Get the full rundown on all the NTFL sides ahead of round 1 of the 2021-22 Men’s Premier League
Waratah’s star signing, another exciting Sambono at Buffs and Palmerston’s new powerhouse midfielder. GET THE FULL NTFL RUNDOWN HERE.
SNARING star Casey midfielder James Munro will have major benefits for Waratah on and off the field in the 2021-22 NTFL season.
That was the opinion of delighted Warriors coach Ryan Ayres when asked about the big signing from the VFL ahead of Friday night’s season opener against Palmerston at Gardens Oval.
“He’s a massive get for us – a gun midfielder from Casey who averaged 21 touches last season,” Ayres said.
Munro has 140 games’ worth of VFL experience and was the Casey best-and-fairest award winner in 2019.
“He’s their vice-captain, but I haven’t given any thought to making him our captain,” Ayres said.
“He’ll just be happy to bring along his leadership.”
Ayres has had plenty of experienced heads participating in pre-season training sessions.
“We’ve got a strength and conditioning coach now who happens to be (Waratah star) Robbie Turnbull,” Ayres said.
“Robbie stayed up in Darwin over the off-season and he is a personal trainer.
“He’s made up some good fitness programs for the boys.”
One player who has particularly impressed during the pre-season has been co-captain Brodie Carroll.
“Brodie is still only 22 or 23. He’s been training the house down and has taken his fitness to another level,” Ayres said.
Ayres said his club’s connection with Katherine Camels is continuing to get stronger heading into the new NTFL season.
And outstanding midfielder Abrahman Ankers has re-committed.
“The Camels’ coach Tom Spence played a few games with us last season, as well as (Doug Kelly Medal winner) Cam Arnold,” Ayres said.
“Brodie Carroll and Brock Reynolds have been back down there this year.
“I haven’t spoken to (Camels star) Josh Carlin about playing for us this season, but he’s on our radar and he’s spoken to a few of our players down there. And we’ll get the same sort of commitment again from Abe Ankers this season.”
Meanwhile, powerhouse midfielder Michael Coombes can make the Magpies competitive again.
That is the opinion of new Palmerston coach Josh Heath, who cannot wait to see the positive impact Coombes will have on his club in the upcoming 2021-22 NTFL season.
The two won premierships together in great St Mary’s outfits, and their close friendship was all it took to entice the 24-year-old to join the black-and-whites from Darwin Buffaloes.
“It’s exciting to have Mikey with us, and he’ll add huge value to our midfield,” Heath said. “He brings a real strong family culture and work ethic.
“He’ll also show our juniors how to get better.
“We’ve had a young group in recent years with a huge turnover of players, which is why we want some continuity with guys sticking around.
“And we feel we’ll have that with some of our key players like (captain) Matt Dennis, Chris Williams, Eric Guthrie and Ryan Warfe re-committing.”
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THERE is another star forward by the name of Sambono coming through at Darwin Buffaloes and, like his older brother Adam, he is capable of doing magic things on the football field.
Watch out for Cassien Sambono at the Double Blues this season, ahead of their 2021-22 opening match against Tiwi at Gardens Oval on Saturday night. “Like (former Buffs star) Adam Sambono, Cassien has a small frame, but he’s so smart with the ball and also has a great kick on him,” Darwin captain Jarrod Stokes said of the talent who kicked 22 goals at under-18 level last season. The Buffaloes will also be bolstered by the return of Charlie Sharples, the former AFL draft prospect moving back to Darwin from Adelaide.
Stokes believes the time is now for his side to make a serious play at winning at NTFL flag.
“Our past two seasons have been underwhelming losing two elimination finals,” he said, with Shaun Ah Mat and Tim Eldrdge announced as his vice-captains, and stars Brodie Foster and Ben Archard recommitting.
“This side is starting to reach its peak with a few of us in our mid-20s.”
Stokes, the 2017-18 Chaney medallist after a heartbreaking one-point loss to Southern Districts in that season’s grand final, has been among the NTFL’s best midfielders in recent years.
“When you love this club so much, it’s not hard to get motivated,” he said.
Tiwi coach Greg McAdam believes Bombers fans will see a much better collective attitude in the side which surprisingly finished winless last season.
“We started our pre-season on July 29, so if I’m confident of anything it will be that this team will be able to run out the match on Saturday,” he said.
“We’ve been getting good numbers at training. It’s going to be a long road (rebuilding the team). But I’ve got a very good rapport with the committee at this club.”
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THIS won’t come as good news for opposing NTFL clubs, but Nightcliff has set itself up to enjoy a long period of success.
The three-time reigning premiers have no shortage of star local young guns coming through.
And that has brought great joy to coach Chris Baksh ahead of the Tigers’ grand final rematch against St Mary’s at TIO Stadium on Saturday night.
“We’ve got young fellas like Christos Gikas and Jamie Jones coming through, and young Kieran Mu has been training the house down,” Baksh said.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for them to develop this season, and Ryan Mu has become a leader.
“We believe his younger brother Kieran can be a leader at this club, too.”
And then there is Andy Moniz-Wakefield, six times in the Tigers’ best with 10 goals in 12 appearances last season.
