Rules.

The AFL need to keep their eye on the ball and the long term welfare and development of the game in the Barkly and in the Territory. Collingwood’s commitment to and presence in the Barkly Region needs to be applauded and encouraged, and included as part of a long term strategy for the health of AFL in the region and in the Territory.

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Collingwood’s vice president Jodie Sizer is a huge supporter of the Barkly Region project and places a high priority on the work. It should be noted Jodie was the first Aboriginal and Aboriginal woman to ever be appointed to a Victorian team’s Board of Directors. Jodie was also the inaugural chairperson the Collingwood Football Club Reconciliation Action Plan (now chaired by Tony Lovett) which also aligns with the recommendations of the Do Better Report.

Debby Lovett who was also in the Barkly Region last week manages the Pies Barrawarn Program which has a large emphasis on empowering Aboriginal people through education, employment, sporting pathways and supports Aboriginal communities in the Barkly Region

The Pies also have a partnership with Dardi Munwurro which “supports safer, stronger families and communities through the Ngarra Jarranounith Place Program; Brother to Brother Crisis Support Line; Bramang Jaarn Youth Program; and Family Services Program”.

The Pies are fully committed to building a great culture within their club, and building long term, sustainable and empowering relationships with Indigenous peoples, and with Australian Rules Football in the Barkly region.

The AFL need to learn from their mistakes in Tasmania and have a long-term strategy and vision towards the continuity, growth and development of grassroots Aussie Rules in the Barkly Region, and hence the Northern Territory.

They must support the Pies with their excellent initiatives, programs, support and commitment towards communities and football in the Barkly.

To finish off and on a lighter note, it was great to see Leon Davis back home as a Magpie. He’s still looking pretty fit and he will be a real asset in the work he’s doing. He gave generously of his time to the kids and also to the community members who were keen to yarn about his heyday.

We also heard about a few of his other adventures including his stint up in the Pilbara in W.A where he enjoyed playing in a premiership with the Karatha Kats in an upset win over Port Hedland.

Young Jack Ginnivan was a big hit with all the kids and has a natural flair for inspiring the youngsters, and some of us oldies too.

He carried himself well in his work and in the community. Looking forward to him continuing to do the hard yards and developing as a young man and footballer and doing his bit for the Pies this year and beyond.

Bassirou Faye is a larger than life young fella. Beaming smile, confident and humble and proudly representing Senegal, and joins Mason Cox as another exceptionally tall and popular international recruit enriching the Collingwood culture. Mason also loves coming to the Barkly and the NT.

Josh Eyre was on the Bombers list for a couple of years and now is part of the Magpie nest in the VFL team, with the goal of making his way onto the Pies AFL list. Like Jack and Bassirou, Josh is a young fella around that 20 year old mark. He too gave a lot, mixed well, and carried himself well representing the Pies in the Barkly.