Newcomb has signed young Northern Territory representative Oliver Poulson

A Northern Territory junior representative is hoping to shake off an injured-riddled season in the Top End and push for Round 1 with a BFNL team.

Waratah junior Oliver Poulson, during his junior days, will play for Newcomb this BFNL season. Picture: Supplied.

A young Territorian who hails from a Top End powerhouse is hoping to put a string of injuries behind him as he eyes off a Round 1 debut in the BFNL with Newcomb.

Oliver Poulson was lured to the Power by local footballer Josh Saltalamacchia, with the pair playing together with iconic NT club, Waratah in the 2024-25 Premier League.

The former St Albans player has jetted north to the Top End for the past four NTFL seasons.

Poulson, 19, who will also study sports science and sports management at Deakin University, told this masthead the ball started rolling in late January about a potential move to Grinter Reserve.

“I knew (Saltalamacchia) was from Geelong, I just talked to him one day, (he was) pretty keen to get me down,” Poulson said.

Northern Territory junior representative Oliver Poulson (left) will play for Newcomb this BFNL season. Picture: Supplied.

“I’m looking to slot in as an extra mid and forward (at Newcomb).

“I’m injured at the moment so we’re hoping I’ll be right for Round 1.”

Restricted to just five games with Waratah after suffering a concussion playing rugby with the Nightcliff Dragons, Poulson didn’t get onto the park until Round 13 with Tahs’ reserves.

Re-injuring an ankle late in the season, Poulson received positive news following a scan and is eyeing a Round 1 debut.

Power coach Tony Mirabella was delighted to snare Poulson, while adding Tom Williams from Stawell and Joe Clarke from Hepburn as Mitch Eyres and Mason Andrews return from injury.

Poulson, who won Waratah’s under-18 best and fairest last season playing purely as a midfielder in 23-24, is looking for continuity this year with the Power and hopes to one day land on a VFL list.

“I’m just hoping to get on the track, stay on the track, perform well, just get my feet set in the team, and in the future VFL is definitely a goal, probably,” he said.

“At the moment it’s just get myself set in the team, get myself playing some good footy.”

Playing three senior games with Waratah earlier this year in a wing and half forward role, Poulson thanked the likes of Joel Crocker, Scott Carlin and Dylan Collis for helping him adjust to Premier League standard, after making his division one debut at just 15 and named in the best players against Wanderers, in December 2021.

It won’t be Poulson’s first footy experience in Victoria, having played two games apiece with the Oakleigh Chargers and the NT in the Coates Talent League in 2024.

It comes after Poulson had a particularly strong 2023 season — named in the Territory’s best in all of its three matches at the under-16 national championships against Tasmania and the Brisbane and GWS academies.

Oliver Poulson was best on ground in Waratah's under-14 grand final. Picture: Supplied.

Poulson joins a Newcomb team which won just two games last year but put in competitive performances against some of the top BFNL teams, especially early in the season, running eventual premier Torquay to 11 points in Round 2, and preliminary finalists Drysdale by just eight points two rounds later.

The Power have also picked up Dion Johnstone and Judd Smith from St Mary’s, plus Jaycob Dingwall (Rochester) and Caleb Morrissy (Leopold) while Andrew Steele has departed the club.

Poulson began his junior career at powerhouse St Mary’s before crossing to Tahs.

Originally published as Newcomb has signed young Northern Territory representative Oliver Poulson