Barkly Australian Football League
 | |
| Sport | Australian Rules Football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1991 |
| No. of teams | 11 |
| Venues | Purkiss Reserve, Tennant Creek |
Most recent champions | Men: Vacated premiership (YDU Demons)[1] (2025) Women: Sporties Spitfires (3) (2025) |
| Most titles | Sporties Spitfires (3, Women's) (16, Men's) |
The Barkly Australian Football League (BAFL) is an Australian rules football competition based in Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory of Australia. The competition began in 1991 after the Tennant Creek Football Club withdrew from the Central Australian Football League to form its own local competition. All games are played at Purkiss Reserve, Tennant Creek. Games could be played at Elliott oval from 2020 onwards due to the recent upgrade to the oval in 2019.[2][3][4][5][6][7]
Current clubs
Senior Men A-Grade
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Location | Est. | Years in BAFL | Senior Premierships | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||
| Ali Curung |  |
Kangaroos | Ali Curung | 1956 | 1991-1997, 1999-2001, 2005-2016, 2019-2020, 2022, 2024- | 1 | 2007 |
| Ampilatwatja |  |
Eagles | Ampilatwatja | 2016 | 2009, 2016-2017, 2024- | 0 | - |
| Barkly Work Camp |  |
All Stars | Barkly Work Camp, Tennant Creek | 2015 | 2015-2019, 2021- | 0 | - |
| Elliott |  |
Hawks | Elliott | 1991 | 1991-2007, 2010-2012, 2014-2016, 2018-2021, 2023- | 5 | 1999, 2003, 2005, 2023, 2024 |
| Imangara | Imangara | 2025 | 2025- | 0 | - | ||
| Jalajirrpa Mission |  |
Warriors | Tennant Creek | 2022 | 2022- | 0 | - |
| Soapy Bore |  |
Crows | Soapy Bore/Arawerr | 2025 | 2025- | 1 | 2025 |
| Sporties |  |
Spitfires | Sporties Club, Tennant Creek | 1991 | 1991- | 16 | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994,1996, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 |
| Willowra |  |
Double Blues | Willowra | 1995 | 1999, 2002, 2008-2011, 2013, 2024- | 0 | - |
| YDU |  |
Demons | Tennant Creek | 2010 | 2009-2017, 2019-2021, 2023- | 1 | 2024 |
Senior Women
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Est. | Years in BAFL | Senior Premierships | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||
| Ampilatwatja | |
Eagles | Ampilatwatja | 2016 | 2009, 2016-2017, 2024- | 0 | - |
| Elliott | |
Hawks | Elliott | 1991 | 2023- | 0 | - |
| Jalajirrpa Mission | |
Warriors | Tennant Creek | 2023 | 2025- | 0 | - |
| Sporties | |
Spitfires | Sporties Club, Tennant Creek | 1991 | 2022- | 3 | 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| Ti-Tree | .svg.png) |
Roosters | Ti-Tree | 2026- (Women's team only) | 0 | - | |
Women's sides in recess
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Est. | Years in BAFL | Senior Premierships | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||
| Ali Curung | |
Kangaroos | Ali Curung | 1991 | 2022-2024 | 1 | 2022 |
| YDU | |
Demons | Tennant Creek | 2010 | 2022- | 0 | - |
Former clubs
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Est. | Years in BAFL | Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | |||||||
