The Australian Defence Force has toppled the Department of Defence's Australian Public Service (APS) for the first time, claiming victory at the NAIDOC touch football cup final 4-3.
Held in the ACT on July 8, it went down to a golden-point drop-off, with ADF scoring the winning try during a tense three-on-three play after full-time ended in a draw.
The Department of Defence had held the title for three years.
Across the day, teams played 20-minute round-robin games before progressing to knockout finals in the afternoon.
Thirty teams from different government departments competed.
Captain Riley Brassil, who played link and scored 15 tries including the equaliser in the final, said it felt good to knock the APS off their perch.
Captain Brassil said he and teammate Leading Aircraftman Seth Harrison combined for the play that brought the scores level and sent the game into extra time.
"We ran what's called a trail sweep. I wrapped around the outside, received the ball in open space, and then dove for the line and got to the line just before I was touched," Captain Brassil said.
The try locked the scores at 2-2, pushing the match into a drop-off where player numbers reduced to four a side, and then three a side as the deadlock continued.
'We were all pretty pumped when that final try went over. It was a great feeling.'
Captain Brassil said the golden-point period only lasted about 90 seconds before Leading Aircraftman Harrison scored the match-winner.
But if it were not for Leading Aircraftwoman Tiffany Hodgson's long throw to the wing, ADF's golden-point victory would not have been sealed to enter the three-on-three final minutes.
"It was a risky, long ball that managed to get out, which was good," Leading Aircraftwoman Hodgson said.
"I thought it was definitely going to go at least 10 metres behind my team-mate, but luckily it paid off and he managed to catch it and then score.
"We were all pretty pumped when that final try went over. It was a great feeling."
For half the day, the ADF's female players powered through without any substitutes, rotating positions.
"It was very tiring, so we just rotated between wing and link to give each other a rest wherever we could," Leading Aircraftwoman Hodgson said.
The cup was part of NAIDOC Week celebrations, using sport to foster connection while recognising the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
