Wikipedia

Big Rivers Football League

The Big Rivers Football League (formerly the Katherine District 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) P Hopkins (Kirby’s Agents), T Booth (Rowlands) and G Fitzgerald (Tindal) shared the Best and Fairest Award.

Big Rivers Football League
(BRFL)
SportAustralian Rules Football
Founded1988 (1988)
AdministratorAFL Northern Territory
No. of teams11
HeadquartersKatherine Showgrounds, Katherine South
Most recent
champions		Men: Katherine Camels (5)
Women: Arnhem Crows (5)
(2025)
Most titlesKatherine South (9), Eastside/Rowlands FC (9) (Men's)
Arnhem Crows (5) (Women's)
Official websitePlayHQ

It consists of 1 Senior Men's (5 teams), 1 Senior Women's Division (6 teams) and a Men's Cup competition (5 teams) in the 2026 season. 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. Other grounds used for neutral games in 2025 included Kalano Oval, Katherine High School Oval, Tindal Oval, and Barunga Oval.

Current clubs

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Men

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Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Former League Est. Years in BRFL BRFL Senior Mens Premierships
TotalYears
Arnhem
CrowsPhyliss Winjorrotj Oval, Barunga –2001 2001-2015, 2019-62001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2011[1]
Garrak
Bombers (Formerly Kalano)Kalano Oval, Katherine –1980s 1989, 1997-2005, 2007-2010, 2012-20250-
Katherine
CamelsKatherine Showgrounds, Katherine –2010 2011-52012,[2] 2019, 2022, 2024, 2025
Katherine River
SaintsKatherine Showgrounds, Katherine –2025 2025-0-
Northern Warlpiri
MozziesLajamanu Oval, Lajamanu –1991 1992, 1995-1997, 2002-2017, 2019-22005, 2008[3]

Women

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Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Former League Est. Years in BRFL BRFL Womens Premierships
TotalYears
Arnhem
CrowsPhyliss Winjorrotj Oval, Barunga –2001 2020-52020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Eastside
BluesKatherine Showgrounds, Katherine –1988[4] 2018-32018, 2019 2022
Katherine
CamelsKatherine Showgrounds, Katherine –2010 2018-2022, 2024-0-
Katherine River
SaintsKatherine Showgrounds, Katherine –2025 2026-0-
Katherine South
CrocsKatherine Showgrounds, Katherine –1990 2018-0-
Northern Warlpiri
MozziesLajamanu Oval, Lajamanu –1991 2026-0-

BRFL Men's Cup

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Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Former League Est. Years in BRFL BRFL A/B Grade Premierships
Beswick
BearsWugularr Oval, Wugularr -1988[5] 1990-1991, 1993-1994, 1998, 2008-2019, 2026- 12010
Borroloola
ThundersBorroloola Oval, Borroloola 2021 2025- 0 -
Gurindji
EaglesMichael Jarparta Paddy Football Oval, Kalkarindji LFL (Kiwinyi Football League)1995 1995-1996, 1998-2003, 2006-2009, 2014-2017, 2021, 2024-12017 [6]
Jilkminggan
BluesJilkminggan Oval, Jilkminggan 2001 2001-2003, 2007-2015, 2017, 2021;2026-0-
Ngaliwurru
LionsMax Duncan Memorial Oval, Timber Creek Carnival matches only before joining BRFL2023 2025-0-

Men's sides in recess

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Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Est. Years in BRFL BRFL Senior Mens Premierships Fate
TotalYears
Eastside
Blues (Formerly Rowlands FC)Katherine Showgrounds, Katherine 1988[4] 1989-2004, 2011-2019, 2021- 9 1989/90, 1990/91, 1993/94, 1998/99, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017[7] In recess since 2024 season
Katherine South
CrocsKatherine Showgrounds, Katherine South 1991-2004, 2017-2023 91991/92, 1992/93, 1994/95, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 2018,[8] 2020, 2021 In recess since 2023 season

Women's sides in recess

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Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Est. Years in BRFL BRFL Senior Womens Premierships Fate
TotalYears
Garrak
BombersKalano Oval, Katherine 1980's[4] 2022 0 - In recess since 2022 season

Former clubs

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Club Colours Nickname Home ground Est. Years in BRFL BRFL Senior Premierships Fate
TotalYears
Barunga
Eagles Barunga Oval, Barunga 1989-1995, 2008 0 - Folded
Beswick Hawks
Hawks Wugularr 2017 2017 0 - Folded
Binjari
Saints Binjari 2010, 2021 0 - Folded
Borroloola
ThundersBorroloola Oval, Borroloola 2021 2025 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
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
HawksKatherine1988 1989-2002 11988/89 Folded
Ngukurr
BulldogsNgukurr Oval, Ngukurr 19931994-2015, 2020-2025 2000, 2004, 2007, 2023 In recess
Numbulwar Lightning Numbulwar 2008-2009 0 - Folded
Tindal
MagpiesTindal Oval, RAAF Base Tindal1989[9] 1989-2021 0- Folded after 2021 season
Victoria River Lions Victoria River 1998-1999 0 - Folded
Waliburru
ThunderMinyerri 2016-2017 0- Folded
Yarralin Yarralin 1995-1997, 2002-2003 0 - Folded
Yugal
Power 2000-2003 0 - Folded

