Former Carlton and Brisbane midfielder Mitch Robinson to play with Darwin Buffaloes
The 2022-23 NTFL season is shaping into an epic adventure, with AFL champions and state league stars poised to play in Top End teams. We bring you the big ins and outs for each club.
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The ex-AFL contingent heading north continues to grow with at least 10 former players set to contest Top End football in 2022-23.
Darwin Buffaloes announced on Thursday it had signed former Blue and Lion Mitch Robinson.
It comes as the Tiwi Bombers said on Tuesday former North Melbourne player Majak Daw had signed with the club.
He will play the Bombers’ first home game against PINT at Wurrumiyanga in Round 5.
On the club’s Facebook page, it reported Daw would also play the Round 6 match against Waratah in the Maurice Rioli Cup.
“We may look at another game in the new year for him as well,” a club spokesperson said.
Daw had played with North Heidelberg during the 2022 Northern Football League season.
Meanwhile, prolific Carlton and Adelaide goal kicker Eddie Betts has returned to the Palmerston Magpies after playing seven games last season, while dual premiership winner and Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett Junior will play for the Pies at TIO Stadium on November 18.
He will be joined by former Magpie junior and Cat teammate Mathew Stokes at Palmerston.
Former Cat and Pie Travis Varcoe also played his first game for Palmerston in Round 3, kicking a goal
Wanderers have announced that former Port Adelaide and Geelong forward Steven Motlop would play for the Eagles this season.
It comes after the his brother Shannon, coach of PINT, told SEN Top End that Steven would not be playing NTFL this season after initially committing to 2022-23 in some capacity.
Former Port player Hamish Hartlett has joined Nightcliff, while ex-Gold Coast Sun Harley Bennell has been snapped up by the Tiwi Bombers.
And former Adelaide Crows and Brisbane Lions player Cam Ellis-Yolmen played his first game for Southern Districts in Round 3 against Tahs.
It also recruited former West Adelaide midfielder Kaine Stevens, who recently won the McLeod Medal for the best player in the Sunraysia Football League for Ouyen United.
We’ve taken an early look at how all nine Men’s Premier League clubs are shaping up ahead of the season:
CHECK BELOW FOR THE CLUB BY CLUB BREAKDOWN
ST MARY’S
Coach: Anthony Vallejo
Captain: Nate Paredes
Last season: Premiers
Ins: Kyle Emery (Nightcliff)
Outs: Nigel Lockeyer Jr (SANFL)
St Mary’s NTFL title defence has been bolstered by the addition of one of the league’s top goal scorers.
Elite goal-kicker Kyle Emery is making the jump from Nightcliff Tigers, who he won a premiership with in the 2020-21 season, to reigning premiers St Mary’s.
Emery’s inclusion comes following his dominant forward combination with Saint’s Dennis Dunn top goal kicker award winner Jackson Calder for the Cairns City Lions.
The pair have played five games each for the current AFL Cairns league leaders and have absolutely dominated in front of goal with Calder kicking 33 goals while Emery has slotted 16.
They’ve also dominated the goal kicking stats over the past two seasons with Calder kicking 120 goals over the past two years, the most over the period.
Emery has placed second in the NTFL over that time kicking 92 goals.
St Mary’s coach Anthony Vallejo said the combination would be a dominant one upfront.
“He’s really good friends with Jackson Calder, they’re playing together in Cairns and are by all reports dominating,” Vallejo said.
“They’ve struck a bit of a relationship which seems to be working on and off the field and from there he contacted us on possibly playing at Saints.
“We had Nigel Lockyer Jr playing for as a key forward last year, but he’s obviously moved to Adelaide to play in the SANFL so we had a spot for another key forward.
“He’s someone who can take a mark, has a beautiful kick, is fit and can play in numerous positions so he will be a big in for us this year.”
Elsewhere, the Green Machine aren’t making too many alterations retaining the majority of their premiership winning side.
Josh Smithson, Lucas Jellyman-Turner and Aaron Heppell have been locked in as fly-in players, while Dylan Landt and Jake Toa have moved to the Top End for the season.
