Coach Chris Baksh reflects on seven year tenure at NTFL club Nightcliff Tigers

Outgoing Nightcliff Tigers coach Chris Baksh has shared his best memories from the club’s most successful era, which included three flags and plenty of champion players.

Three premierships and five Nichols Medal winners have underpinned an era of success for outgoing Nightcliff Tigers coach Chris Baksh.

After seven years at the Tigers, Baksh has stepped down as head coach, with former Tiwi Bombers premiership coach Leigh Crossman taking the reins.

Baksh came to the club in 2016 after leading PINT to two grand final appearances in what was then Division 1.

It was a period of great change for the Tigers who were pushing hard to throw off the tag of also-rans who hadn’t won a flag since 1965.

And with a swath of big game players including Phil Wills and Cam Ilett moving to the club around the same time, success was never going to be far away.

Baksh’s Tigers were minor premiers in 2018-2019 where they beat reigning premiers Southern Districts 8.13 (61) to 5.9 (39) and finally broke their 54-year flag drought.

Then club president, Mark Dodge with outgoing Coach Chris Baksh, playing assistant coach Cameron Ilett and former captain Phillip Wills after the side’s 20-21 Premiership. Picture: Che Chorley

Nightcliff’s diehard supporters had plenty more to celebrate in the years that followed with two more premierships coming their way, both in grand finals against St Mary’s.

The 2020-21 grand final will stick out in particular with many regarding it as the greatest NTFL match of all time as the Tigers trailed late in the fourth only to claw back to a draw at full time and win in extra time.

“The first one was amazing for the diehard supporters and sponsors, everyone has a story about it and to see the joy on so many faces is what I will remember most,” Baksh said.

“Then to back it up with the second was good for the club and the group because a lot of people think one flag is something you’ve bought but we maintained and successfully got that second.

“The third was probably even better when Saints had the upper hand in the final quarter and the quality of leaders and players shone through to take it — what a game to get three in a row.

“It’s amazing how many people across Australia bring it up, you don’t realise how many people follow the NTFL and it brings me plenty of joy when they mention it.”

Nightcliff coach Chris Baksh marshalls his troops against St Mary's in the 2022-23 NTFL season. Picture: Patch Clapp / AFLNT Media.

The recent Nightcliff era has also been marked by medal success with Ilett, Wills, Brodie Filo, Dom Brew and Daniel Bowles all winning the coveted best and fairest Nichols Medal.

Nathan Brown, Shaun Wilson and Liam Holt-Fitz, who won the 2018-19 Chaney Medal, also cemented their place in the club legend, as has former Fremantle Docker Ryan Nyhuis.

Meanwhile, Peter Politis won the 2022-23 Rising Star award in a nod to the club’s junior program, while Andy Moniz-Wakefield and Wade Derksen were both picked up in AFL Drafts.

Baksh hasn’t just been instrumental in the transformation of the men’s side but also the turnaround of the club as a whole with the women’s program coming on in leaps and bounds.

He helped bring Shannon Miller in to coach the women’s side which has since grown into a real force playing its first ever grand final in the 2021-22 season.

Now he’s moved to Cairns to coach the South Cairns Cutters but with his kids still Tigers juniors, the family will still be around the club for the upcoming season.

“I’m going to miss it, seven years as coach, I love the club and feel like I’ve become part of the furniture as it’s grown into a successful club,” Baksh said.

“There’s lots of great memories with the supporters, volunteers and everyone who helped me on my journey at the club and I’ve built some friendships for life there.

“We turned it into a destination club, people wanted to be there but also people wanted to stay which was key to our growth.

Chris Baksh coached the NTFL rep side upon its return in 2021. Picture: Che Chorley

“The highlights are mainly coaching good, well-respected players and then there’s the young players who have developed into senior mainstays such as Joel Budarick.

“The women’s side has gone from three or four players at training to a program that makes me so proud and is hopefully something we can work on.

“I’m incredibly humbled by what I’ve achieved but I worked hard on my coaching journey to get there and I’m proud of what I’ve done.”

Backsh’s success at club level also earned him the head coaching job when the NTFL representative side made its return in 2021 and again in 2022.

Getting the opportunity is one he was proud of, leading the scratch team to success against SANFL sides Glenelg and Woodville-West Torrens.

“It was great, I loved being involved and I know the NT born and bred guys love it and thrive on it,” he said.

“It’s a great concept for the team to showcase how good our league is and I was just proud to be a part of it now it has returned.”