NTFL Rep side ready to take on Woodville-West Torrens challenge
All the men’s and women’s sides named for the NTFL rep team action against Woodville-West Torrens. Find out how to watch all the action live.
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NTFL rep captain Braedon McLean will follow in his uncle’s footsteps when he runs out as captain of the NT representative side against Woodville-West Torrens.
The Wanderers skippers called it a surprise and honour when he was named the Territory captain, a position previously held by his uncle Michael.
“It was a bit of a surprise to be named captain but a massive honour,” McLean said.
“I grew up in the Territory watching my uncles play in the ochre, white and black. Just seeing that growing up and now following in my uncle’s who was also captain is a massive honour.”
Now he’s geared up and ready to lead out a squad eager to show the SANFL champions and the rest of Australia the talent in the Top End.
He will be joined by vice captains Jarrod Stokes and Shaun Wilson with proven NTFL performers such as Jackson Calder, Brodie Newman and Jayden Magro.
And though they’re coming up against a proven side including former AFL players and even a hint of Territory flavour in Dane McFarlane, who played for Wanderers last season.
“Talent has never been a question up here, it has just been a matter of opportunity. With this team we have an opportunity to show our talent every year against some of the best in Australia,” McLean said.
“They’re a really competitive and physical outfit with plenty of experience but we will be looking to match that.”
Coach Chris Baksh coached the NTFL rep squad to victory over Glenelg in 2021 and was proud to once again take the top job.
“It has been a really good group. They’ve gelled really well together and are just excited when they’ve come in leaving their club colours at the door and really united,” Baksh said.
“We’ve got a chance to showcase the NTFL’s best players and showcase to the rest of Australia how good our competition is.”
BACK TO BACK SANFL CHAMPIONS TO HIT TIO STADIUM
Back-to-back SANFL champions Woodville-West Torrens will hit TIO Stadium on Saturday with a far different looking team to the championship-winning 22 from last October.
Eagles coach Jade Sheedy told the NT News a mixture of injury, retirements, temporary departures and Covid had drastically changed the shape of the Oval Avenue outfit this early in 2022.
Only premiership players Jake Comitogianni, Kai Pudney, Luke Beecken, Sam Rowland, Rory Lehmann, Troy Menzel and Riley Knight will make the trip to Darwin to take on the NTFL’s representative team.
However, keen NTFL followers will recognise Dane McFarlane from his time at Wanderers Football Club.
Last season’s Magarey Medal winner James Tsitas, who won a premiership at Nightcliff before crossing to Southern Districts, will miss Saturday’s clash as he chases a place on the Gold Coast Suns list while the super versatile Jack Hayes does the same at St Kilda.
Meanwhile, premiership players Angus Poole, Ben Jungfer, Patrick Giuffreda and Jake von Bertouch have left the club while Daniel Menzel, Clay Cameron, Kobe Mutch, Joe Sinor, Jack Firns, Jesse Lonergan and Luke Thompson will miss through injury or Covid.
“The side is pretty mixed,” Sheedy said.
“Some good old senior players in there, some experience, and some players who are in their early to mid-20s and some kids as well.
“We’ve been hampered a little bit with injuries but also Covid’s played its part in it.
“With injury and Covid we’ve probably got, out of our best side, a dozen players (out).
“But that’s OK, we’re fielding the best possible team we can.”
The fresh faces are either new recruits, emerging juniors or reserves players.
Former Brisbane forward Connor Ballenden was recruited to cover the loss of the mercurial Tyson Stengle to Geelong, who looked a class above most weeks in the SANFL last season.
“It makes for a pretty potent forward line we think,” Sheedy said.
The Eagles also pulled off a decent coup during the off season, signing reliable West Adelaide defender Mitch Duvall.
However, Sheedy said the game would make for further “education and development” for his younger charges and to learn his game plan earlier than normal.
“(It will) fast track them feeling more a part of the club as well,” he said.
He highlighted 17-year-old Adam D’Aloia as a youngster to watch who would play on the ball at TIO.
“He’s touted to go pretty high in the (national) draft, he’s pretty exciting,” he said of D’Aloia, best on ground in the Eagles’ Under 18 premiership last year and state Under 17 captain.
The 200cm Jordan Lukac would also play as a key forward while emerging defender Beecken “looks to take his game to another level”.
Sheedy, who last came to Darwin as a Sturt player against NT Thunder in 2010, said the conditions will “definitely test us”, including the humidity and a slippery ball.
“It’s a pretty big advantage to the home side but I’m sure we’ll adjust to it,” he said.
