An annual festival of sports and culture, which brings together remote Western Desert Communities in Western Australia's north, has wrapped up it biggest year yet.
The Martu Youth Festival, which was held in Nullagine, grew to around 800 people this year, with organiser Ngurra Kujungka welcoming the Yandeyarra community for the first time.
Yandeyarra Bulls captain Gasten Stewart said the team had been excited to join the festival.
"It's been a joy to come into this festival here of Martu communities," Mr Stewart said.
"First time for us Yandeyarra boys coming down. Boys got excited when I told them the news that we joined the Martu Festival.
"We met family from other communities, all got together. It's been a wonderful, wonderful experience meeting other people, new people."
The conditions on the football field were tough, but so were the competitors.
"They've got talented boys out here playing on the red dirt, it's been tough, tough. It's been tough. Gotta give it to the boys," Mr Stewart said.
The Bulls came up against the home side, the Irrungadji Dockers, in the grand final on Friday, winning 55 to 42.
The defending champions, the Kiwirrukurra Lions – who travelled two days to play in the festival – along with the team from Warralong, also made it into the final.
Rare chance to show off skills
Mr Stewart said the carnival was a rare chance for the team to put their footy skills to the test.
"We got an oval back at home, but never been used for a long time," he said.
"Now that we joined Ngurra Kujungka sports carnival, maybe one day we're gonna have a carnival in Yandeyarra and invite the Martu people into our hometown, and, you know, have a game."
Ngurra Kujungka chair "Boothy" said it was exciting to have the team from Yandeyarra join the program.
"They got a lot of good skills and they show themselves that they can play. They came to win, which is good. They enjoyed it and we grateful to get them involved," Boothy said.
"These events are really getting bigger and you know, everyone's enjoying it and everyone wants to come part of it."
Women compete for softball crown
While the men battled it out on the football field, the women took to the softball pitch.
The team from Kiwirrukurra defended their title and defeated Punmu in the grand final.
Punmu coach and captain Morika Biljabu won best player in the grand final.
She said the festival was all about growing the confidence of younger players.
"I have only eight years old to 30 in age. So I just pushing the little ones and supporting them just being a role model for my little ones. I just pushed them, don't be frightened, just go for it," Ms Biljabu said.
"It's not me being a best player. It's just me showing them the skills, so that one day they might be like me.
"You don't need one person to win the game, you need the whole team to win the game. It's all about teamwork."
Representatives from the West Coast Eagle and Swan Districts football clubs, and from Softball WA, also attended the festival to identify talented young players.
After a long day of sport, the evenings were filled with concerts and cultural performances, with musicians coming from across the Western Desert.
