Business as usual for St Mary’s despite week off NTFL action for rep footy

ST MARY’S Anthony Vallejo insists it is business as usual this week for his finals bound squad despite not taking to the field again until the following weekend

St Mary's goalkicker Jackson Calder has impressed coach Anthony Vallejo in the 2020-21 season. Picture: Felicity Elliott/NTFL Media

ST MARY’S Anthony Vallejo insists it is business as usual this week for his finals bound squad despite having a week off of NTFL action.

With no NTFL action this weekend due to the NTFL representative game against visiting side Glenelg the Saints will next take to the field against Southern Districts on January 30 with regular training a squad runout to take place.

The Green Machine has carried good form through the middle section of the 2020-21 season with seven wins in a row before losing in a rainy top of the table affair to Nightcliff Tigers.

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“There’s the bye weekend now but it’s business as usual for us with normal training and then we will have a runout on Saturday morning,” Vallejo told the NT News.

It was a pretty good game against Nightcliff played at a high standard despite the conditions and will set the scene for us going forward.

“Either side could have snatched the win at the end there. But you learn more from losses than winning games and we will take plenty from that one.

“We’ve been blessed with good players this season and have had a good run in recent rounds though I expect to see the competition ramp up as we near finals.”

Vallejo has been impressed with his whole squad and despite some niggling injury concerns feels they’re nearing what could become their full side with Jackson Paine and Jackson Geary set to return.

The Saints coach is particularly excited to see his side’s standouts Shaun Edwards, Nathaniel Paredes, Dylan Landt and Kieran Parnell play a part in the representative side after being named in the initial squad.

Forward Jackson Calder has been another to impress Vallejo this season while young gun Beau Tedcastle has shown his ambitions of one day making the AFL.

“We have four players involved in the rep side so we will go down and watch them after our runout,” Vallejo said.

“Hopefully all four make it into the squad as it’s a great accomplishment and a great honour to play for the rep team and St Mary’s players have a strong history of doing well in these squads.

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“Personally I’m pretty excited to see rep footy return, it was always one of the highlights of the year next to Saints in the grand final and I hope the community get behind it again.”