| Arlparra | .svg.png) |
Dockers | Arlparra | 2007-2008, 2013-2014 | 0 | - | Left league, have played in Central Australian FL since 2023 | |
| Borroloola |  |
Thunder | Borroloola | 2021 | 0 | - | Left league, have played in Big Rivers FL in 2025 | |
| Canteen Creek |  |
Blues | Canteen Creek | 1996 | 1996-1998, 2001, 2004-2011, 2015, 2017-2019, 2022, 2024-2025 | 0 | - | In recess since 2025 |
| Eastern Davenport | Storm | Eastern Davenport Ranges | 2013 | 0 | - | Left league | ||
| Epenarra |  |
Saints | Wutunugurra | 2000 | 2000-2001, 2006-2008, 2010, 2012-2013, 2024-2025 | 0 | - | In recess since 2025 |
| Janapurlalki | .svg.png) |
Eagles | Tennant Creek | 1991 | 1991-2019, 2021-2025 | 7 | 1995, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2018 | In recess since 2025 |
| Kalinjari (Buramana 1996-99, Karlinju 2000-02) |  .svg.png) |
Dockers | Kalinjari | 1996 | 1996-2000, 2002-2003 | 0 | - | Left league |
| Likkiparta (Wogyala 1999-2002) |  |
Swans | Wogyala Community | 1999, 2001–2002, 2004 | 0 | - | Left league | |
| Marla |  |
Power | Marla Community | 2007-2009, 2012-2013 | 0 | - | Left league | |
| Marlinja |  |
Cats | Marlinja Community | 1995-1998 | 0 | - | Left league | |
| Memo |  |
Magpies | Tennant Creek Memorial Club, Tennant Creek | 1991 | 1991-2003 | 2 | 1997, 2000 | Folded after 2003 season |
| Ti-Tree | |
Roosters | Ti-Tree | 2011-2013 | 2 | 2011, 2012 | Left league, have played in Central Australian FL since 2015 | |
| Wilora |  |
Lions | Wilora | 1992-1993, 1995-1996, 2000 | 0 | - | Left league | |
Premierships
Division 1
- 1991 – Sporties Spitfires
- 1992 – Sporties Spitfires
- 1993 – Sporties Spitfires
- 1994 – Sporties Spitfires
- 1995 – Janapurlalki Eagles
- 1996 – Sporties Spitfires
- 1997 – Memo Magpies
- 1998 – Sporties Spitfires
- 1999 – Elliott Hawks
- 2000 – Memo Magpies
- 2001 – Sporties Spitfires
- 2002 – Sporties Spitfires
- 2003 – Elliott Hawks
- 2004 – Janapurlalki Eagles
- 2005 – Elliott Hawks
- 2006 – Janapurlalki Eagles
- 2007 – Ali Curung Kangaroos
- 2008 – Janapurlalki Eagles
- 2009 – Janapurlalki Eagles
- 2010 – Sporties Spitfires
- 2011 – Ti Tree Roosters
- 2012 – Ti Tree Roosters
- 2013 – Janapurlalki Eagles
- 2014 – Sporties Spitfires
- 2015 – Sporties Spitfires
- 2016 – Sporties Spitfires
- 2017 – Sporties Spitfires
- 2018 – Janapurlalki Eagles
- 2019 – Sporties Spitfires
- 2020 – Sporties Spitfires
- 2021 – Sporties Spitfires
- 2022 – Sporties Spitfires
- 2023 – Elliott Hawks
- 2024 – Elliott Hawks
- 2025 – No premiership[12]
Division 2
- 2025 – Soapy Bore
Grand Finals
- 1991 – Sporties Spitfires 19.24 (138) def Memo Magpies 3.3 (21)
- 1992 – Sporties Spitfires 13.11 (89) def Memo Magpies 9.6 (60)
- 1993 – Sporties Spitfires 21.16 (142) def Janapurlalki Eagles 5.7 (37)
- 1994 – Sporties Spitfires 12.18 (90) def Janapurlalki Eagles 12.9 (81)
- 1995 – Janapurlalki Eagles 13.6 (84) def Sporties Spitfires 10.10 (70)
- 1996 – Sporties Spitfires 12.12 (84) def Elliott Hawks 3.8 (26)
- 1997 – Memo Magpies 11.14 (80) def Sporties Spitfires 5.8 (38)