“Taking the footy one take will be our challenge.”
TERRITORY WOMEN TO SHOW TALENT
THE best of the Territory’s men and women players will face off against Woodville-West Torrens in what promises to be a big weekend of Territory footy.
The women’s side will kick off at 4pm on Saturday against a dangerous Eagles side containing players such as Centralian Jordann Hickey and former Adelaide Crow Renee Forth.
But the NT side coached by Jarred Ilett will be no slouches with a host of Territory talent with a mix of experience and youth.
“We’ve got a pretty exciting squad but our balance of speed and strength is going to be one of our strengths,” Ilett said.
“But also in our experience mixed with our young talent, that’s what I’m looking forward to seeing some our juniors who are leading the competition shine on the big stage.”
Among the side is plenty of emerging talent such as 2020-22 Rising Star winner J’Noemi Anderson and Grace Whittaker.
Beyond the juniors there is plenty of skilled players from across the competition including Molly Althouse of Darwin Buffaloes and co-captains Lisa Robertson and Bella Clarke.
“It’s a privilege, I was lucky enough to be involved last year and it’s amazing to be here again,” Roberts said.
“The best bit is seeing all the NTFL club supporters come along and support you as one team, it’s just the best.
“The girls that you normally have to size up, to be able to train alongside them the intensity is lifted, the skills and the experience are also lifted. It just makes you want to be better.”
Southern Districts captain Bella Clarke said it was a dream to get the chance to represent the NT.
“Representing the NT is something you just dream as someone who was born and bred in the NT” Clarke said.
“The opportunity to play alongside some of the best talent in the NT is something you really dream of and getting to captain alongside Robbo is amazing.”
Both the men’s and women’s games will be streamed live and exclusive at ntnews.com.au.
The women’s match will be live from 4pm and the men’s match will take off straight after at TIO Stadium from 6.30pm.
UPDATE:
SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens has dropped its full squads for its women’s and men’s clash with the NTFL representative teams now also named.
MEN’S SIDES:
NTFL REP TEAM:
Forwards: Liam Holtz-Fitz, Jackson Calder, Jayden Magro
Half Forwards: Abraham Ankers, Trent Melville, Shaun Wilson (vc)
Centreline: Lachlan Taylor, Nate Paredes, Jarrod Stokes (vc)
Half Backs: Michael Bowden, Brodie Newman, Mitchell Taylor
Backs: Braedon McLean (c), Ryan Nyhuis, Daniel Bowles
Followers: Ben Archard, Brodie Filo, Dylan Landt
Interchange: Nick Yarran, Jake McQueen, Paddy Gallow, Eric Guthrie, Lloyd Johnston, Jake Bowd
Emergencies: Beau Schwarze, Frazer Driscoll, Jack Kluske, Jason Bowen
WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS
Forwards: Jake Comitogianni (3), Troy Menzel (22), Mitchell Mead (26)
Half Forwards: Riley Knight (7), Connor Ballenden (10), Zane Williams (30)
Centreline: Kai Pudney (37), Lachlan Hoile (48), Connor McLeod (43)
Half Backs: Mishai Wollogorang (13), Mitch Duval (20), Luke Beecken (18)
Backs: Sam Rowland (24), Rory Lehmann (42), Max Litster (51)
Followers: Seb Guilhaus (29), Adam D’Aloia (28), Dane McFarlane (9)
Interchange: Sam Nicholls (4), Jack Wheare (12), Charlie Adams (19), Jordan Lukac (25), Ryan Bruce (32), Zac Buck (8)
WOMEN’S SIDES:
NTFL REP TEAM:
Forwards: Lisa Miceli, Mickayla Ward, Grace Whittaker
Half Forwards: Aggie Singh, Hillary Grubb, Isabelle Porter
Centreline: Dijmila Totham, Lisa Robers (c), Eliza Morrison
Half Backs: BellaClarke (c), Jemma Iacono, Eliza Shannon
Backs: Isabella Rapson, Ciaralii Parnell, Sophie Hatzismalis
Interchange: Amy Chittick, Molly Althouse, Tikesa Docherty-Cole, Freda Wosomo, Annabel Kievit, Madison Harris
Emergencies: Emily Casey, Tabitha May, Tayla Hart-Aluni, Jacinta Reid
WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS:
Forwards: Cher Waters (20), Jordan Hickey (16), Grace Martin (7)
Half Forwards: Astrid Gooley (36), McKenzie Dowrick (23), Natasha Holmes (40)
Centreline: Amie Blanden (12), Ella Little (41), Sophie Zuill (24)
Half Backs: Brianna Hyde (17), Nikita McRostie (25), Shineah Goody (34)
Backs: Renee Forth (27), Zahn Anthony (28), Charlotte Dolan (8)
Followers: Brooklyn Kraft (33), Jovanka Zecevic (3), Annie Falkenberg (14)
Interchange: Ashley Baker (44), Sophie Whitewell (42), Megan Andresen (15), Brittany Spooner (31), Neave Delaney (21), Marlie Fiegert (30)
EIGHT WOODVILLE PLAYERS TO WATCH IN THE NTFL REP GAME
Representative football returns to the Territory this weekend and NT News has the latest on who will hit the park at TIO Stadium.
