Fifteen individuals and a successful representative team joins the AFLNT Hall Of Fame
The AFLNT’s Hall Of Fame was expanded by 15 individuals on Saturday including the father of a Hawthorn great and a Geelong premiership player. Also inducted was an NT representative team that included three Riolis, two Longs, two Motlops, a McLean, and a Wanganeen.
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The pride of Northern Territory football was on show at Darwin’s Mindil Beach Resort Casino on Saturday night when the fourth induction to the AFLNT’s Hall Of Fame was conducted.
The 15 new inductees included 12 footballers, administrators and ABC Radio Darwin’s Charlie King, the first person from the media to join the HOF.
The successful 1988 Bi-Centennial Carnival side was inducted into the team category.
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THE TERRITORY’S 50 GREATEST SPORTS STARS
MICHAEL GRAHAM
Former Sturt and St Mary’s footballer Michael Graham began his NT playing career in 1973.
A member of the AFLNT Team of the Century, Graham won the 1973/74 Nichols Medal, Territory football’s highest individual award in his first NTFL season.
CYRIL RIOLI JR
Cyril Rioli Jr played in a remarkable 13 NTFL Premier League premierships with St Mary’s between 1983/84 and 2003/04.
Rioli represented the NTFL eight times in Australia Day AFL Challenges and was part of the Bicentennial side. He shared the 1995-96 Nichols Medal with teammate Marty Christensen.
TERRY LEW FATT
St Marys champion Terry Lew Fatt joins his father Walter and brothers Benni and Gympie as Hall of Fame inductees.
Terry Lew Fatt played at NTFL Premier League level from 1952 until 1969, by which time he had played in seven premierships, including five as captain or captain/coach.
PETER ATKINSON
Peter Atkinson’s 40-year involvement with Territory football as a player, umpire, coach and administrator at club and national level has been recognised with his entry into the HOF.
Atkinson was a key advocate in convincing the league and its clubs to create additional underage competitions, which led to the formation of under-14 and U16 grades.
BENNY VIGONA
Brilliant St Marys footballer Benny Vigona is inducted into the 2019 AFLNT Hall of Fame after an outstanding playing career at NTFL and WAFL club and representative level
He played in St Mary’s 1977/78 and 1983/84 premiership sides and was selected in the AFLNT Team of the Century in 2016.
MATTHEW WHELAN
Former Darwin Buffalo and Melbourne Demon Matthew Whelan made his NTFL League debut in 1996/97 after an outstanding junior representative career.
Whelan played 150 games in a 10-year career in the dark blue and red jumper.
Whelan was named in the Darwin Buffaloes Team of the Century in 2017.
AARON DAVEY
Aaron Davey is living proof that there are many pathways to the AFL.
Davey joined his late father (Alwyn “Gunny” Davey) as a North Darwin/Palmerston NTFL Premiership player in 2001/02.
He was drafted by AFL club Melbourne Demons as a 2003 rookie and won the Keith “Bluey” Truscott Medal as their best and fairest player in 2009.
ALWYN DAVEY
Inductee Alwyn “Froggy” Davey joins his brother Aaron in the 2019 intake after a brilliant 100-game career at AFL Club Essendon.
Drafted by Essendon in 2006 Alwyn made his debut in 2007, winning the AFL Army Award for bravery and selflessness.
MATHEW STOKES
Mathew Stokes’ sporting passions included basketball and Australian football, with the oval shaped ball winning out in an NTFL Premier League debut at 14 years of age.
A two-time premiership player at Geelong, he played 189 games in the blue and white hoops and another 11 games at Essendon to finish his career as a 200-game player.
EDMUND JOHNSON
Tiwi islander Edmund Johnson was a foundation player with the St Marys Football Club when the club entered the competition in 1952/53.
Johnson played in 11 grand finals and won six premierships at St Marys, including the club’s first flag in 1954/55.
WILLIAM “NINNY” BRISTON
Ninny Briston was a champion of the Darwin Buffaloes and a multi NT representative player of the highest calibre.
Briston won the Nichols Medal in 1983/84, captained the Buffaloes to the 1988/89 flag and was a 10-time NT representative, including the Bicentennial Carnival wins in 1988.
ROY ARBON
Roy Arbon’s name is synonymous with Alice Springs football despite playing stints in the NTFL with the Nightcliff and Darwin juniors and 11 seasons at North Darwin.
He played and coached at Pioneer Football Club from 1978 until 2001 and was a member of their 1981, 1983 and 1985 premiership sides in addition to representing the CAFL.
RAY NORMAN
Ray Norman’s 70-year involvement with Territory football as a coach and administrator make him a worthy inductee into the AFLNT’s Hall Of Fame.
Norman was NTFL president in 1998/99 and 1999/00 during a tumultuous period for the game. His most public achievement was negotiating the administration contracts and establishment of Cazalys Palmerston in the late 90s.
BRIAN STANISLAUS
Eight-time St Mary’s premiership player, NTFL representative and goalkicking sensation Brian Stanislaus enters the Hall Of Fame.
An NTFL representative player on 14 occasions, he was a dual St Mary’s best and fairest player and the league’s goalkicking three times, booting 776 goals in 258 games.
1988 BI-CENTENNIAL CARNIVAL
The team was undefeated in three matches and won the Second Division Championship at the National Bicentennial Carnival, considered the most significant single triumph in the history of Territory sport.
Led by champion coach John Taylor, and captained by Maurice Rioli, the group proved the universal truth of that oldest of sporting adages – that a champion team will always beat a team of champions.
The team included a Long, a McLean, a Motlop, a Wanganeen and three Riolis. A
And they beat Tasmania and the VFA with Ron Barassis saying they were better than First Division side Western Australia.
CHARLIE KING
ABC Radio’s Charlie King OAM, is the first media person inducted into the Hall Of Fame.
King’s commentary on Australian football in the Territory and his work in developing and promoting women’s football have been first class
He founded the “No More” Campaign, leading to him being awarded the NT Human Rights Award and the Order of Australia Medal for services to the broadcast media and remote indigenous communities.
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