Premierships (Mens)

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  • 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
  • 2000 Ngukurr
  • 2001 Arnhem Bombers
  • 2002 Arnhem Crows
  • 2003 Arnhem Crows
  • 2004 Ngukurr
  • 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
  • 2025 Katherine Camels

^Replayed GF due to draw

Premierships (Women's)

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  • 2018 Eastside
  • 2019 Eastside
  • 2020 Arnhem Crows
  • 2021 Arnhem Crows
  • 2022 Eastside
  • 2023 Arnhem Crows
  • 2024 Arnhem Crows
  • 2025 Arnhem Crows

2011 Ladder

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Big Rivers AFL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts
Beswick Bears 120201486554268.23%48
Arnhem Crows 110301213765158.56%44
Ngukurr Bulldogs 110301216780155.90%44
Katherine Camels 8060949802118.33%32
Eastside6080876107681.41%24
Lajamanu Swans509089990099.89%20
Tindal Magpies20120611141843.09%8
Jikminggan Blues10130459141432.46%4

FINALS

Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
1st SemiNgukurr Bulldogs14993Katherine Camels11470
2nd SemiArnhem Crows177109Beswick Bears91064
PreliminaryNgukurr Bulldogs11773Beswick Bears101171
GrandArnhem Crows14892Ngukurr Bulldogs12678

2012 Ladder

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Big Rivers AFL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts
Katherine Camels 130101280656195.12%52
Ngukurr Bulldogs 110301264694182.13%44
Beswick Bears 110301357760178.55%44
Eastside 707089699689.96%28
Jikminggan Blues6080908112580.71%24
Kalano Bombers5090928122975.51%20
Tindal Magpies405057663091.43%16
Lajamanu Swans207027146658.15%8

FINALS

Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
1st SemiKatherine Camels101979Ngukurr Bulldogs91165
2nd SemiBeswick Bears15292Eastside14791
PreliminaryNgukurr Bulldogs1418102Beswick Bears7648
GrandKatherine Camels14690Ngukurr Bulldogs4630

2023 Men's Ladder

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Big Rivers Football League Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts
Ngukurr Bulldogs 121201105586188.57%86
Eastside FC 121201251829150.90%81
Katherine South 816010701044102.49%69
Katherine Camels 7160927880105.34%62
Arnhem Crows71701012920110.00%57
Daly River Buffaloes61701069979109.19%52
Northern Warlpiri Swans3160702103667.76%42
Garrak Bombers01110434129633.49%39

FINALS

Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
1st SemiKatherine South81058Katherine Camels7547
2nd SemiNgukurr Bulldogs1712114Eastside9963
PreliminaryEastside7850Katherine South121183
GrandNgukurr Bulldogs141094Katherine South9458

2024 Men's Ladder

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Big Rivers Football League Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts
Katherine Camels 9110978328298.17%76
Ngukurr Bulldogs 7210982411238.93%64
Arnhem Crows 8120830606136.96%68
Northern Warlpiri Swans 325056057597.39%50
Garrak Bombers326048294051.28%41
Gurindji Eagles127037982346.05%34
Eastside FC118037189941.27%35

FINALS

Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
1st SemiArnhem Crows121385Northern Warlpiri Swans6541
2nd SemiKatherine Camels13684Ngukurr Bulldogs6743
PreliminaryNgukurr Bulldogs101070Arnhem Crows10868
GrandKatherine Camels13987Ngukurr Bulldogs11470

2025 Men's Ladder

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Big Rivers Football League Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Forfeits
Katherine Camels 105101071442242.31%830
Arnhem Crows 104201067539197.96%850
Garrak Bombers 8440880871101.03%810
Ngukurr Bulldogs 94401065595178.99%800
Katherine River Saints557067880784.01%660
Northern Warlpiri Swans5460919811113.32%592
Borroloola Thunders455044870163.91%473
Gurindji Eagles355043681253.69%404
Ngaliwurru Lions1570257124320.68%354

FINALS

Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
1st SemiGarrak Bombers14488Ngukurr Bulldogs141397
2nd SemiKatherine Camels121183Arnhem Crows10666
PreliminaryArnhem Crows10565Ngukurr Bulldogs1512102
GrandKatherine Camels101373Ngukurr Bulldogs8654


See also

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References

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