Inside midfielder Dominic Brew joins Nightcliff Tigers for 2020-21 NTFL season from Werribee

NIGHTCLIFF has bolstered its already talent-laden midfield, but the club is not listening to all the outside noise that it is loaded with money and this is how it attracts star Victorian players.That was the message from coach Chris Baksh after tough Werribee inside onballer Dom Brew touched down in Darwin last night.

Dominic Brew (pictured playing for Werribee Tigers) competes for possession with Coburg’s Marcus Lenten during a Round 18 VFL clash at Piranha Park on August 4, 2018. Brew arrived in Darwin last night and is a big signing at Nightcliff for the upcoming 2020-21 NTFL season. Picture: DARRIAN TRAYNOR/GETTY IMAGES

NIGHTCLIFF has bolstered its already talent-laden midfield, but the club is not listening to outside noise that it is loaded with money and this is how it attracts star Victorian players.

That was the message from coach Chris Baksh after tough Werribee VFL inside onballer Dom Brew touched down in Darwin last night.

With joint 2019-20 Nichols Medal-winning midfielder Brodie Filo also set to arrive in the Top End from Victoria on the back of the Tigers signing tall forward Tom Boyd, as revealed by the NT News – who is a fellow Werribee representative – the Nightcliff roster is taking shape nicely for the 2020-21 NTFL season.

Brew – with a background in mixed martial arts – played 20 games for Werribee in the VFL last year, finishing in his team’s best eight times and kicking nine goals.

The attacking and defensive powerhouse came up with a whopping 17 tackles against Box Hill in Round 19, and 19 against the Hawks again in Week 1 of the finals three weeks later.

He has played a total of 48 games for Werribee at VFL level.

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“Dom is a good inside midfielder and he brings a lot to the table for us,” Baksh told the NT News.

“Having him will allow us to give our more experienced guys like Cam Ilett and Phillip Wills a bit of a break at times.

“He's (tough) like James Tsitas.”

Tsitas has had a highly impressive season with Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL, regularly finishing his games with over 20 disposals.

Nightcliff has held discussions on getting the former VFL star with Geelong back up to Darwin for its upcoming NTFL campaign, which begins with a Round 1 grand-final rematch against St Mary’s on October 3.

Baksh told the NT News recently Tsitas’ return would depend on the COVID situation in Victoria after the SANFL season finishes, given he runs a business in his home state.

“James is still in Adelaide playing in the SANFL, so we’re weighing that up, and it depends on his work situation,” Baksh said.

“Brodie is on his way up as we speak, and Zac Brain is coming back too.

“(Chaney Medallist for the 2019-20 Grand Final) Trent Melville will come up after his season finishes (with Tea Tree Gully in the Adelaide Football League).

“Danny Butcher will be back up for Round 3, and John Butcher will be our only fly-in player.

“(Katherine Camels star) Joel Budarick has been doing really well at training, as has Matt Bricknell and Koko Niki.”

Nightcliff’s joint 2019-20 NTFL Nichols Medal winner Brodie Filo is set to begin his mandatory two-week COVID quarantine, then he will join his teammates before the 2020-21 season begins. Picture: KATRINA BRIDGEFORD

As for the torrent of advice the Nightcliff club has received on social media regarding its so-called recruitment of southern-based stars with monetary incentives, Baksh shrugged it off with a succinct reply.

“I’d love to see a salary cap put in so we could prove a point,” he said with a laugh.

“We just worry about what’s happening inside our bubble and what we’re doing, and we have a strong good-bloke policy.”

A report circulated on social media on Sunday night that the Tigers were talking to former Docker Cam McCarthy in an effort to sign him for the 2020-21 season.

But Baksh denied that was the case.

“The first I heard about that was on social media,” he said.

And Tigers playing-assistant coach Cameron Ilett said a social media report that VFL star and Port Melbourne’s 2018 best-and-fairest Mack Rivett had signed at Tigerland was not officially confirmed by the club.

“Mack has a good mate in our Division 1 or 2 team, but to be honest I’m not sure it (the signing) is official,” he said.