The Northern Territory Football League’s men’s and women’s representative teams will take on SANFL heavyweight Woodville-West Torrens on Saturday.
News Corp will exclusively live stream the action from the representative fixtures from 4pm (ACST) on Saturday.
While the Territory has named two strong squads for the clashes, little has been known about the Eagles’ teams, until now.
Woodville-West Torrens, whose men’s team claimed the 2021 SANFL premiership in a 67-point flogging of Glenelg, has leaked eight names for Territory fans to keep an eye out for ahead of its full squad being named later in the week.
RILEY KNIGHT
There will be plenty of eyes on Knight at TIO Stadium and expectations are he will be in the thick of the action.
The former Adelaide Crow racked up 55 games at the top level, notching 37 goals in the process. He returned to the SANFL club in 2021 and made an instant impact.
Playing through the midfield, Knight was one of the leading possession getters in the competition with 450 disposals from 18 games.
As a result, the 25-year-old was selected in the SANFL Team of the Year and will be pushing his case for a return to the AFL ranks.
TROY MENZEL
The former Blues and Crows forward joined the Eagles in 2021 from Central District with his brother Daniel, a former Swan and Cat, in a move which put many noses out of joint at Elizabeth Oval.
However, the switch paid off with Menzel slotting three majors in the premiership decider. The number 11 pick in the 2011 national draft helped shape a potent forward line during the season – with the likes of his brother, Geelong recruit Tyson Stengle and Jake von Bertouch – kicking 24 goals from 14 games.
CONNOR BALLENDEN
The former Brisbane Lion is a recent arrival at the Eagles having made the move for the 2022 season.
Ballenden spent four seasons at Brisbane where he played three games at AFL level.
But more recently he won Brisbane’s VFL best and fairest.
The 200cm key position player has shown the ability to play at either end of the ground and will provide a key target in the front half.
ADAM D’ALOIA
The teenager, who could be a 2022 AFL national draft fancy, made his name in the Eagles’ Under 18 grand final win last year, taking home the Alan Stewart Medal for a best on ground performance with 29 touches, eight clearances and a goal.
He also averaged 25 disposals across 10 games in 2021.
The inside midfielder, an AFL Academy member, also captained South Australia at Under 17s level in 2021 and played three reserves matches during the SANFL season, averaging 16.7 disposals a game.
RENEE FORTH
The 2019 AFLW premiership-winning midfielder joined the Eagles full time this year after playing 12 matches at various times while on Adelaide’s list.
Expected to provide plenty of leadership for a young squad and known for her versatility, Forth is keen to rekindle her AFLW career in 2023 when four new clubs enter the competition, including Port Adelaide.
One of GWS’ inaugural marquee players, Eagles coach Narelle Smith said the WA product would bring a “wealth of experience and has a great football IQ”.
ELLA LITTLE
Little joins the Eagles after a strong 2021 season where she dominated the SA Country Championships for Murray South East — named the player of the tournament, best under 21 player and centre half back in the championship’s best-of team.
She also won a flag with Morphetville Park in the SAAFL.
SHINEAH GOODY
A young gun who looks to be developing into a future star. Goody her SANFLW debut in the 2021 season at the age of just 16 and never once looked out of place.
And with 138 disposals from 11 matches, she was named in the SANFLW Team of the Year. Goody takes the game on with her run and carry and tackles as hard as anyone.
JORDANN HICKEY
A familiar name in the NT, Hickey originally hails from Alice Springs.
She was the first Centralian to be selected in the AFLW draft, chosen at pick 31 by Melbourne in the 2018 draft. The smart forward was snapped up by the Demons after stellar performances for NT Thunder in the VFLW.
In 2020, she was signed by the Gold Coast Suns where she would play nine games.
Now with the Eagles, Hickey will be relishing the opportunity to show her skill in front of Territory crowds.
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