Darwin Buffettes young guns Talia Corrie and Kiera Kurnoth reflect on their brilliant 2020-21 NTFL seasons before finals v St Mary’s
IF you’re a Buffettes supporter, it would not be unrealistic for you to think your team could consistently push for NTFL titles over the next decade. Talia Corrie and Kiera Kurnoth are part of Darwin’s young crop starring in the Premier League, and both reflect on their respective seasons.
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IF you’re a Darwin Buffettes supporter, it would not be unrealistic for you to think your team could consistently push for NTFL titles over the next decade.
The young talent coming through in the team has coaches and senior players at the double-blues highly excited at the side’s long-term future.
Talia Corrie, Kiera Kurnoth, Ashanti Bush, Molly Althouse and Dom Carbone are just a handful of under-18 girls’ premiership winners who are now impressing at Premier League level.
Darwin Buffettes star Ashanti Bush and Dominique Carbone train and impress at AFLW Hawthorn Hawks
While there’s been plenty of hype surrounding Carbone, Bush and Althouse, who are all genuine chances at being picked up by AFLW clubs, Corrie and Kurnoth have also excelled at the highest level of Territory football.
And they will once again be important cogs in the Buffettes’ machine for its qualifying final against St Mary’s at TIO Stadium this Saturday.
Darwin won the last clash between the two teams by 18 points back in Round 10.
“Talia off half-back gives us great run, with a beautiful kick and mark,” Buffettes assistant coach Natalie Althouse told the NT News.
“And Kiera’s there at every contest putting her body on the line.
“They have been solid for us this season.
“They were both in the top eight of our best-and-fairest count.
“I’ve coached these girls since they were in the under-15s and I believe they could have been playing Premier League last year, or even the year before that.”
Corrie also starred in the halves for Sistaz’s NRL NT premiership-winning team last year.
If that isn’t enough, she also plays for Eagles and Darwin Dingoes in respective DBA Division 1 and 2 competitions.
“I’ve been pretty happy with my season, with it being my first in the Premier League,” Corrie, 18 and a former Casuarina Senior College student, said.
“I love how hard Kiera is at the ball.”
Corrie said playing in the NRLW was a dream of hers.
“It was an awesome experience (winning the NRL NT competition with Sistaz last year),” she said.
“All the girls were so welcoming towards me.
“Playing in the NRLW would be a dream come true.”
Kurnoth also plays with Sistaz in the junior ranks, and she has brought that rugby league physicality over to football.
“I look up to someone like Dom Carbone – the way she attacks the ball and her skills. She’s got it all,” Kurnoth said.
“I think this has been one of my best seasons and my teammates have really helped me.
“It’s been fast and physical for me in the Premier League, but I love that.
“I’m pretty pumped to play Saints – it’s always a good contest against them and they’ve got great midfielders.”
Like Buffettes, Kurnoth has an exciting future.
“I’ll be looking to play at rep level for Thunder after this season, then try to play for a VFLW club in the winter,” she said.
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