Coaching career on hold for Aaron Motlop as he plays out another season with Wanderers

ANOTHER Motlop is poised to enter the NTFL coaching ranks with Wanderers premiership player and Chaney medallist Aaron Motlop eyeing a senior role

Wanderers' Aaron Motlop gets boot to ball. Picture: Keri Megelus

ANOTHER Motlop is poised to enter the NTFL coaching ranks with Wanderers premiership player and Chaney medallist Aaron Motlop eyeing a senior role.

His dad Mark, uncles Mo and Paul and cousin Shannon have all coached at league level with Wanderers, Nightcliff and the Buffaloes.

But Aaron’s move into the role will have to wait for another year despite a vacancy created at the Darwin Buffaloes following the departure of previous incumbent Matt Campbell.

$1 for first 28 days: Why sports fans should subscribe

Motlop is keen to coach at senior level after taking charge of underage sides at Wanderers, but a promise to the club to play a final season in a blue and gold jumper has delayed the move.

Campbell has spoken to former North Adelaide teammate Motlop on kickstarting his coaching career at the Buffaloes.

“I will go into coaching eventually, it’s something I want to do, but I’ve already committed to another year of playing at Wanderers,’’ Motlop said last night.

The 34-year-old’s absence from the list of applications for the Buffaloes job opens the door for assistants Richard Russell and Bill Feeney to make the step up to full-time coach.

MORE TOP NT STORIES

Darryl White backs AFL games in the NT

Darwin’s NTFL competition remains focused on an October start

Touch footy competitions ready to kick off again

Northern Territory can host AFL matches with fans from June 5

Territory legend calls on AFL to restart season in Darwin

Motlop will reassess his ambitions at the end of the 2020-21 NTFL season while reaffirming his intention to coach as a way of staying involved in footy.

“I’ve been blessed by playing under a series of good coaches in the NTFL, down south with North Adelaide and at NEAFL level with NT Thunder,’’ he said.

“Hopefully I can pass on some knowledge gained from those experiences to the next generation of Territory footballers.’’

“I’ll look at the landscape next year (20-21) after playing another season at Wanderers and hopefully give myself the best opportunity to really learn the art of coaching and everything that goes with it.

“So basically, I’ll see what opportunities are there, what clubs are looking for a senior coach and how far I can go with them.’’