Goal machine Darren Ewing makes good on his promise to reunite with the Tyrrell brothers at Banks
Darren Ewing to pull on the blue and white of the Banks Bulldogs in the 2020 NTFL season
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DARREN Ewing’s promise to reunite with the Tyrrell brothers at NTFL club Banks has been fulfilled.
The 33-year-old goalkicker turned down approaches from Premier League clubs St Mary’s and Nightcliff to resume an NTFL career that began at Palmerston in the late noughties.
Banks’ head of football Mark Tyrrell was Ewing’s coach at Palmerston in those days and the man responsible for playing him in front of goals.
“We knew ‘Boof’ was relocating back to Darwin from the cold in Victoria and that he was keen to have a kick up here again,’’ Tyrrell said.
“He knew the set up with Banks at Gardens Oval and told us he wouldn’t mind playing out of there with the result he’s now a Banks player.
“I think the more relaxed competition in Division One was what he was looking for without the expecttion and pressure of the Premier League.’’
Being based in COVID-19 affected Victoria cost Ewing a full season of football in 2020, only six months after kicking 102 goals for Warrnambool in the state’s Hampden League.
One of several frustrated footballers with an eye on playing in the Top End this season, Ewing’s value as a goalkicker for the NTFL Bulldogs will be immense.
He kicked 780 goals in nine seasons with Territory Thunder in the NEAFL when he won the club’s leading goalkicker award every year.
So will he kick a century for his new club and win a premiership medallion?
“The premiership will sort itself out,’’ Tyrrell said. “As for booting a ton this season, the shorter quarters and no time-on in Division One will hurt him.
“Plus there can be up to three minutes wasted between a goal being kicked and the ball being bounced in the centre again, which can add up to a whole quarter less than a Premier League game.
“But if anyone is going to kick 100 goals in Division One, it will be Darren Ewing.’’
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