St Mary’s gearing up for a big tilt at the flag after capturing the wooden spoon last season

ST MARY’S are used to breaking or equalling records in the 104-year-old NTFL competition

Raphael Clarke takes a one-handed mark against the Darwin Buffaloes. Picture: GLENN CAMPBELL

ST MARY’S are used to breaking or equalling records in the 104-year-old NTFL competition.

So it was no surprise to hear their coach Anthony Vallejo talking of redemption after the 32-time premier “won’’ their first wooden spoon last season.

Only five sides have won premierships after finishing last the previous season, Southern Districts achieving the feat under coach Michael McLean in 2007.

“Redemption is one of the key messages I’ve been preaching all season after finishing on the bottom of the ladder,’’ Vallejo said.

“We’re a proud club and we’ve got plenty of proud players who are very keen to earn the respect back we lost by finishing last.

“We’ve already ticked the first box by winning more games already than we did last season, finals football is the next box we want to tick and that’s almost locked in.’’

Vallejo is confident his best 22 has the incentive and hunger to give the premiership a shake.

“The hunger is definitely there,’’ he said. “Blokes like Shannon Rioli, who only played two or three games last season, have played every game this season and want more.

“The young kids we’ve played have been very good where Joseph Salmon and James Box have developed quickly.

“And we’ve been lucky with Shaun Edwards and Jake Long ending their AFL careers and coming back to us.’’

Vallejo wants to build a strong playing list in the manner Chris Baksh and Cameron Ilett have done with their coaching roles at Nightcliff.

“Like everyone else we want to finish top three and we’re on track to do that, even if Nightcliff is the flag favourite,’’ Vallejo said.

And in another plus, Raphael Clarke is expected to resume playing in the New Year after surgery to repair a fractured foot in November.