Nightcliff maintain tightest defence in the NTFL despite mid-season slump

A perennenial NTFL powerhouse may have gone six weeks without a win before Christmas, but they never lost belief, a key defender says.

Nightcliff may have gone six weeks without a win before Christmas but the Tigers never lost the belief it could turn the ship around, defender Simon Deery says.

While their attack has been diminished on last year – the most potent in Men’s Premier League in 2021-22 – after the loss of Liam Holt-Fitz, Kyle Emery and minimal contributions from Trent Melville and John Butcher, it has double downed on its stingy defence, especially in recent weeks.

Over the past four rounds, all wins, their average score conceded dropped from 55 to 46, as they climbed to fourth position.

Deery said it was difficult to pin down why the season had gone off track – it was rare in recent seasons for Nightcliff to lose multiple games in a row – but the squad had never lost belief it could turn things around.

The Tigers, currently fourth on the ladder, will take on fifth-placed Darwin Buffaloes today, with a win virtually assuring themselves of a finals spot.

Nightcliff defender Simon Deery kept Southern Districts forward Leigh Williams goalless in Round 14. Picture: Celina Whan / AFLNT Media.

He did, however, point to a lack of firepower compared to previous seasons, with Melville not seen since suffering a concussion in Round 3 against Palmerston.

“I guess it’s a natural thing to have highs and lows throughout a season,” Deery said, a former player in the VFL with Footscray Bulldogs and Williamstown.

“It was a bit of a shock.

“I wasn’t sure if it was two in a row, or three in a row, that we hadn’t lost in a number of years.

“It would have been easy to completely fall off the bandwagon.

“It wasn’t a nice place to be.

“(But) it was only going to take a matter of time ... for things to click again.

“We’ve always had full trust in our list.”

After a Round 11 loss to Waratah, capping off a six-week period without a win, the Tigers have taken the scalps of contenders Southern Districts and St Mary’s in successive weeks.

Ryan Nyhuis has had a brilliant year in defence for Nightcliff in 2022-23. Picture: AFLNT Media.

And despite its mid-season woes, Tigers remain the competition’s best defensive unit, conceding just 685 points for the year, clear of Southern Districts (776) in second place.

Alongside the likes of Nathan Brown, Luke Wines, Ben Vile and Ryan Nyhuis, Deery said the Tigers’ back six remained a “team within a team”.

“The backline has been really solid, it has been for a few years now,” he said.

“We’ve got some serious talent and some serious experience.

“It’s always been a team within a team down there.”

Deery was in particularly hot form against the Crocs in Round 14, keeping Leigh Williams goalless.

“We’ve strung some good wins together against some quality sides,” he said.

“I think the belief was always there.

“We knew (Districts) were the benchmark of the competition.

“We thought if we’re going to be serious about finals we’ve got to be serious now.”

Waratah skipper looking forward to a Darwin dry season

Courageous Waratah skipper Brodie Carroll is looking forward to a well-earned rest.

Playing his 11th season in a row, after stints in the WAFL (Peel Thunder), Katherine and regional Victoria (Tyntynder, Terang), Carroll admits he may have “cooked myself a bit”.

No doubt eyeing off a bye in Round 16 of Men’s Premier League, Carroll is pining for his first dry season in a long time.

“I’m pretty keen to get through this season and then I’ll have a good break,” Carroll said.

“I’ve actually done 11 seasons in a row now.

“I’ve kind of cooked myself a bit.”

Playing 12 MPL matches after a debut season with Peel Thunder in 2022, Carroll has been an influential force yet again for head coach Ryan Ayres at Gardens Oval.

Brodie Carroll has led the club for tackles again in season 2022-23. Picture: Celina Whan / AFLNT Media.

Renowned as a tackling machine, Carroll has led the club in 2022-23 (seventh in the league), while racking up impressive clearance (third at the club) and total disposal (fourth) numbers for the red and whites.

However, Carroll doesn’t quite see it that way.

“Personally I don’t think my form has been the best,” he said.

