The Barkly Australian Football League partnered with No More as the league continues to take a stand against family violence.
The Spitfires opened their weekend campaign with an impressive performance in the women’s competition, comfortably accounting for Epenarra despite some inaccurate goal-kicking.
From the opening bounce, the Spitfires applied scoreboard pressure, though inaccuracy plagued them early. They registered 2.6 before settling into a 3.10 halftime lead. The second half saw them maintain dominance, finishing with a total of 11.18.
Delaicee Hansen starred with four goals in a best-on-ground performance, while Rachel Baker and Taneal Croydon added three each. Asinate Bradbury and Mikeely Fraser also impressed with their ball use and decision-making.
Epenarra, outclassed on the day, will look to rebound next week against Elliott.
In the match of the round, Canteen Creek survived a late scare to edge past the Eagles by eight points in a gripping contest.
The Blues controlled the early stages, building a handy lead, but the Eagles clawed their way back to within four points midway through the second quarter. A crucial goal for Canteen Creek helped re-establish an eight-point buffer heading into the final term.
Despite the Eagles surging again to reduce the margin to under a goal, the Blues responded with a late major to seal the win. Their ability to slow the tempo and force key stoppages in the dying minutes was pivotal.
The Eagles, valiant in defeat, will aim to regroup as they prepare to face Jalajirrpa.
In the men’s division, BWC delivered a clinical display to secure their third victory of the season, outclassing Ali Curung with a dominant 16-goal performance.
From the outset, BWC asserted control in the midfield and transitioned cleanly into attack, leaving the Ali Curung defence under constant pressure. The balanced effort across the field gave BWC a selection headache for all the right reasons.
Ali Curung’s Nicky Poulson continued his consistent season, contributing two goals in a tough outing.
Meanwhile, Epenarra produced one of the great comebacks in recent BAFL memory, edging out Canteen Creek in a final-quarter thriller.
After trailing by 16 points at halftime, the Saints began to chip away, kicking three goals to two in the third quarter to keep their hopes alive. With momentum in their favour, Epenarra surged home with another three-goal burst, clinching a stunning three-point victory.
Cameron Camphoo and George Morton each booted two goals, supported by key contributions from Riewoldt Ross, Azariah Philomac and Zephania Peterson.
Despite the loss, the Blues had several standouts. Tyrell Mick and Antonio Long were influential, while Garrak Bob and Jason Burton chipped in with two goals apiece.
YDU retained their place atop the ladder with a convincing 33-point win over the Spitfires in the men’s competition.
The match was tightly contested early, but YDU’s defensive structure held firm, absorbing pressure before launching into a dominant second half. A seven-goal-to-four effort after the break ensured the points stayed with the ladder-leaders.
Richard Dixon led the way with three goals, while Rico Billy-Joe and Tycelle Douglas added two each in a potent forward display.
For the Spitfires, Lauchlan Lake and Jayquin Furber stood out with their work rate and commitment across four quarters.
The BAFL sincerely thanks all participating clubs and supporters for their involvement in the NO MORE Round initiative. The special round delivered exciting football action while reinforcing the league’s dedication to standing together against family violence.
Learn more about NO MORE by clicking here.