Nate Paredes will continue as captain after a successful first year in the role and mainstays Kieran Parnell, Shannon Rioli and Shaun Edwards are still in the squad.
Saints won’t be short of young guns either with Isaiah Baldock, Braith Hodges, Xavier Vallejo and Ethan Bowden all gunning for another year of experience.
“Pretty much all the same guys are coming back and the boys have all been very keen coming into pre-season,” Vallejo said.
“We want to go back to back. Losing two very close grand finals and then winning one after that has given the boys a real hunger for more success.
“We’ve settled into a pretty consistent side for a couple of years now and we’ve got some quality youth coming through so I think this group will have success for the next few years.”
WARATAH
Coach: Ryan Ayres
Last season: Second
Ins: Eddie Morris (Banks), Scott Carlin (Geelong VFL)
Eddie Morris is the first big in announced for last year’s grand finalists.
The NTFL Division 1 Mitch Lee Medal winner is set to bolster a squad hungry for another go at the title.
Plenty of Tahs big guns are also making a return, including elite defender Dan O’Dwyer, Dylan Collis and Tommy Cree.
Jayden Magro, the club’s number one goal kicker in 2021-22 with 39 majors from 16 games, said there was plenty of motivation for the team to go one better.
Magro, who returned from a stint with Tasmanian team Lauderdale in the NT around three weeks ago, said last season’s grand final loss was providing plenty of inspiration to improve.
“We’ve pretty hopeful we’ll get everyone back,” Magro said of the current squad.
“We had a pretty close knit group.
“(Losing the grand final) put a bit of fire in the belly, you’ve got to go one better.
“The boys are pretty keen about getting it done.”
Magro said he would benefit from a relatively big pre-season this year after arriving in the Top End a few days before round one in 2021-22.
“I wanted to get up here as early as I could,” he said.
“(Last year) I got up here on the Tuesday, trained the Wednesday and we played the Friday.”
NIGHTCLIFF
Coach: Chris Baksh
Captain: Ryan Nyhuis
Last season: Third
Ins: Daniel Jackson (Portland), Sam Overall (South Adelaide), James Gow (St Joseph’s).
Outs: Phil Wills (Palmerston), Liam Holt-Fitz (Palmerston), Kyle Emery (St Mary’s).
Missing the grand final after three successive premierships, the Tigers have established a new leadership group at Nightcliff Oval – Ryan Nyhuis skipper and Shaun Wilson his vice – in an overhaul which coach Chris Baksh says has “freshened” the squad.
The Tigers’ midfield will be bolstered further by Portland captain and “class” onballer Daniel Jackson, while Baksh has also singled out a few juniors, including Petros Politis, Phoenix Joe Pool and Adrian Scott, with the last two a chance of senior footy this year.
Chris Baksh in his own words:
“I reckon we’ll get four to five, class players coming in. We’ve got a couple of big names coming in.
“There will be a big change to our club.
“And we’ve bolstered our fly ins. John Butcher has recommitted which is awesome, he’s part of the furniture.
“He will play five to six like he does every year.
“Internally, we’re really excited about what we can bring, and if we can fast-track these young fellas.
“We’re tyring to get a top three finish but the competition is getting better, we realise that.
“We’ve got to work harder and smarter.
“Willsy has been great for club, it’s disappointing in one regard but I understand the opportunity.”
HARTLETT JOINS NIGHTCLIFF
Former Port Adelaide hard nut Hamish Hartlett is keen to play NTFL football alongside his former Power teammate Steven Motlop this season.
West Adelaide assistant coach Adam Hartlett, the brother of Hamish, told the NT News the 193-game veteran was set to play with Nightcliff last season alongside friend and former Power player John Butcher, before his signing with the Bloods for the 2022 SANFL season put that idea on the “backburner”.
The 32-year-old would play 15 games for Westies this season.
However, following the AFL retirement of Motlop, and his commitment to playing in the Top End in 2022-23, Hamish was keen to revisit the idea.
