St Mary’s product Beau Tedcastle says he questioned his move to Victoria during Covid shutdowns

A promising St Mary’s forward and national draft chance has opened up on some incredibly hard days before his footy career began to blossom.

Stuck in his room in a Victorian boarding house last year, St Mary’s product Beau Tedcastle began to question whether he had made the right move.

The 18-year-old small forward had made some sacrifices to pursue his footballing dream down south until that point.

Not just the geographical move, but the fact he had to repeat Year 11 to get into St Patrick’s College.

So when Covid reared its head again in 2021 and Ballarat entered yet another lockdown, Tedcastle naturally became a little despondent.

“We were in lockdown for a fair bit so I was stuck in my room in the boarding house,” Tedcastle told the NT News.

“I was questioning myself for a long time, whether it was the right decision to move down there or not.

“I couldn’t do anything.

“(Back home) everyone else was still doing the normal life.

Beau Tedcastle played a “one off” match against Palmerston in Round 8. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

“I was questioning whether I should be down there or back home, I was struggling a fair bit mentally.”

Fortunately, the state slowly began to open up and the teenager was given a clear run to excel at footy in 2022.

Tedcastle, who won the Abala Medal in 2019-20 for the best Under 18 player in the NTFL, is one of five Territorians in the mix to be selected at the national draft on November 28, alongside Jayden and Alwyn Davey, Anthony Munkara and Lloyd Johnston.

Eventually selected for the Greater Western Victoria Rebels in the Under 18 state competition, Tedcastle was happy just to get a game.

But he quickly found form, slotting 19 goals from 11 games; a change in position after playing as a half back in a Rebels trial game.

In fact, it was Tedcastle’s second attempt at moving down south for school.

He battled through three terms of Year 7 at Melbourne Grammar as an 11-year-old – “I struggled a fair bit” – and eventually moved back to Darwin by year’s end.

Tedcastle bursts clear playing for St Patrick’s College. Picture: Jake Nowakowski.

The St Patrick’s opportunity came through a connection with Richmond premiership hero and former Saints junior Daniel Rioli, who also attended the school.

He has been a source of guidance in 2022 as Tedcastle’s career gathered pace: “I lent on him a fair bit this year.”

Meanwhile, with the national draft looming on Monday, Tedcastle said he was keeping himself busy with training, gym sessions, and working for a freight company supplying goods to remote communities.

“It’s a bit nerve-racking, I’m trying to keep as busy as possible,” he said.

“But you always think about it every now and then.”

Tedcastle said he had spoken to a number of AFL clubs, and was interviewed by the Gold Coast Suns over a month ago.

And Saints fans may have seen the last of Tedcastle in the green and yellow for now, after returning to Men’s Premier League for a “one off” game against a Palmerston side last Friday night containing Gary Ablett Jr (“That was very special, you don’t get that opportunity much”).

He has been instructed not to play in Round 9 this weekend by an undisclosed club, raising expectations he may get drafted.

“What will be will be,” he said of his approach to the big day.

“If I don’t get picked up in the draft I’ll still follow my dreams of playing AFL.

“Whatever it takes, if I have to move down south and go through the VFL or SANFL, I’m happy to take that path.”

The special bond between the Davey twins revealed

Former Essendon livewire and Palmerston product Alwyn Davey Sr has lifted the lid on the special bond between his twin sons on the eve of the national draft, set to turn the pair into red and black brothers in arms.

With the draft beginning on November 28, Alwyn Jr and Jayden have already nominated the Bombers under the father-son rule.

The 18-year-olds now face an anxious wait over coming days to see how and when Essendon will select them.

It comes a tick over three years after both made their Men’s Premier League debut for Palmerston against St Mary’s, with numbers one and two on their backs.

This week, their proud father has shed some light on the brotherly love, and competitiveness, between the two talented teens, who returned to Darwin over the past fortnight.

Alwyn Davey and his twin sons Alwyn Jr (right) and Jayden at Cazalys Oval. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

Recovering from an ACL tear back in March during a game of touch rugby (“rehab is going great”), Jayden was one of hundreds training with Gary Ablett Jr at Cazalys Arena last Thursday night, while Alwyn Jr impressed with both the Oakleigh Chargers and Vic Metro in 2022.

The pair, who packed their bags and moved to Melbourne to attend Xavier College four years ago, became even closer during the early days down south, acutely feeling the separation from family, Davey Sr told the NT News.

“They did struggle a bit with homesickness. The first year was always going to be hard for them,” he said.

“But they always had each other to look after each other.”

Early on, Davey Sr was honest with his boys, saying it was always going to be hard at the start, moving from the Top End to an often frigid Melbourne, but they had to stick to the task.

And if they pursued their education as strong as their footy dreams, he promised them there would be a “bigger prize in the end”.

“They knuckled down a bit and did all the hard yards,” he said.

“Their dream was always to play AFL.

“We’re super proud of how far the boys have come in the last four years.”

Davey Sr said he began to notice a gradual change though as time went on, as the boys formed friendships and became slowly accustomed to the Melbourne way of life.

The twins have been competitive from a very early age, their father says. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Suddenly, when the brothers did return to Darwin, they became bored after just a few weeks.

“They always say they want to go back to Melbourne, it’s boring in Darwin,” he said with a laugh.

“They’ve adjusted really well into the Melbourne lifestyle. It’s a great achievement.”

The former 100-game AFL player, known for his explosive turn of pace and electric six-pointers, said the closeness between the two was palpable.

“After one or two days they don’t see each other, they go up and hug each other and say: ‘I miss you’,” he said.

“They’ve got a really, really close bond, those two.

“We’re just super excited about what the future holds.”

While the love is strong between the duo, Davey Sr, who slotted 120 goals at Windy Hill, said they have always been competitive, ever since they fought over a footy as three-year-olds.

“Once one marks the ball the other gets upset, (saying) ‘do one more, do one more’,” Davey Sr said.

Davey Sr became famous for his blistering runs with ball in hand. Picture: File.

However, both would go on to develop differing attributes despite their inherent similarities and closeness.

Davey Sr said Jayden is more your flashy forward like his father, who loves to celebrate a goal and apply defensive pressure.

“He loves the glory,” he said with a laugh.

“He kicks the goals and celebrates them well.”

Alwyn Jr, however, is more of a half forward and midfielder type, with impressive decision making and disposal skills, who made his debut with Essendon’s VFL team in August against Werribee.

“It was a really special moment for me and the family,” he said.

“To see him running around with the Essendon colours (was great).”

While both always had the necessary talent and speed, Davey Sr said both have improved their endurance during the past four years in Melbourne.

With the boys growing up, in and around the Essendon change rooms, during their father’s career, and spending time at the James Hird Academy, they were almost destined for a career in red and black.

“It was just in our blood, once I played for Essendon,” he said.

“The boys love (the club) so much. There was always a close connection.”