Darwin's Interschool AFL Competition

20/10/2026

𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐁𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞

Last Friday, O'Loughlin Catholic College welcomed Xavier College from the Tiwi Islands for the annual Michael Bowden Memorial Game.

Both teams showcased outstanding talent and sportsmanship. The result was not important, with school footy and community spirit being the big winners of the day.

This annual fixture celebrates Michael Bowden’s enormous contribution to communities across the Northern Territory and brings our schools together in his honour.

It was a honour to welcome Michael’s sons, Rhett, Joel and Sean Bowden. A special thank you to Rhett, Principal of Xavier College, and everyone involved in making the journey from the Tiwi Islands to O’Loughlin.

Seeing both teams come together during and after the game was a wonderful reflection of the community spirit this occasion represents. We look forward to continuing this special tradition for many years to come.

18/09/2026

🏉 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐫𝐚
A special thank you to the Year 12 students from O’Loughlin Catholic College and Haileybury Rendall School for their outstanding contribution to school footy.

𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐲𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐡, 𝐆𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐉𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐚, 𝐌𝐚𝐱 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐞𝐧 and 𝐌𝐚𝐱 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐞 were part of the inaugural season of the middle school competition and have played an enormous role in the success of the program.

𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫, 𝐌𝐚𝐳𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤, 𝐉𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨 and 𝐓𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝 all joined the following year and have proudly represented Haileybury, making a huge impact and creating many memorable highlights.

All of these young men embraced school footy when many others had turned their backs on it. Their commitment to the game has helped strengthen school football and paved the way for many students to follow in their footsteps and experience its many benefits.

As their time in school footy comes to an end, we thank them for everything they have contributed and wish them all the best for the next chapter of their football journeys.

Thanks for the memories, boys. It has been a privilege watching you!

15/09/2026

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 🏉
One of the great benefits of the senior school competition is the opportunity for young stars of the middle school competition to step up and test themselves against faster, more skilful and experienced players.

Max Gardner, Jed Crossman, Brodie Ayres, Addi Omeike, Seb Hale and Matty Armstrong all had that opportunity in Wednesday’s senior school grand final.
For boys who had been dominant in the middle school competition, this was a valuable chance to compete against quality opposition, make decisions under pressure and discover what the next level demands.

Darwin continues to see talented young footballers move to southern schools in pursuit of stronger competition and further development. Providing challenging games locally is an important part of creating more opportunities for our young players.

This is another example of the importance of the senior school competition, giving emerging talent a chance to test their skills, build confidence and take the next step in their football journey.

15/09/2026

A big congratulations to former school footy star Peggy Rock.

In a league of her own.

Peggy Rock is the 2026 AFL Talent League Most Valuable Player, becoming the first Territorian ever to earn the league's highest individual honour.

A season to remember. Congratulations, Peggy! 👏

14/09/2026

⚡ 𝐎’𝐋𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐔𝐩! ⚡

On Friday, O'Loughlin Catholic College students welcomed Port Adelaide’s 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐲𝐧𝐞, 𝐋𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 and 𝐒𝐚𝐦 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐏𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫 to the College.

The young footballers had the chance to ask about nutrition, game tactics and life as an AFL player, before taking part in a training session.

The visit comes as O’Loughlin builds its relationship with Port Adelaide and prepares to expand its AFL classes into Year 10 in 2027, giving students another year to pursue their football journey.

A big thank you to Port Adelaide for spending time with the students! 🏉

12/09/2026

Some great photos taken by O'Loughlin Catholic College student Daisha Daly of the Senior Boys Grand Final

09/09/2026

𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐘𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐘 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐒 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐋 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 🏆

Haileybury Rendall School has taken out the Senior School Grand Final, defeating O'Loughlin Catholic College in an exciting contest at TIO Stadium.

In a match showcasing some of the Northern Territory’s best young talent, the opening half was a closely fought, back-and-forth battle, with both teams unable to fully capitalise on their opportunities.

