The victorious Eagles from the Tagai State College primary campus show off the spoils of their 2025 NPA and Torres Strait Crusader Cup win. Photo: Supplied.
Skills, speed and steps were on show when more than 80 students from nine local campuses converged on Thursday Island’s Ken Brown Oval for the 2025 Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) and Torres Strait Crusader Cup on 28 March.
Junior footballers from across the NPA and Torres Strait islands laced up their boots to showcase their skills on the rectangle field, which has become the unlikely home to the northernmost Australian Rules carnival in the country.
The Crusader Cup is hosted by AFL Cape York and teams excitedly donned the guernseys and team names of AFL favourites including the Bulldogs, Bombers, Crows and Eagles, as well as the Green Machine and Wasps, and scored points through portable mini AFL goals on the rugby league paddock.
AFL Cape York development co-ordinator Kieran Sciberras said many students travelled by ferry, plane and helicopter from as far south as Bamaga on the mainland and north to Saibai and Duaun for the opportunity to play.
“The Crusader Cup is an opportunity for students in grades 5 and 6 to showcase their speed and skills for a shot at selection in representative teams and trips down south,” he said.
“Schools select students for this competition based on attendance, behaviour and effort, followed by sporting ability and talent.
“Without any clubs or regular games in the region, the Crusader Cup provides that important first stepping stone into competition-level Australian Rules football.”
The Eagles from Tagai State College’s primary campus were crowned Cup champions on the day, with Tevern’ya Ketchell and Leviticus Elisala named the female and male most valuable players of the carnival.
Crusader Medallists, who received the award for displaying pride, responsibility and respect, were Elisala, Shakyna Dau-Menegi, Selina Newman, Alexander Aitken, Ronella Woosup and Jowane Motlop.
