While the heavens may have opened up and the rain poured down, little could dampen the burning enthusiasm of a talented group of Aboriginal footballers hailing from the State’s far north.

There they were, playing footy in the rain – an experience for them as rare in itself as was the location and purpose of their visit – playing on the hallowed turf of Subiaco Oval in a curtain-raiser to the Western Derby. And, they gave of their rare and raw best in presenting a wonderful spectacle to the thousands of patrons arriving early for the big game between the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers.

The Western Desert Shield game pitted the Ngarda Goannas against the Martu Warriors as they played for pride and for the Western Desert Shield. The Goannas comprised players from regions around Port Hedland, while the Martu Warriors come from communities up to 600km further to the east in the Great Sandy Desert and closer to the Telfer Gold Mine, operated by Newcrest Mining Ltd, the Shield’s major sponsor. Both teams are rare visitors to Subiaco Oval – they last played there two years ago. And, they played raw football – many of the players are accustomed to running, jumping, kicking and bouncing the ball on red dirt ovals, where they find boots hinder more than help their cause. They play quick and slick football and, while natural skills abound, there was little evidence of tenacious, full-blooded tackles. They prefer to fly, duck and weave, rather than heave.

Honours on the day went to the Ngarda Goannas and, in doing so, reversed the result of the first game between the two eams, held in 2003. After the game, the players from both sides completed a lap of honour around the ground, then watched the Eagles and Dockers play in the Western Derby. Donny Wilson coached the Ngarda Goannas and the Department of Sport and Recreation’s Indigenous Sport Development Officer for the Western Desert region, Clinton Moody, coached the Western Desert Warriors. “The game was played in terrific spirit and the skills displayed were outstanding, despite the torrential rain,” Clinton said. In addition to Newcrest, sponsors included the West Coast Eagles, the Department of Sport and Recreation, the Australian Sports Commission, Smarter Than Smoking, Puntukurnuparna Aboriginal Corporation, Pilbara Metamaya Regional Aboriginal Corporation, and Ngarda Civil and Mining.