Moniz-Wakefield will participate in the 2021 AFL Draft Combine on October 9.
“Andy really stood up for us last season,” Baksh said.
“He worked hard for his spot and he’s very coachable.
“Under pressure he’s very clean with the ball, and very composed.”
With so many players at the Tigers competing for Premier League spots, Baksh said the secret to maintaining such high standards was keeping his mentoring approach simple.
“We stick to the basics and I like to empower the group – I make sure they’re all enjoying their footy,” he said.
“We’ve got so many great players, volunteers and coaches at this club and they all strive to help each other.”
Baksh could not ask for better on-field leaders in Phillip Wills (captain) and Cameron Ilett (playing-assistant coach).
“Those two guys are always on the track early, which is why they always play so well,” Baksh said.
“They’re such professionals, which makes them so good to coach.
“I’m also very lucky to have guys like Shaun Wilson and Ryan Nyhuis in our leadership group.”
Baksh has liked what he has seen during gruelling pre-season training sessions, with the Tigers now aiming for what would be an incredible fourth-straight flag.
“Pre-season has been really good, and from the past three grand finals we’ve had 14 players who’ve played in all three wins,” he said.
“It’s looking like we’ll hang onto most of, if not all, those players.”
Sam Harper of Eaglehawk in the Bendigo Football League – standing at 193cm – has been a good addition to the strong core of Darwin-based players at Tigerland for the 2021-22 campaign.
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HE kicked a stunning nine goals for Rovers in their 51-point win over West in the 2021 CAFL Grand Final, and now Nigel Lockyer Jr cannot wait to run out for one of the top teams in the NTFL, St Mary’s.
This is the latest move in his bid to keep his AFL dream alive after picking up a spot on Essendon’s roster during the Pre-Season Supplemental Selection Period for the 2020 AFL competition.
He was ultimately pipped for a contract, but he has continued to improve since that experience. This year, Lockyer Jr also booted 15 goals in five games for North Adelaide in the SANFL Reserves, and Rovers coach Damien Hall said he was good enough to play in the AFL after his big night out in the CAFL grand final. Lockyer Jr – formerly a star with Palmerston – will be in a strong Saints side alongside Rovers teammate Tyson Woods – for the eagerly-anticipated grand final rematch against Nightcliff at TIO Stadium on Saturday night.
“There’s a good culture at Saints and I wanted to come across and give it a go playing for them,” he said.
“(Saints star) Shaun Edwards played with Rovers last year which got me to Saints.
“One-hundred per cent I’m looking forward to playing alongside Jackson Calder and Tyson (in Saints’ forward line) in what will be Tyson’s first NTFL season.
“Tyson is so dangerous in the forward line and he also brings a lot of pressure.”
Lockyer Jr was far from overawed by Hall’s comments after the CAFL grand final.
“That gave me a lot of confidence hearing that from our coach,” Lockyer Jr said.
“That (playing in the AFL) is what I’m aiming to do.
“I trained well before the grand final, so I was confident and ready for the game going in.
“I’ll enjoy playing for Saints, and I’m looking forward to playing alongside (new captain) Nate Paredes and (vice captain) Kieren Parnell.”
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THERE is a quality and quantity at Southern Districts pre-season training sessions which Crocodiles star Josiah Farrer has not seen in a long time.
Which is why he believes his team is set to improve this season after missing out on finals action in its 2020-21 NTFL campaign, Farrer’s outfit set to take on Wanderers at TIO Stadium in round 1 action on Saturday night.
“It’s the most numbers I’ve seen at pre-season in my time at the club,” Farrer said.
And the quality and intensity of those sessions has been so high that the players won’t forget the effect they had on their bodies any time soon
“Having (former respected NRL trainer) Billy Johnstone on hand has improved everyone’s fitness, and the boys can now run for longer periods,” Farrer said.
“Some have had to spew afterwards.
“(Coach) Matt Cannard had this planned, and he pulled out a big card getting Johnstone to the club.”
Crocs captain Dean Staunton has led by example during these gruelling sessions.
“Deano has been head and shoulders above the rest with the way he’s been going,” Farrer said.
“He’s had a really big pre-season and he’s ready to fly out of the blocks.”
Farrer is also ready to start the season strongly after helping Katherine South to a grand-final victory over Katherine Camels on September 18.
The Crocs veteran is back to full fitness after overcoming hamstring and finger injuries.
He added he was hopeful his brother and star forward Will Farrer would re-commit to the club after there has been plenty of talk he was set to join PINT at Division 1 level.
And Brodie Lake will also join the Crocs’ squad soon after starring for Peel Thunder in the WAFL.
Meanwhile, new Wanderers coach Aaron Motlop has also been impressed with pre-season training sessions at the Muk Muks, saying senior leaders Brenton Motlop and Braedon McLean have led the way.
REPLAY: Districts stun Waratah in chaotic last term comeback
Southern Districts trailed for much of the match, but snatched victory late against a skilful Waratah on the back of a tremendous second half surge. Watch the full match REPLAY.
REPLAY: Tigers send message against faltering Saints
The Nightcliff Tigers made a big statement of their own as they grabbed a taste of grand final revenge and condemned Saints to a fourth straight loss. Watch the full match REPLAY.