Big Rivers Football League Sport Australian Rules Football Founded 1988 (1988 ) Administrator AFL Northern Territory No. of teams 11 Headquarters Katherine Showgrounds Current premiers Katherine Camels (Men's, 4th premiership), Arnhem Crows (Women's) Most premiers Katherine South Crocs (9 Men's premierships) Official website PlayHQ
The Big Rivers Football League (formerly the Katherine District Football League and Big Rivers Australian Football League ) is an Australian rules football competition in the Northern Territory , Australia based in the Katherine region. Its governing body is AFL Northern Territory . It consists of 11 clubs, of which 2 are currently women's only, being Eastside FC and Katherine South (both having men's teams in previous seasons). In 2025, new teams Ngaliwurru Lions, Borroloola Thunders and Katherine River Sporting Club have joined the senior men's division, replacing Eastside FC. During its inaugural season (1988/89) K. Watson, for the Kirby's Agents, successfully claimed the leagues first MVP award.
It consists of 1 Senior Men's (8 teams) and 1 Senior Women's Division (5 teams), plus Under 16's Boys, Under 16's Girls and Under 12 Mixed Divisions played during school terms. Most games are played at the Katherine Showgrounds, with the exception of a few games where teams get home community games or when the Showgrounds aren't available for use.
Current clubs
Men Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Former League Est. Years in BRFL BRFL Senior Premierships Total Years Arnhem Barunga Oval, Barunga – 2001 2001-2015, 2019- 4 2002/03, 2006, 2009, 2011[ 1] Borroloola Thunders Borroloola Oval, Borroloola BAFL 2021 2025- 0 - Garrak Bombers Kalano Oval, Katherine – 1980s 1989, 1997-2005, 2007-2010, 2012-2025 0 - Gurindji Eagles Michael Jarparta Paddy Football Oval, Kalkarindji 1995 1995-1996, 1998-2003, 2006-2009, 2014-2017, 2021, 2024- 1 2017[ 2] Katherine Camels Katherine Showgrounds, Katherine – 2010- 2011- 4 2012,[ 3] Katherine River Saints Katherine Showgrounds, Katherine – 2025 2025- 0 - Ngaliwurru Lions Max Duncan Memorial Oval, Timber Creek – 2025 2025- 0 - Ngukurr Bulldogs Ngukurr Oval, Ngukurr – 1994 1994-2015, 2020- 4 1999/2000, 2004, 2007,[ 4] Northern Warlpiri Swans Swans Lajamanu Oval, Lajamanu – 1992 1992, 1995-1997, 2002-2017, 2019- 2 2005, 2008[ 5]
Women Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Former League Est. Years in BRFL BRFL Senior Premierships Total Years Arnhem Crows Barunga Oval, Barunga – 2001 2020- 4 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024 Eastside Double Blues Katherine Showgrounds, Katherine – 1988[ 6] 2018- 3 2018, 2019 2022 Katherine Camels Katherine Showgrounds, Katherine – 2018- 0 - Katherine South Crocs Katherine Showgrounds, Katherine – 2018- 0 - Ngukurr Bulldogs Ngukurr Oval, Ngukurr – 2022- 0 -
Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Est. Years in BRFL BRFL Senior Premierships Fate Total Years Eastside Double Blues Katherine Showgrounds, Katherine 1988[ 6] 1989-2004, 2011-2019, 2021- 9 1989/90, 1990/91, 1993/94, 1998/99, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019[ 7] In recess since 2024 season Katherine South Crocs Katherine Showgrounds, Katherine South 1991-2004, 2017-2023 9 1991/92, 1992/93, 1994/95, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 2018,[ 8] In recess since 2023 season
Club Colours Nickname Home ground Est. Years in BRFL BRFL Senior Premierships Fate Total Years Alawa (Minyerri 1997-2020) Tigers Minyerri 1997-1998, 2001-2010, 2012, 2016-2017, 2021 0 - Folded Barunga Eagles Barunga Oval, Barunga 1989-1995, 2008 0 - Folded Beswick Bears Wugularr 2009[ 9] 1990-1991, 1993-1994, 1998, 2008-2019 1 2010 Folded after 2019 season Beswick Hawks Hawks Wugularr 2017 2017 0 - Folded Binjari Saints Binjari 2010, 2021 0 - Folded Buccaneers (Burton & Balls 1999-2002) Bucs 1999-2003 0 - Folded Daly River Buffaloes Nauiyu Oval, Nauiyu 2022 2021-2023 0 - Folded East Arnhem East Arnhem 1999-2000 0 - Folded Jilkminggan Blues Jilkminggan 2001-2003, 2007-2015, 2017, 2021; 0 - Folded Katherine Kannons Katherine Showgrounds, Katherine 2006 2006-2010 0 - Merged with Katherine Roos to form Katherine Camels after 2010 season Katherine Roos Katherine Showgrounds, Katherine 2009 2009-2010 0 - Merged with Katherine Kannons to form Katherine Camels after 2010 season Kirby's Agents/Katherine Hawks Katherine 1988 1989-2002 1 1988/89 Folded Numbulwar Lightning Numbulwar 2008-2009 0 - Folded Tindal Magpies Tindal Oval, RAAF Base Tindal 1989[ 10] 1989-2021 0 - Folded after 2021 season Victoria River Lions Victoria River 1998-1999 0 - Folded Waliburru Thunder Minyerri 2016-2017 0 - Folded Yarralin Yarralin 1995-1997, 2002-2003 0 - Folded Yugal Power 2000-2003 0 - Folded