“He’s looking at heading up this year,” Adam said, who did a level three coaching course with Tigers coach Chris Baksh in 2022.
“Since he’s retired he’s wanted to see what it’s like to play up there, get that experience and tick it off.
“I’m sure he’ll tick that box this summer.”
However, his role as assistant coach at Port Adelaide’s AFLW team could “potentially” hinder his availability, Adam said.
He said Hamish had been in contact with the Tigers coach about a possible role.
“But Hamish is sort of waiting to see what Stevie Motlop’s going to do and who he’s going to play for up there,” he said.
“I think they’re pretty keen to play together ... (he) is pretty keen to make up his mind soon and get the ball rolling.”
It comes as Motlop returned to South Australia recently to think about where he would play, with family ties at both Wanderers and PINT.
“It’s purely driven by Steve and whoever reaches out to him,” Adam said of Hamish’s motivations.
“He obviously wants to play with a teammate, and that’s how the whole Nightcliff thing happened with Johnny Butcher.”
Baksh confirmed Butcher would play a handful of games with Nightcliff this season.
Adam said his brother was good mates with former Power and Western Bulldogs player Jackson Trengove but was unsure if he was making the move up north, as has been mentioned by several sources.
WANDERERS
Coach: Aaron Motlop
Captain: Braedon McLean and Mitchell Taylor
Last season: Fourth
Ins: Neil Vea Vea (SANFL/returning club junior), Tyrell Lui (Palmerston), Steven Motlop (Port Adelaide).
Outs: Jonas Niki (Buffaloes), Jai Jeffrey (Districts) Ronald Fejo Jr (Districts).
The Eagles welcome back WA goalkicker Ed Simpson, plus gun defender Brodie Newman and Dane McFarlane.
However, Wanderers may lose young defensive jet Lloyd Johnson who has attracted plenty of attention from AFL talent scouts.
Coach Aaron Motlop admits the club has a way to go to rebuild its public image following court proceedings against former vice-captain Simon Bates.
Aaron Motlop in his own words
“There’s a few guys we’re close to announcing at the moment.
“There are a few more fortunate clubs than us, in terms of money and resources ... all we can offer is the opportunity.
“We’ve had some really good turnouts at training at the moment, roughly 40 men and women training together, which has been really impressive.
“And a handful of juniors sprinkled in. They’re going to get their opportunity if they keep working hard.
“We’re really stoked (Simpson, Newman and McFarlane) have recommitted, they bring so much for us, on and off the field.
“I really want to build that club feeling back up.
“It’s taken a little bit of a hit, our club brand in the media, and in the community, we’ve got a lot of hard work to do, and build up that trust and respect again.
“I just want to create a really good vision and environment.
“There are some other guys who have played for us that haven’t told me they’re moving, I tend to find out through social media and a few other things which is quite disappointing.
“If they don’t enjoy the environment they can move on.
“I don’t want to keep anybody that’s not happy.”
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS
Coach: Shannon Rusca
Captain: Dean Staunton
Last season: Fifth
Ins: Ronald Fejo Jr (Wanderers), Jai Jeffrey (Wanderers), Matt Dennis (Palmerston), Cameron Ellis-Yolman (Woodville-West Torrens).
Outs: Josiah Farrer (Palmerston), Will Farrer (Palmerston), Jonathan Farrer (Palmerston).
Districts’ ruck stocks have been bolstered and then some by the arrival of Palmerston gun big man and captain Matt Dennis.
Despite only playing two games last season in the NTFL, Dennis is regarded as one of the premier rucks in the competition.
Returning Crocs coach Shannon Rusca said Dennis was a “huge signing” for the team and a “marquee” addition, after his usual tall Patrick Gallow suffered a bad ankle injury playing for Dimboola several weeks ago.
Gallow more than held his own in 2021-22, collecting the second highest number of hit outs, 298, behind only Darwin Buffaloes’ Ben Archard.
“Our ruckman (Gallow) has a long term injury, and we were deficient in that area,” Rusca said, who was also working on “two genuine jets” as fly ins.
“Matty Dennis has probably been the most elite ruckman, consistent player, over the last 10 years up here.
