AFL boss steps in to help NT Tiwi Bombers

The AFL has stepped in to save an embattled Northern Territory club from a remote Aboriginal island community, helping to develop a plan to resurrect the club’s fortunes.

The bottom side in the league finally broke their drought with a win earlier this month, only to have its points stripped on Thursday because of an unpaid debt of more than $10,000 owed to the AFLNT.

The under-siege team was in doubt to play the final two rounds of the season last week as sponsors withdrew support.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan will establish a working group to fix the club’s financial dramas over the off-season and ensure its long term sustainability.

“Along with Michael Solomon, and his team at AFLNT, we are working with the people of the Tiwi Islands and the Northern Territory government to support the work that needs to be done,” Mr McLachlan said on Tuesday.

The Bombers board members said they were gutted the AFLNT didn’t work with the club to secure it’s viability before “embarrassing us publicly and causing our sponsors to pull the pin.”

The club cleared its debt on Friday and the AFLNT provided players with transport from the Tiwis and accommodation in Darwin for Saturday’s 116-41 thrashing to the Wanderers.

“The right thing to do was to leave this matter until after season end,” they said.

“The Tiwi Bombers are much more than just footy – we are developing our future leaders, we are working on alcohol and drug education, we are working on suicide prevention and making our community strong.”

The Bombers joined the league in 2006 to allow players from Bathurst and Melville Islands to compete without being forced to relocate to the mainland.

It was inspirational for a community struggling with serious social problems including the highest suicide rate in the country and drug abuse.

NT member for Arafura, Lawrence Costa, said the past few days had been difficult for many of the Tiwi people, and urged the AFLNT to ensure the club’s survival.

“Our young football-loving kids need something to aspire to as they are our future leaders and the Bombers provide this aspirational pathway.”

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