O’Loughlin had the wind and plenty of momentum during the third quarter but failed to convert, registering five behinds. Haileybury made the most of its chances at the other end, taking a 14-point lead into the final break.

An early opportunity went begging for O’Loughlin in the fourth quarter before Haileybury marched the ball down the ground and kicked a crucial goal. From there, the momentum shifted decisively as the floodgates opened, with Haileybury running out deserving 60–20 winners.

In a dazzling individual performance, Haileybury’s 𝐌𝐚𝐳𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 was awarded the Best on Ground Medal.

Congratulations to Haileybury on claiming the premiership and to both teams for producing an entertaining Grand Final played in great spirit.

07/09/2026

🏆 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐑 𝐁𝐎𝐘𝐒 𝐀𝐅𝐋 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 🏆

O'Loughlin Catholic College vs Haileybury Rendall School

📍 TIO Stadium, Field 1
📅 Wednesday
⏰ 3:30pm

The stage is set for a huge Senior Boys AFL Grand Final, with O’Loughlin Catholic College and Haileybury Rendall School preparing to battle it out on TIO Stadium Field 1.

There is plenty on the line, with O’Loughlin chasing a third consecutive Senior School premiership and Haileybury the form team of the competition looking to stop the run and claim the title for themselves.

Both sides have plenty of talent across the ground, setting up what should be a high quality and fiercely contested Grand Final.

For Haileybury, leading goal kicker 𝐓𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝 will be a major threat inside forward 50, while 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 is simply one to watch. No other words needed.

New recruit 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 has been turning heads with his powerful, fast paced style through the midfield. Strong, explosive and with plenty of grunt, could he be the next up and coming Sonny junior?

𝐌𝐚𝐳𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 provides plenty of class through the middle, moving effortlessly through traffic, while dominant ruckman 𝐆𝐚𝐛𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 gives Haileybury a strong contest around the ground and an important presence at stoppages.

O’Loughlin will look towards some of its experienced senior players to lead the way. 𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐲𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐡 has consistently been one of OCC’s most influential players and regarded by some as the School Footy Goat with an impressive resume.

𝐆𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 brings class, experience and composure, while 𝐉𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐚 has become an important part of the OCC side with his ability to impact the game with his speed.

Perhaps most exciting for O’Loughlin has been the emergence of its young brigade.
𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢 𝐎𝐦𝐞𝐢𝐤𝐞, 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐞 𝐀𝐲𝐫𝐞𝐬, 𝐌𝐚𝐱 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐫 and 𝐉𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐧 have continued to rise to the occasion throughout the competition and will get another opportunity to show why they are regarded as some of OCC’s most exciting young footballers.

We invite students, families, staff, friends and supporters from both schools to come down to TIO Stadium and get behind the boys for what promises to be a fantastic afternoon of school footy.

Bring the noise, bring the support and help create a great Grand Final atmosphere.

🏆 Can OCC make it three Senior School premierships in a row, or will Haileybury bring the streak to an end?

It all comes down to Wednesday.

30/08/2026

🏉 𝐎’𝐋𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡
O'Loughlin Catholic College has progressed through to the Senior Boys Grand Final after a strong win over Casuarina Senior College in a windy contest.

The opening quarter was a real arm wrestle, with the conditions making clean ball movement difficult and both sides competing hard around the contest. Neither team was able to gain a clear advantage early.

As the game went on, O’Loughlin began to take control, adapting well to the windy conditions, using the ball more effectively and gradually opening up a lead before kicking away.

O’Loughlin’s young brigade stood up on the big stage, with Addi Omeike, Jed Crossman and Brodie Ayres all producing strong performances. They were well supported by the usual contributors in Kairyce Lowah, Max Wilson and Jasper Da Rocha, who again played important roles throughout the game.

The result now sets up a highly anticipated Grand Final rematch against Haileybury Rendall School, with the two sides preparing to meet again after their earlier clash this season.

It should be another exciting contest between two talented senior school football sides.

17/06/2026