Darwin Buffettes star Molly Althouse says there’ll be added meaning for her taking on her SANFL club Glenelg Tigers at TIO

IT’S fair to say Saturday’s women’s representative fixture between NTFL Buffaloes and Glenelg has added meaning for Molly Althouse.Althouse, just 18 and a star in the ruck for Darwin Buffettes, also plays for the Tigers in the SANFL Women’s League.

Buffettes star Molly Althouse cannot wait to take on Glenelg at TIO Stadium on Saturday. The star 18-year-old ruck plays for the Tigers in the SANFL Women’s League. Picture: Glenn Campbell

IT’S fair to say Saturday’s women’s representative fixture between NTFL Buffaloes and Glenelg has added meaning for Molly Althouse.

Althouse, just 18 and a star in the ruck for Darwin Buffettes, also plays for the Tigers in the SANFL Women’s League.

“I’m very excited about it and a bit nervous,” she told the NT News.

“It definitely has added meaning for me. Their backline is very strong and Jessica Bates is a great player.”

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Althouse – who was a student at Immanuel College in Adelaide – can further her ambitions on playing in the AFLW with a strong performance at TIO Stadium on Saturday.

“That's my ultimate goal, definitely,” she said.

“There are a few of us younger players at Darwin Buffettes (with bright futures) and it’s great to play alongside Dom Carbone (who will play for NTFL today) and Ashanti Bush.

“Learning off Tania Dhu on how to be better in the ruck has been great.

“That’s been one of the highlights of my season.

“Just watching how she positions herself and how she uses her body strength are things I take note of.

“I always try to get my teammates involved in games.”

It was this attitude which saw Althouse not take a backward step when she made her Premier League debut last NTFL season.

“My teammates at Buffettes are so supportive and offer plenty of encouragement which really helped me,” she said.

Molly’s mother and Buffettes assistant coach Natalie Althouse is delighted with the crop of young guns coming through.

The Buffettes are the two-time reigning champions at under-18 level.

And the club’s senior women’s team is currently third, with 10 wins and two losses.

“We can always improve, but we’ve got a really strong side,” Natalie Althouse said.

“PINT is the team to beat, but we only lost to them by two points and the girls played an excellent game.

“We’ve got so many good players in our side from the under-18s.

“Molly is still eligible to play under-18s, and there’s also Ashanti Bush, Talia Corrie, Anju Goninon and Dom Carbone.”