Grand finale to Maningrida 2023 AFL competition
The Maningrida Football Oval is becoming one of the best in the Top End, and residents and stakeholders should be proud of the ever-improving sporting facility in the community. With the Maningrida community 2023 AFL football competition culminating in the grand finals on Saturday, 12 August, the football oval was looking its best for the hundreds of players, spectators and supporters in attendance for the big event.
In the results, Magpies went undefeated all season in the women’s competition defeating Seagulls in the grand final. In the men’s competition, the Seagulls won the grand final defeating Lightning, and Seagulls only lost 1 game for the season. A special mention to the women’s competition which was the first one ever played in Maningrida and the football all season was played great. West Arnhem Regional Council has been working tirelessly getting the oval green and manicured over the last few months and it has been great to see so many community members turning up regularly to watch the weekly games under the newly installed lights. The latest additions to the oval includes six additional grand stands to accommodate the increase of spectators attending the games on a regular nightly basis, and additional pedestrian team gates for entry and exiting the playing area by players, coaches and staff. These upgrades were made possible by the Maningrida Local Authority and were completed by the Maningrida works crew just in time for the AFL grand final games. Huge congratulations to all teams in the competition and the overall winners.
West Arnhem Regional Council Services Manager Craig Ballard said “The Maningrida oval was presented in picture perfect condition for the AFL Grand Finals on Saturday, 12 August. A huge thanks to Clem Beard for arranging the perimeter fence upgrades, additional grandstands, electronic scoreboard, oval lighting and irrigation systems. Thanks to Nick from JMK for setting up the grandstands, assisting with band/scoreboard preparation, helping with barbecue duties and demobilising after the event.
A big 'well-done' must go out to Bradley Shergold, SWO, Michael Sippel, Team Leader and the works crew for delivering the oval in pristine condition in time for the finals. Thanks also to Mark Jones and Bradley Shergold for the endless nights managing our electronic scoreboard throughout the AFL competition; and finally congratulations to the AFL Grand Final winning teams, Magpies (W) and Seagulls (M).”
These upgrades to the oval were strongly supported by the Maningrida Local Authority, Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCI) and Northern Territory Government Department of Tourism and Culture.
Thank you to the WARC crew for the state of the oval which was excellent, especially Mark and Mick, and all Nick’s work on grand final day he was excellent. Also, thank you to Maddie from NT Government (CSO), Malala particularly Woody, Juan and the police.