- 1998 – Sporties Spitfires 13.9 (87) def Janapurlalki Eagles 8.10 (58)
- 1999 – Elliott Hawks 22.17 (149) def Ali Curung 9.4 (58)
- 2000 – Memo Magpies 16.10 (106) def Elliott Hawks 12.11 (83)
- 2001 – Sporties Spitfires 21.10 (136) def Ali Curung 10.6 (66)
- 2002 – Sporties Spitfires 19.13 (127) def Janapurlalki Eagles 7.5 (47)
- 2003 – Elliott Hawks 20.12 (132) def Sporties Spitfires 6.7 (43)
- 2004 – Janapurlalki Eagles 14.13 (97) def Elliott Hawks 9.9 (63)
- 2005 – Elliott Hawks 14.9 (93) def Janapurlalki Eagles 12.12 (84)
- 2006 – Janapurlalki Eagles 11.16 (82) def Elliott Hawks 9.9 (63)
- 2007 – Ali Curung 13.10 (88) def Sporties Spitfires 12.5 (77)
- 2008 – Janapurlalki Eagles 14.17 (101) def Sporties Spitfires 5.8 (38)
- 2009 – Janapurlalki Eagles 17.8 (110) def Willowra 8.5 (53)
- 2010 – Sporties Spitfires 23.7 (145) def Elliott Hawks 6.5 (41)
- 2011 – Ti Tree 9.5 (59) def Janapurlalki Eagles 7.9 (51)
- 2012 – Ti Tree 14.10 (94) def Janapurlalki Eagles 13.14 (92)
- 2013 – Janapurlalki Eagles 15.21 (111) def Ali Curung 14.7 (91)
- 2014 – Sporties Spitfires 12.9 (81) def Elliott Hawks 6.9 (45)
- 2015 – Sporties Spitfires 14.21 (105) def Janapurlalki Eagles 10.2 (62)
- 2016 – Sporties Spitfires 12.13 (85) def Barkly Work Camp (BWC) 7.8 (50)
- 2017 – Sporties Spitfires 8.10 (58) def Elliott Hawks 8.7 (55)
- 2018 – Janapurlalki Eagles 12.12 (84) def Elliott Hawks 12.8 (80)
- 2019 – Sporties Spitfires 11.13 (79) def Elliott Hawks 7.5 (47) at Purkiss Reserve, Tennant Creek on 14 September 2019.[14]
- 2020 - Sporties Spitfires 7.15 (57) def Elliott Hawks 8.3 (51)
- 2021 - Sporties Spitfires 17.16 (118) def Janapurlalki Eagles 8.6 (54)
- 2022 - Sporties Spitfires 11.13 (79) def Ali Curung 7.9 (51)
- 2023 - Elliott Hawks 20.6 (126) def Ali Curung 10.7 (67)
- 2024 - Elliott Hawks 11.9 (75) def YDU 9.11 (65)[15]
- 2025 - Grand Final abandoned[16]
Division 2
- 2025 - Soapy Bore 6.7 (43) def Ampilatwatja 6.5 (41)
See also
References
- ↑ https://play.afl/news/2025-bafl-finals-series-investigation-findings
- ↑ "About Us - Barkly Australian Football League - GameDay".
- ↑ "New Oval to be built for Elliott - Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture". Archived from the original on 11 April 2020.
- ↑ http://newsroom.nt.gov.au/mediaRelease/25567
- ↑ "New oval for Elliott | Katherine Times | Katherine, NT".
- ↑ http://newsroom.nt.gov.au/mediaRelease/28717
- ↑ "Investing in Remote Sporting Infrastructure: Elliott Oval Upgrades Underway - Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture". Archived from the original on 15 April 2020.
- ↑ "About Us - Barkly Australian Football League - GameDay".
- ↑ "AFL Barkly (BAFL) Australian Football League".
- ↑ "AFL Barkly (BAFL) Australian Football League".
- ↑ "FOOTY". Archived from the original on 6 September 2007.
- ↑ https://play.afl/news/2025-bafl-finals-series-investigation-findings
- ↑ "Fixture for 2019 Barkly AFL A-Grade - GameDay".
- ↑ "AFL Barkly (BAFL) Australian Football League".
- ↑ "Barkly Australian Football League".
- ↑ https://play.afl/news/2025-bafl-finals-series-investigation-findings