“Districts thought we needed somebody who could control and mentor our young kids.
“If you want to be competing against the better sides in Darwin you’ve got to have somebody that’s a key figure and a key ruckman.
“We don’t know how long (Gallow is) going to be out for.”
Dennis told the NT News it was a difficult decision to leave Palmerston but he needed a “refresh”.
He said the additions of the “running X Factor” of Fejo Jr and “excitement machine” Jeffrey would counter for the big losses of the Farrer brothers.
“We lost our two biggest names, one being the captain of my premiership side Will Farrer, and Josiah being one of the premier midfielders,” he said.
“That left a big hole in the Crocs outfit.
“(Fejo Jr and Jeffrey) bring excitement and youth, Ronnie needs no introduction, he was almost drafted.”
He also wanted to ensure his younger brigade’s development was handled carefully, ensuring his charges were “safe” at the level.
He expected contributions from Patrick Snell, Will Rowlands, Tom Demamiel, who had a “wonderful future”, plus the speed and excitement of Brodie Grace and versatile Taj Stanley.
“We’ll make sure they’re not thrown to the wolves,” he said.
“It’s culture before cups.
“We’re not winning premierships across every grade but we’re building better people, better communities.”
DARWIN BUFFALOES
Coach: Cameron Stokes
Last season: Sixth
Ins: Liam Holt-Fitz (Nightcliff), Dom Brew (Werribee/Nightcliff), Kaine Riley (Nightcliff), Kokwam Niki (Nightcliff).
Darwin Buffaloes will bolster its engine room and forward options with the addition of some key former Tigers, Liam Holt-Fitz and 2020-21 Nichols medallist Dom Brew.
Buffs coach Cameron Stokes said the club jumped at the opportunity to secure a “quality” performer in Brew who last played in the Top End for Nightcliff two years ago.
Brew averaged nearly 20 touches from 17 matches in 2022 with Werribee in the VFL where he was co-captain.
Stokes also said Holt-Fitz, who had relocated to Katherine, would bring an experienced small forward option the team needed.
He slotted 16 majors from 12 matches last season for Nightcliff.
The Buffs mentor, who is signed on until the end of next season, said he was slowly reassembling its core group while adding some extra elements.
“We see Fitzy as a proven small forward, we think he can add a lot to our group,” Stokes said.
“We need to add that experienced small forward to our group.
“(Brew is) a great fit for our footy club.
“That experience that he brings … that tough inside on baller we needed to add to our midfield group.
“We have some good runners on the outside … but we needed that extra element.”
Also back for 2022-23 is Ryan Pendlebury, brother of AFL champion Scott, who only played two NTFL games last season, star ruck Ben Archard who will return in a “restricted capacity”, Chris Atkinson, who missed last year due to a knee injury while Hassan Ahmat-Watkins is looking “super fit”, Stoke offered.
He also said young gun Cade Abala was fit and firing after an injury-plagued season with South Fremantle.
However, personnel aside, the main aim this season was achieving consistent competitiveness, after finishing sixth in 2021-22 with just four wins in a largely disappointing campaign.
“We didn’t play the brand of footy we’d like to,” Stokes said.
PALMERSTON
Coach: Josh Heath
Last season: Seventh
Ins: Ashton Hams (Tiwi), Phil Wills (Nightcliff), Josiah Farrer (Districts), Will Farrer (Districts), Jonathan Farrer (Districts), Gary Ablett Jr, Mathew Stokes, Josh Scott (Jervois).
Outs: Matt Dennis.
There is no doubt that Palmerston have been the big mover during the off-season.
The confirmed returns of Nicholls medallist Eric Guthrie and AFL legend Eddie Betts would have been enough to inspire hopes of a finals push for a side that has struggled in recent years.
But then you add the recruitment of proven performers, including premiership player and Nightcliff captain Phil Wills, multi-Dennis Dunn winner Will Farrer and ball magnets Ashton Ham, Josiah Farrer and Jonathan Farrer.