1988/89 Kirby's Agents 1989/90 Rowlands 1990/91 Eastside (* Formerly known as Rowlands FC) 1991/92 Katherine South 1992/93 Katherine South 1993/94 Eastside 1994/95 Katherine South 1995/96 Katherine South 1996/97 Katherine South 1997/98 Katherine South 1998/99 Eastside 1999/00 Ngukurr 2001 Arnhem Bombers 2002 Arnhem Crows 2003 Arnhem Crows 2004 Arnhem Crows 2005 Lajamanu 2006 Arnhem Crows 2007 Ngukurr 2008 Lajamanu 2009 Arnhem Crows 2010 Beswick 2011 Arnhem Crows 2012 Katherine Camels 2013 Eastside FC 2014 Eastside FC 2015 Eastside FC 2016 Eastside FC 2017 Eastside FC 2018 Katherine South 2019 Katherine Camels 2020 Katherine South 2021 Katherine South 2022 Katherine Camels 2023 Ngukurr 2024 Katherine Camels
2011 Ladder Big Rivers AFL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Beswick Bears 12 0 2 0 1486 554 268.23% 48 Arnhem Crows 11 0 3 0 1213 765 158.56% 44 Ngukurr Bulldogs 11 0 3 0 1216 780 155.90% 44 Katherine Camels 8 0 6 0 949 802 118.33% 32 Eastside 6 0 8 0 876 1076 81.41% 24 Lajamanu Swans 5 0 9 0 899 900 99.89% 20 Tindal Magpies 2 0 12 0 611 1418 43.09% 8 Jikminggan Blues 1 0 13 0 459 1414 32.46% 4
FINALS
Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts 1st Semi Ngukurr Bulldogs 14 9 93 Katherine Camels 11 4 70 2nd Semi Arnhem Crows 17 7 109 Beswick Bears 9 10 64 Preliminary Ngukurr Bulldogs 11 7 73 Beswick Bears 10 11 71 Grand Arnhem Crows 14 8 92 Ngukurr Bulldogs 12 6 78
2012 Ladder Big Rivers AFL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Katherine Camels 13 0 1 0 1280 656 195.12% 52 Ngukurr Bulldogs 11 0 3 0 1264 694 182.13% 44 Beswick Bears 11 0 3 0 1357 760 178.55% 44 Eastside 7 0 7 0 896 996 89.96% 28 Jikminggan Blues 6 0 8 0 908 1125 80.71% 24 Kalano Bombers 5 0 9 0 928 1229 75.51% 20 Tindal Magpies 4 0 5 0 576 630 91.43% 16 Lajamanu Swans 2 0 7 0 271 466 58.15% 8
FINALS
Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts 1st Semi Katherine Camels 10 19 79 Ngukurr Bulldogs 9 11 65 2nd Semi Beswick Bears 15 2 92 Eastside 14 7 91 Preliminary Ngukurr Bulldogs 14 18 102 Beswick Bears 7 6 48 Grand Katherine Camels 14 6 90 Ngukurr Bulldogs 4 6 30
Big Rivers Football League Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Ngukurr Bulldogs 12 1 2 0 1105 586 188.57% 86 Eastside FC 12 1 2 0 1251 829 150.90% 81 Katherine South 8 1 6 0 1070 1044 102.49% 69 Katherine Camels 7 1 6 0 927 880 105.34% 62 Arnhem Crows 7 1 7 0 1012 920 110.00% 57 Daly River Buffaloes 6 1 7 0 1069 979 109.19% 52 Northern Warlpiri Swans 3 1 6 0 702 1036 67.76% 42 Garrak Bombers 0 1 11 0 434 1296 33.49% 39
FINALS
Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts 1st Semi Katherine South 8 10 58 Katherine Camels 7 5 47 2nd Semi Ngukurr Bulldogs 17 12 114 Eastside 9 9 63 Preliminary Eastside 7 8 50 Katherine South 12 11 83 Grand Ngukurr Bulldogs 14 10 94 Katherine South 9 4 58
Big Rivers Football League Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Katherine Camels 9 1 1 0 978 328 298.17% 76 Ngukurr Bulldogs 7 2 1 0 982 411 238.93% 64 Arnhem Crows 8 1 2 0 830 606 136.96% 68 Northern Warlpiri Swans 3 2 5 0 560 575 97.39% 50 Garrak Bombers 3 2 6 0 482 940 51.28% 41 Gurindji Eagles 1 2 7 0 379 823 46.05% 34 Eastside FC 1 1 8 0 371 899 41.27% 35
FINALS
Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts 1st Semi Arnhem Crows 12 13 85 Northern Warlpiri Swans 6 5 41 2nd Semi Katherine Camels 13 6 84 Ngukurr Bulldogs 6 7 43 Preliminary Ngukurr Bulldogs 10 10 70 Arnhem Crows 10 8 68 Grand Katherine Camels 13 9 87 Ngukurr Bulldogs 11 4 70
See also
References
External links
Governing body Representative team Darwin Regional leagues Women's Defunct Leagues NTFL teams Principal venues Related
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