Growing relationship between NTFL and St Patrick’s College, Ballarat brings band of footballers to Darwin

A huge Ballarat-injection of talent into the NTFL this season can be tied back to one school’s remarkable long-distance love affair with Darwin. Read the remarkable story.

At first glance, the cities of Darwin and Ballarat may not seem to have much in common.

Similar in population, the two cities are 3000km apart and their variance in climate is arguably even greater.

Yet it is through football and education that the two cities are forming a unique attachment. Something of a long distance (and now long-term) love affair is really starting to blossom.

In the 2023-24 NTFL season a massive influx of Ballarat footballers is set to take the competition by storm.

There are, at latest count, at least 19 players in the current men’s premier league who have strong Ballarat links, with most of them coming from the one school - St Patrick’s College.

Both Waratah and Southern Districts, in particular, this season have incredibly strong connections with the likes of Will Clark, Toby Hutt, Scott Carlin, Arnold Kirby, Matthew Johnston, Jordyn Cotter and Jake McQueen all having once attended the same all-boy’s Catholic school in the goldfields city.

Scott Carlin has been a standout for Waratah over the past couple of seasons. Picture: Glenn Campbell

A renowned football centre famous for providing players such as Danny Frawley, Mick McGuane and Drew Petrie, St Pat’s has, in the past 20 years, forged close ties with Darwin and the Northern Territory through an innovative Indigenous education program which has won acclaim throughout the country.

As a day and boarding school, the college implemented the program in the mid-2000s as a way of providing first class education for Indigenous boys from the Territory who would be invited to spend years learning while living in the school’s boarding facilities.

“While football was never the reason behind the introduction of the program, the synergy between the football cultures in each city was always going to be strong,” St Patrick’s College director of football Howard Clark said.

“As such we were fortunate to have the likes of Daniel Rioli, Jake Neade and Dom Barry all come down from the NT to live and learn at St Patrick’s while they were fortunate to have great access to the education and programs we provided - one of which was our football program.”

It was never just a one-way street though. St Patrick’s College was adamant that if it was to welcome boys from the NT to Ballarat, then it too should make a concerted effort to take its boys to Darwin.

Jake McQueen has been a consistent performer for Southern Districts across recent seasons. Picture: Celina Whan / AFLNT Media

“We were learning so much by having the Indigenous boys involved in our footy program and we knew those lessons would be amplified further if we could take our Ballarat boys to the NT on a regular basis too,” Mr Clark said.

“At the time a former student of the college, Tony Frawley, was heading up AFLNT so we were able to work closely together to work on a regular, structured program which would benefit the boys in both cities.

“So now, every three years at Easter, we arrange a football tour of the NT where we bring about 60 of our top footballers to Darwin for two weeks where we will play games against teams from the Northern Territory, while also visiting the Tiwi Islands and Katherine and expose our students to all the great experiences and lessons they can only learn by being there in person.”

It seems that experience has left a lasting impression with many of the ex-Ballarat boys now playing in the NTFL, having been part of school trips there in the past.

“It is so rewarding to see so many ex-students of the College return to the NT this year as it shows that the trips we organised for them have really had an impact on their lives,” Mr Clark said.

“Not only that but they are encouraging other Ballarat footballers who they have played with a club level or with the Greater Western Victorian Rebels to also play in the NTFL and so we are seeing a lot of players from Ballarat who may not have come to St Pat’s, also making the journey north.

Stanley Tipiloura is a Territorian who completed his schooling in Ballarat. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“And then there are the players such as Beau Tedcastle and Stanley Tipiloura, who are originally from the NT, but who came to complete their schooling in Ballarat who are now back playing as well.

“It means the connections between Darwin and Ballarat are as strong as ever and we hope it only continues to strengthen.”

A further example of the ongoing bonds between the two cities will play out in Melbourne on Sunday, November 12 when the St Patrick’s College 1st XVIII football team will play an invitational game against the All Australian Clontarf Side at the AIA Vitality centre (also known as Collingwood’s training ground) following the Clontarf National football carnival from Nov 9 - Nov 11.

LIST OF NTFL PLAYERS WITH BALLARAT CONNECTIONS

(players in bold attended St Patrick’s College)

Will Clark (Waratahs)

Lachlan Cassidy (Waratahs)

Toby Hutt (Waratahs)

Samuel Kenna (Waratahs)

Scott Carlin (Waratahs)

Arnold Kirby (Waratahs)

Matthew Johnston (Southern Districts)

Jordan Johnston (Southern Districts)

Jordyn Cotter (Southern Districts)

Jake McQueen (Southern Districts)

Blake Souter (Southern Districts)

Tex Korewha (St Mary’s)

Beau Tedcastle (St Mary’s)

Jacob Brown (Tiwi Bombers)

Stanley Tipiloura (Tiwi Bombers)

Tanna Blackney-Noter (Tiwi Bombers)

Aiden Domic (Wanderers)

Jesse Marshall (Wanderers)

Rory Taggert (PINT)