And in the final piece of the puzzle, Gary Ablett Junior is expected to play at least one game at Cazalys Arena.
Palmerston Magpies coach Josh Heath said the club had been busy over the off season.
“It’s been a really interesting off-season, we put a lot of work into building the club and we’re attracting these sort of players,” Heath said.
“They have leadership skills, they’ve won medals and trophies at their previous teams and it’s exciting for us to have these players bring their wealth of experience and knowledge along.
“Eric’s fantastic. He’s just a workhorse who gets the job done and leads by example and to have him back on board with us was just fantastic for the club.”
Another priority for Palmerston is capitalising on their strong junior base which in recent years has produced a number of guns including Alwyn Davey Jr, Jayden Davey, Clay Shadforth, Waylon Davey and Enrique Andrews.
“Another priority for us is really maintaining and developing that culture of junior development,” Heath said.
“There are a number of really exciting young kids who are coming through to our senior group and still playing under 18s at the same time.
“I’m hoping we can do a whole lot more talent ID and find another crop of them again for this year.”
TIWI BOMBERS
Coach: Brenton Toy
Last season: Eighth
Ins: Mason DeWit (played for Bombers in 2020-21), Sam De Sousa (NEAFL), Will Maddern, Jack Adamson (NEAFL), Louis Saccutelli, Harley Bennell, John and Stanley Tipiloura (Wanderers), Brian Gill (South Adelaide).
Outs: Ashton Hams (Palmerston)
After two tough seasons, the Tiwi Bombers will welcome the return of Brenton Toy for his third stint as head coach.
“Last time I came back I picked up the club in a similar position. They had two wins in the previous year and finished on the bottom of the ladder,” Toy said.
“We have a lot of work to do but I am hoping some of our key recruits will fill in some of the missing pieces.”
The Bombers have secured four, locally-based players for the upcoming season.
“To find this calibre of players based on the island is a huge win for us,” he said.
“All four of them will be a huge asset for the club on and off the field.”
PINT
Coach: Shannon Motlop
Last season: Making its Men’s Premier League debut this season.
After initially believing “100 per cent” former Geelong and Port Adelaide forward Steven Motlop was on board for season 2022-23, his older brother Shannon told SEN Top End this week the deal was off.
The club was reasonably confident it could snare him and “bring a few mates” along.
However, the older Motlop said his younger brother would not be playing with anybody this NTFL season, and he would require shoulder surgery, making him unavailable for much of the year.
“I’m glad that’s over, I’m sick of talking about Steven,” Motlop said with a laugh.
“At one point we 100 per cent had him to PINT.
“But he’s got some surgery on his shoulder to get done, that’s going to take up a lot of the season.
“He’s also looking at doing some travelling. Apparently he’s not playing for anyone.”
While his brother Daniel is expected to play some games in Division 1, Steven ultimately rejected all offers, including one from the club with the most family ties, Wanderers.
“As his brother, I left him alone,” Motlop said, wanting Steven to make his own decision and not have any regrets.
“I wanted all of him and him to be 100 per cent into it.
“I knew others would be in his ear and chasing him hard.”
Meanwhile, Motlop has been extremely tight-lipped at this stage about new players coming into the club, other than to say some boast VFL level experience
He says he is still forming a team, which has meant fly ins have not been strongly considered at this early stage.
Shannon Motlop in his own words:
“We’ve tried to recruit some of the guys who have played with us in the past.
“A lot of those guys coming from down south have played for us before.
“We've had about five sessions. I’m still getting to know the players.
“There’s been nothing from other clubs around the NTFL.
“A lot of the players are coming from state league level, we’ve got a guy from the Bulldogs (in the VFL).
“We’ve got a couple of VFL players, but they’re still not locked in.
“We’re not really rushed on the recruiting.
“It’s pretty hard at this stage.
“We hope those guys can take the next step up. It’s all question mark at the moment.
“This first year is going to be difficult, we hope it’s not going to bite us on the bum, it is what it is.”
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Originally published as Former Carlton and Brisbane midfielder Mitch Robinson to play with Darwin Buffaloes
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