NAIDOC round showcases the best the North Pilbara Football League has to offer as finals race heats up

Clubs displayed their connection in the NAIDOC round of the North Pilbara Football League over the weekend as two teams set their sights on a finals match-up as the end of the season draws near. In round 10 each team wore a jersey covered with Indigenous art in preparation for the NAIDOC week celebrations that begin on Monday July 3. While connection and respect were on display, the results from the weekend’s matches were one-sided as teams have begun looking to the finals with only five games left of the season. Visiting side Dampier beat their hosts the South Hedland Swans, 15.11 (101) to 5.4 (34), in a big win that solidified the Sharks’ second spot on the ladder and makes a final match-up with the Kats more likely It was an absolute demolition from the Karratha Kats as they beat last-place Port Hedland 27.23 (185) to 3.3 (21). Kats’ coach Shane White said his team was focused on bringing the intensity for 100 minutes as it bounced back from a rare loss last week to second-placed Dampier. “We just focused on playing a whole 100 minutes of football and I think we brought that intensity,” he said. “We changed a few little structural things from the Dampier loss a week prior and then just really focused on playing four quarters of football. Mr White said it has become increasingly clear that the League is a two-horse race and his team is building to take on Dampier come finals time. “We’re just sort of setting ourselves up for the latter part of the year,” he said. “I think it’s pretty clear there’s two teams competing for the competition and we are just starting to work ourselves towards getting to the ultimate goal at the end of the year.” Kats’ player and local artist Xavier Dhurrkay designed the NAIDOC round jumpers which contained art that represented home, family, and travelling. The spear on the jersey represents the guidance of older people and the blue lines represent the waterways that surround Karratha. Mr White said it was great for team morale to play in a highly personalised jersey as the team fully embraced the NAIDOC round. “We had Xavier Dhurrkay design our jumpers and they are outstanding,” he said. In the third League game over the weekend, the Karratha Falcons defeated Wickham 14.19 (103) to 7.15 (57), as the battle for third place on the ladder heats up. In the Reserves competition, the South Hedland Swans beat Dampier 14.9 (93) to 5.5 (35). South Hedland Reserves coach Jacob Sanders-McDonald said that the Swan’s NAIDOC jersey was meant to acknowledge everyone that had ever been involved with the club. “The jersey was created by the South Hedland Swan players in general and everyone pretty much had their say,” he said. “It just represents a connection with the football club and the player’s connection with the club and the fans. “The dotted circles represent an array of multicultural people and connections as we believe once a Swan you are always a Swan.” In the other Reserves’ fixtures, the Falcons defeated Wickham 9.12 (66) to 2.3 (15) and the Kats beat the Rovers 17.13 (115) to 2.4(16). In the Women’s league, the Kats held the Rovers scoreless 13.8 (86) to 0.0 (0), Dampier held on against the Blazers 4.2 (26) to 3.3 (21), and the Falcons beat Wickham 4.4 (28) to 1.1 (7).