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By Alistair Bates, ABC Pilbara The red dirt surrounds of one Brisbane Lions' fortress could not be further from the manicured Melbourne Cricket Ground. Smack in the Gibson Desert near the border of Western Australia and the Northern Territory, Kiwirrkurra is often called the most remote community in the country. According to Pintupi man Matthew West, distance only makes a football fan's heart grow fonder. "We are far away from the MCG, we're in the middle of the desert," he said. "I know we're from Western Australia, but we're proud of the Brisbane Lions. "We love this team and the colour ... Lions always, forever." The remote community of about 200 traces its "die-hard" support for the Lions to the 1990s, when the club was still called the Brisbane Bears. Residents have spent weeks planning a special watch party and barbecue for this year's final. Maroon, blue, and gold decorations were flown in by bush plane from Alice Springs, the closest regional centre at 850kms. "Everyone will be happy—kids, family, everyone come together," West said. Fellow Kiwirrkurra resident Sylvester Olodoodi told the ABC he was especially keen to watch Brisbane midfielder Josh Dunkley. "He gets a lot of tackles," he explained. The loyalty runs so deep, the community has named their own football squad after their heroes. The Kiwirrkurra Lions travel across the WA interior to face other remote communities. "We're trying to make a plan next year, trying to go there to meet the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba," West said.
