Darwin the place to be for Victoria’s footy players

Victorian footballers are flocking to Darwin for the Northern Territory Football League season. We list the players — and speak to a VFL young gun in quarantine.

Luca Goonan of the Stingrays is tackled by Riley Baldi of the Power during a NAB league match last year.

Victorian footballers are flocking to Darwin for the Northern Territory Football League season starting next month.

There are dozens doing their 14-day quarantine stint at the Howard Springs Quarantine Facility — a 30-minute drive from Darwin airport.

They escaped Melbourne’s lockdown, taking the four-and-a-half hour flight so they can be ready for season kick-off on October 2.

A raft of players from the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League will slot into NTFL sides.

Mt Eliza players Tom Small, Michael West, Elliot Simmons, Will Hollands, Aaron Foss, Sam Mourney, Killian Doyle and Bailey Cole will make the Top End their home for the next six months.

Robbie Turnbull (left).

Nathan Scagliarini (left).

Sorrento recruit Robbie Turnbull will play with Waratah, while Frankston Dolphin Nathan Scagliarini and Box Hill Hawk Mason DeWit arrived in Darwin on Monday and will play with Tiwi Bombers.

Casey Demons VFL player Luca Goonan completes his two-week quarantine stint on Friday, and can’t wait.

He and his mate Jeremy Burton, from Mt Eliza, will play with reigning back-to-back premiers Nightcliff.

“I went there (Nightcliff) because I knew they’re a big club and they’d be able to look after me — and they’ve done more than that, they’ve been unbelievable,’’ Goonan said.

Luca Goonan catches up on some study in quarantine.

“They’ve given me and Jeremy a car to drive around in. And they’re looking for jobs for us and made us feel very welcome.’’

Nightcliff was looking for a strong, ball-winning midfielder and Goonan fitted the bill.

The 19-year-old left his job as a teacher’s aide in Melbourne to grab the opportunity to play football in Darwin.

“The day the (Victorian) Premier said the borders are shutting I almost said, ‘stuff this I’m going to jump in the car and drive up’ — without a plan or anything. Obviously I didn’t do that,’’ he said.

“As soon as I thought about coming up to Darwin to play footy I said, ‘yep, I’m doing it a hundred per cent. I’m going all in here’.’’

Luca Goonan playing for the Dandenong Stingrays last season.

Goonan said the trip to Darwin was “a seriously long day’’, with a long flight followed by a long bus trip, but he’s made the most of his stint in quarantine by completing some uni projects, staying fit, working on his tan and making new friends — from a distance.

“Even in quarantine I’ve met a bunch of people,’’ he said.

“You are next to people — you’ve got this deck and you see them on the other side — and we’re great mates now, we know everything about each other. We’ll be catching up definitely once we get out.’’

Goonan and Burton will live in an apartment in downtown Darwin close to everything.

Nightcliff faces St Mary’s under lights in a blockbuster season-opener on October 3.

“There are so many Victorians coming up, it’s going to be a seriously good comp I reckon,’’ Goonan said.

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