The Imalu Tigers take on the Tapalinga Superstars at Nguiu Oval in the Tiwi Islands' grand final. Photo: Glenn Campbell

There never used to be any twins on the Tiwi Islands. When a baby was born, the father would raise his spear with the two sharp sides to signify a boy and raise the spear with one sharp side to signify a girl. If twins were born he would snap the spear in two and the second born child would be "taken away".

The missionaries may not have got everything right, but they did put a stop to this custom. And they brought footy to the islands.

In the Tiwi Islands' grand final on Sunday there were no twins playing, but there were nine representatives from the Puruntatameri family, four playing for the Imalu Tigers and five for the Tapalinga Superstars.

One of them, Graham Puruntatameri, who at 37 is the veteran of the Tigers team, is nicknamed the Aeroplane for his extravagant celebration when kicking a goal. He got to use it in the final quarter after a goal that spurred the Tigers on to victory.

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One of his greatest fans, a lady who looked at least twice his age, produced a startling impersonation on the sidelines.

But in the end it was still the Rioli name that resonated most loudly over the Northern Territory's most celebrated weekend of football.

Willie Rioli snr coached the Imalu Tigers to their 16-point win over the Superstars, while his son Willie jnr was the youngest player to win the Chaney medal for best on ground in the NTFL grand final on Saturday.

Willie snr and his Tigers collected the MJ Rioli premiership cup, named after Willie's brother and Tiwi "footy god" Maurice. It was a record 18th time the Tigers had picked up the cup, with Tapalinga the next most successful club with 10.

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Riolis triumph on Tiwi Islands ' big weekend