NTFLW stars put on a show for round one of the AFLW despite none walking away with a win
Former and current NTFL stars dominated round one of the highly-anticipated AFLW season. Read the highlights here.
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Former NTFLW stars put on a show in round one of the AFLW which delivered plenty of highlights and upsets for footy fans.
From seasoned legends to debutants, each player ignited their teams despite no NT players walking away with a win after the first nine games of season 7.
The highlights
SHANNON ON FIRE IN SMASHING DEBUT
NTFL product Eliza Shannon made a blistering start to her AFLW career with 12 disposals in her debut match on Saturday night.
While the defender had a rusty start – dropping a mark in Essendon’s forward 50 – after the quarter time break there were no nerves in sight for the former St Mary’s vice-captain.
Shannon played a key roll for the Hawk’s defence who held back a domineering Bombers forward line until the final quarter.
Shannon was not the only NT star to don the brown and gold in Saturday’s block buster with former Darwin Buffettes premiership player Dom Carbone also making her debut.
The Bombers ultimately outskilled Hawthorn in their 7.11 (53) to 4.3 (27) win, becoming the only expansion club to claim the 4 points in round one.
NT YOUNG GUN BREAKING RECORDS
Emma Stark became the youngest Top Level AFL Official when she took to Marvel Stadium for the round one clash between Hawthorn and Essendon at 16-years-old.
Stark debuted for the NTFL women’s Premier League last season just five days after her 16th birthday, and went on to slot three goals in her first game.
The Territory double-threat has racked up many accolades throughout her career including the NTFL, under 15s best and fairest in 2021.
However, the young gun has not decided if they want to pursue a footy of umpiring career.
CAN’T OUTRUN SPEEDY-LEE THOMPSON
There is nowhere worse to be than running down the midfield with seasoned Crow Stevie-Lee Thompson on your heels.
Melbourne’s Casey Sherriff learned this first hand in Friday nights grand final rematch.
The 24-year-old picked up a bouncing ball in the centre of the ground late in first term.
With space to run, it looked to be a certain goal for the Demons until Thompson burst through the midfield and chased down Sheriff at the top of the forward 50.
The premiership player ended the game with 24 disposals and 4 tackles to top of a day’s work.
PONTER OFFERS GLIMMER OF HOPE
Former St Mary’s star Danielle Ponter gave the Crows a sniff at victory with a goal early in the final term which brought Adelaide within five points of the Demons.
However, the fierce forward had her efforts extinguished by Eden Zanker and Karen Paxman who slotted a goal a piece to seal a Melbourne victory.
Despite the whopping 6.8 (44) to 4.2 (26) loss, Ponter played a dominate defensive roll in the Crows forward 50 with 6 tackles.
Two former NTFLW stars will suit up for round one as they make their AFLW debut
Territory footy fans will have two reasons to check out Hawthorn’s inaugural AFLW match on Saturday night as a pair of NTFLW stars make their debut.
Former Darwin Buffettes premiership player Dom Carbone and St Mary’s FC vice-captain Eliza Shannon have a long history playing side-by-side after being selected for the NT representative team and Hawthorn’s VFL outfit.
Now the pair will don the brown and gold for the first time as AFLW players in the historic clash against rival expansion club Essendon at Marvel Stadium, joining the likes of Danielle Ponter, Angela Foley, and Stevie-Lee Thompson.
Darwin Buffettes coach Mel Taylor, 39, who played alongside Carbone for two years before stepping into the mentoring role, said the 20-year-old Carbone worked her way through the ranks at the NTFL club.
“She worked amazingly hard and that dedication is what has gotten her to where she is,” Taylor said.
“She is such a special player and her drive to be the best player she can be ensures the team that she’s playing with will always get the most out of her.
“She really is the total package.”
The prolific ball-winner took out the Williams Medal – presented to the player deemed best on ground – in the Buffettes’ decisive 18-point grand final win over Nightcliff last season.
Taylor said despite Carbone’s success, she was “too humble for her own good”.
“She is one of the most genuine and selfless people you will ever meet,” she said.
“All the girls from the club will definitely be getting around her this weekend.
“I’m not going to swear but it is fantastic for her to have her first game at Marvel.” Meanwhile, Eliza Shannon will also realise her AFLW dream after playing two dominant seasons with St Mary’s — which have become a breeding ground for AFLW talent.
St Mary’s coach Jarred Ilett, 40, said when the Geelong native first arrived at the club in 2020, after fleeing Victoria’s Covid lockdown, she “didn’t realise how good she was”.
“She joined the team as a defender and once she got a few games under her belt her confidence exploded,” Ilett said.
“After that she quickly became one of the best defenders in the league.
“Her biggest strength was being able to read the ball in the air and being able to take those intercept marks.”
Ilett said St Mary’s’ success with AFLW draftees comes down to the club’s dedication to developing players’ key strengths.
“As a coach I have tried to create an environment where all the players understand what their strength is and we focus to develop that strength.”
Top End triumph? Game-on as AFLW stars set season seven alight
WITH season seven of AFLW beginning on August 25, Territory footy fans are waiting excitedly to see which Top End players are ready to take the competition by storm.
We profile all of the NT AFLW superstars and let you know where and when you can expect to catch them in action.
Danielle Ponter
Club: Adelaide
Star Adelaide forward Danielle Ponter started her footy career at St Mary’s FC before being drafted by the Crows in 2018.
The classy ball winner kicked thirteen goals in her first season with the Crows, including three in club’s Grand Final victory over Carlton in front of a 53,034 strong crowd.
Ponter went on to bring home a second flag in 2022 with the Crows who will be striving to defend the title in Season 7.
The Crows will take on Melbourne in a grand final rematch in Round One of the upcoming AFLW season.