“Not as well as I’d like to be.

“I think the back-to-back seasons are catching up with me a bit.

“I guess I hold my standards pretty high.”

What has improved though, according to Carroll, is Waratah’s 22-23 model compared to last season’s which went down to St Mary’s in the grand final by 35 points.

The Warriors have been bolstered by big additions in the midfield (Scott Carlin, Ed Morris) and the forward line, with Darcy Hope fourth in the league with 23 goals.

“I definitely think we’re tracking better this year but we’ve still got a lot of work to do,” he said.

Wanderers players Mitchell Taylor and Ivana Schober with Waratah's Kierra Zerafa and Joel Crocker. Picture: Waratah Football Club.

“(The premiership is) definitely not going to be given to us this year. I think the comp has gotten that much better this year.

“Everyone’s on the same page and we’re hungry for that premiership.”

Carroll said he was expecting another strong finals campaign from the defending champions, Districts were the big improver while Nightcliff was a “dark horse” that had recaptured its best form.

Meanwhile, Carroll, a refrigeration mechanic, said today’s Foundation Cup clash against Wanderers remained a special event for the club, celebrating 106 years since the establishment of the NTFL.

Carroll and co will wear an Indigenous-designed guernsey by Waratah women’s player Sharona Bishop.

“When you put on that jumper it makes you want to play that little bit harder and bring home that cup to the club,” he said

Joel Crocker recovers from osteitis pubis

The future is uncertain for young Waratah star Joel Crocker but one thing remains clear: with a few new faces, his team is motivated to get revenge for last year’s grand final loss.

On the comeback trail from major injury which robbed him of a season with Southport in the VFL, the son of North Melbourne premiership player Darren returned to the Territory in December after spending most of the year on the Gold Coast.

Struggling with osteitis pubis, Crocker had missed the last three games of 2021-22 before returning for finals.

“I couldn’t run,” Crocker said of those missed games.

After losing the grand final to St Mary’s by 35 points, the injury flared up again after joining the Sharks for their 2022 campaign.

It came after the former North Melbourne VFL player had missed most of 2018 due to a syndesmosis injury.

Joel Crocker collected 33 touches against PINT in Round 13 of NTFL football. Picture: Tymunna Clements / AFLNTMedia

“It was very frustrating,” the 22-year-old said of his aborted season at Southport.

“At the same time there are blokes who have worse injuries than me and missed a lot more footy.

“My body’s feeling good at the moment which is a bonus.”

Crocker is unsure where he might head after the NTFL finals, but for now, he’s just enjoying being back on the park.

His return to Gardens Oval has been undeniably impressive, collecting 33 touches and 14 rebounds from defensive 50 against PINT in Round 13, on the back of 28 possessions against ladder leaders Southern Districts before the Christmas break.

However, Crocker’s return to the NT has not been without risk; told by Southport – where he completed about a month of pre-season – he may have relinquished his position.

“I really wanted to come up here,” Crocker said, who is also expecting Central Australian “gun” Abe Ankers to qualify for finals.

“I love living here.

“(They said) if you’re going to miss pre-season we can’t hold a spot on the list for you.

“I’m hoping if I continue to play all right here they’ll let me come back.”

Tiwi Bombers coach Brenton Toy and Waratah mentor Ryan Ayres with the Maurice Rioli Cup. Picture: Ben Cameron.

For now, Crocker is eyeing off the Tiwi Bombers in Round 14 as they battle it out for the coveted Maurice Rioli Cup: “It’s a really big game for both clubs.”

The cup honours not only one of the Territory’s greatest footy exports but the connection between both clubs, with a number of Tiwi players making their way to Gardens Oval to play NTFL.

Meanwhile, Crocker paid tribute to new recruits Darcy Hope, Scott Carlin and the “very crafty and skilful” Marcus Wattie as great additions to a strong core of MPL players.

He said last year’s grand final loss was rarely discussed but it still “does sting a little bit”.

“Hopefully it can help us to strive to go one more,” he said.

“It’s something we can turn into a positive.”