A football team made up entirely of prisoners from the Northern Territory’s Barkly Prisoner Work Camp (BWC) at Tennant Creek has made the Grand Final of their local competition in only their second year in the Barkly Australian Football League (BAFL).
The ‘BWC All Stars’ will take on reigning premiers ‘Sporties Spitfires’ at Tennant Creek’s Purkis Reserve main oval this Saturday 17 September at 2pm.
Work Camp Chief Correctional Officer Danny Measures said the All Stars finished the 2016 season as minor premiers having won eight of their 12 minor round games.
“Results this year proved the team has developed into a very competitive outfit under the guidance of their coach,” he said.
“The program provides opportunities to players from the BWC that have been of exceptionally good behaviour to play AFL in an AFLNT affiliated League competition.”
Danny said the team was coached by fellow prisoner Kenneth Cole who received his Nationally Accredited Level 1 Coaching Certificate this year after attending the AFLNT coaching course.
“The whole Work Camp is behind the team with the possible exception of three Correctional Officers who play for the Spitfires,” he said.
“Coach Cole is confident of achieving success this week.
“With the support of the Senior Correctional Officers and Work Camp staff who have worked hard to ensure the football program is a success, the BWC All Stars are considered to have a very good chance to carry the Silverware back to camp on Saturday.”
Last year the Team finished fourth in the competition after being eliminated in the semi-finals.
“Debuting in the competition last year, the team has steadily improved in season 2016 to beat the Janapurlalki Eagles 87–68 in the Preliminary Final on their way to the 2016 Grand Final,” Danny said.
Since opening in 2011, the BWC has participated in the BAFL competition by providing field, boundary and goal umpires, scoreboard attendants and other officials.
The Work Camp has also provided top up players for remote community teams - Ti Tree Roosters, Ali Curung, Elliot, Canteen Creek, Epanara , Willowra, Alpara and Ampilatwatja - and Tennant Creek-based clubs Janapurlalki Eagles, YDU and Sporties Spitfires to ensure matches were not forfeited due to lack of players.
“You could say that by providing assistance to ensure the competition progresses in a time where volunteers are scarce, the Barkly Work Camp has played an integral role in ensuring the League has been able to continue as a viable competition for the region’s players,” Danny said.
“In addition, the BWC also provides a prisoner work party, in conjunction with the BAFL and AFLNT Development Manager, to prepare the oval each week, marking out the lines, setting and packing up the ground, collecting all litter and cleaning the dressing rooms to ensure the smooth running of the competition.”
Media contact: David Harris 0400 342 389