Round One: Friday, August 26: Adelaide v Melbourne, Norwood Oval, 7.10pm ACST.
Jasmyn Hewett
Club: Adelaide
Hewett hasn’t had it easy since she was picked up by the Crows during the 2017 draft.
After a successful first season with Adelaide in 2018, the 184cm ruck injured her ankle in a 2019 trial game which left her sidelined for the entire season.
In 2020 the former St Marys star moved to the Gold Coast for its inaugural season after the Northern Territory zone changed from South Australia to Queensland.
Hewett then opted to sit out of the 2021 season due to work commitments and returned to the NTFLW competition in its 2020-21 summer season, playing in a premiership with Pint and taking out the Gwynne medal.
Finally Hewett returned home to West Lakes to don the Crows tricolours in 2022 where she took home her first AFLW premiership.
Round One: Friday, August 26: Adelaide v Melbourne, Norwood Oval, 7.10pm ACST.
Stevie-Lee Thompson
Club: Adelaide
Former Wanderers forward Stevie-Lee Thompson is one of Adelaide’s speed machines.
The 2016 No. 106 draft pick has helped lead the Crows to three premierships over six seasons.
Thompson played every game throughout her first three years at West Lakes as a defender before she moved into the forward 50 in 2019.
That year she won the league’s leading goal kicker award after kicking 14 goals.
Round One: Friday, August 26: Adelaide v Melbourne, Norwood Oval, 7.10pm ACST.
Ange Foley
Club: Port Adelaide
Crows dual premiership player and former vice-captain Angela Foley made the move to cross town rivals Port Adelaide during the off-season.
Foley joined Adelaide from Waratah Football Club in the inaugural year of the AFLW and was a dominate force in the side until she tore her anterior cruciate ligament during the 2021 Grand Final.
The defender missed the entirety of Season 6 instead taking on a game-day bench-communications role.
Having missed out on another Grand Final with the Crows, Foley will be hungry to capitalise on her first year with the Power.
Round One: Saturday, August 27: West Coast v Port Adelaide, Mineral Resources Park, 2.40pm AWST.
Ashanti Bush
Club: Gold Coast
Bush saw her AFLW debut in the 2022 AFLW season after being picked up by the Suns in the 2021 draft.
Bush played a handful of games for Hawthorn in the VFLW before moving up to the Gold Coast.
The former NT Thunder player has become a skilful forward known for her strong hands overhead and equally dangerous attack at ground level.
Round One: Saturday, August 27: North Melbourne v Gold Coast, Blundstone Arena, 12.40pm ACST.
Steph Williams
Club: Richmond
The talented small forward joined the Tigers in a draft season exchange with Geelong which saw yet-to-debut midfielder Ingrid Houtsma return home.
The proud Larrakia woman played her junior years with the Darwin Buffettes and was the first Indigenous player on Richmond’s AFLW list.
Known for her explosive speed and creativity, Williams will add a dynamic force to the Tigers side when they step out against her former team this Sunday.
Round One: Sunday, August 28: Geelong v Richmond, GMHBA Stadium, 3.40pm ACST.
Dom Carbone
Club: Hawthorn
After a stellar performance with the Darwin Buffettes in the 2021/22 TIO NTFLW season – which included a Grand Final victory – paired with two successful years with Hawthorn’s VFLW side Carbone has finally gotten the AFLW call up.
The Charles Darwin University student has proven herself to be one of Hawthorn’s most prolific ball-winners despite playing basketball throughout her junior years.
Carbone will be hoping to make her debut for the Hawks in a historic game against Essendon at Marvel Stadium.
Round One: Saturday, August 27: Essendon v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium, 6.40pm ACST.
Janet Baird
Club: Hawthorn
Baird is a household name for followers of the NTFLW after becoming the youngest player to win Best and Fairest in 2019.
The former Palmerston magpies forward was picked up by the Gold Coast Suns in 2021 and played two games in her first season.
Baird will make the move to the Hawks Nest for Season 7 where she will be hoping to add to her AFLW game tally.
Round One: Saturday, August 27: Essendon v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium, 6.40pm ACST.
Isabelle Porter
Club: Hawthorn
Former St Marys captain had a dominant season with Hawthorn in the VFLW where she racked up a season-high 29 possessions to go with nine marks and six tackles in round 12.
A player with high aerobic fitness who can run all day.
Reads the play superbly and is never afraid to take the game on with her athleticism and ability to present herself at contests.
Round One: Saturday, August 27: Essendon v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium, 6.40pm ACST.
Eliza Shannon
Club: Hawthorn
Shannon will feel right at home running out for Hawthorn with former St Marys teammate Isabelle Porter.
The Northern Territory played a key part in kickstarting the Geelong native’s football career. She first arrived in the Top End in October 2020 on a friend’s recommendation to escape Covid lockdowns, and after two years in the NTFL Hawthorn came calling.
The clever defender has played nine games in the VFLW in the brown and gold with impressive averages of 15.3 disposals, four marks and two tackles per game.
Round One: Saturday, August 27: Essendon v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium, 6.40pm ACST.
J’Noemi Anderson
Club: St Kilda
Anderson impressed in the 2021/2020 NTFL season, walking away with St Mary’s Women’s Premier League Best and Fairest.
The strong forward caught the eyes of St Kilda in the 2022 draft for her versatility across the field.
The Anderson family is no stranger to playing at the top level of the sport with three of J’Noemi’s older siblings having played in either the AFL or AFLW.
Anderson was the 21st player affiliated to the NT to be listed on an AFLW squad since the inaugural AFL Women’s Draft in 2016.
Round One: Saturday, August 27: Sydney v St Kilda, North Sydney Oval, 4.40pm ACST.
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