20-week AFL Competition underway

The Kick the Habit with the Sydney Swans event in Maningrida was the perfect way to close out the year with strong momentum. It brought together sport, health, and community in a way that genuinely worked the kind of week where everything aligned.
Youth Sport and Recreation teams from Gunbalanya and Jabiru travelled to Maningrida from 12–17 November to support the event and be part of a significant milestone for the community: the official opening of the new Maningrida Change Rooms. These two events, running side by side, drew the entire community together, to witness the opening, celebrate sport, and take part in a week full of activity and connection.
The Kick the Habit festivities included AFL, kickball, and health checks delivered by Mala’la Health Clinic, creating a well-rounded program that focused not just on sport, but on wellbeing. It was clear a lot of thought and planning went into the week and it showed. Attendance was strong, the energy was high, and the community engagement was outstanding. Simply put, everything just worked.
During the same week, Sport and Recreation Maningrida also launched a 20-week AFL competition, which has already been incredibly well received by the community. The timing could not have been better. The opening of the new, state-of-the-art change room facility marked a turning point for local sport. Fully equipped with player change rooms, first aid facilities, umpire rooms and a cafeteria, it is arguably one of the most advanced sporting facilities in Arnhem Land.
More than just a building, the new change rooms have created a renewed sense of pride and connectedness among AFL followers which, in Maningrida, is almost everyone. It truly felt like a once-in-a-lifetime moment for the community.
West Arnhem Regional Council Wellbeing Coordinator Hans Wesche said, "Being able to support and be present at such a successful community event is one of the things I value most about my role. Spending time on the ground, talking with community members, and hearing firsthand how excited people are about their new facility was incredibly rewarding. Moments like this are a reminder of why community-led sport and recreation matters and the impact it can have when done well."