Thousands of AFL fans from across the Territory and beyond filled TIO Stadium for Gold Coast’s match against Adelaide Crows. See all the fan pics here.
AFL: Stuart Dew spoke to the media following their Round 11 victory over the Western Bulldogs.
Ms Owen and her son Shannon Owen have followed the club from state to state all year, and they couldn’t pass up the chance to watch the side in the Top End.
After meeting the Adelaide players at TIO Stadium the night before, following the club’s late arrival, they were among the first at Mararra on Saturday pulling for their team.
Shannon Owen and Kathy Owen are lifelong Adeliade Crows and were in Darwin for the match against the Gold Coast Suns. Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin
“We’ve been to watch them everywhere this year, Sydney, Adelaide, Gold Coast and now Darwin,” Ms Owen said.
“I love it up here. My son loves it too. We just want to live up here, we’re going home to Melbourne tomorrow where it’s nine degrees.
“We’ve been following the Crows since they came into the league, my kids go for the Crows and my grandkids go for the Crows.”
There were plenty of Suns supporters as well with plenty of Darwinites adopting the Gold Coast as their second team.
Samuel De Boer and Antony McWilliams are Essendon and Bulldogs fans respectively but were pulling for the Suns for their commitment to the Top End.
“I support the Bulldogs but came down to support the Suns,” Mr McWilliams said.
“They play up here each year and you have to support the local team when they’re not playing yours.”
Meanwhile, Territory footballing royalty Patrick, Sean and Joel Bowden were at TIO Stadium early on pulling for the CAFL Rep team from their native Alice Springs against Waratah.
All the fan pics
Brodie, Giselle, Miranda, Alessio (Ayres Family) at the Gold Coast Suns AFL match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin
Patrick Bowden, Sean Bowden and Joel Bowden at the Gold Coast Suns AFL match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium. Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin
Tim Ruciack and Sue Ruciack at the Gold Coast Suns AFL match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin
Cumaiyi Family at the Gold Coast Suns AFL match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin
Noah O’Dwyer, Joshua Alber and Dirk Alber at the Gold Coast Suns AFL match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin
Ian Morris at the Gold Coast Suns AFL match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin
Ash Perez and Marley Perez at the Gold Coast Suns AFL match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin
Samuel De Boer and Antony McWilliams at the Gold Coast Suns AFL match vs Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin
Everything you need to know
TIO Stadium is once again the place to be with the Gold Coast Suns playing the second match of their Darwin doubleheader against a firing Adelaide Crows side.
The Suns are three for three in the Top End over the past two years, but the Crows probably pose the greatest challenge yet based on recent form.
But the team, which has worked hard on cementing a relationship with the region, will have plenty of support owing to its Territory talent including Malcolm Rosas, Joel Jeffrey and Ben Long.
Territory Suns Malcolm Rosas, Jy Farrar, Joel Jeffrey, Ben Long and coach Stuart Dew, ahead of the match against Western Bulldogs. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Starting the day of footy is an historic match-up between the CAFL representative team and NTFL premiers Waratah from 3pm.
Tahs have a host of players on-board who beat Southern Districts in the grand final including skipper Brodie Carroll, Ed Morris and Tom Cree.
Meanwhile, one of their own Abe Ankers will instead be playing for the Central Australian team coached by former North Melbourne player Matt Campbell.
The Bonson and Ah Mat gates will both open from 2.30pm for the match with tickets available at both.
The main entertainment between Suns and Crows begins at 7pm following a welcome to country.
Our snappers will be at the game so be sure to check back here later on to see if you got spotted among the action.