Karlson Kantilla’s centre square score reminiscent of Malcolm Blight’s 1976 heroics

A Tiwi teenager stunned with a 60m torpedo reminiscent of Malcolm Blight’s all-time great score to win against Carlton. Watch the goals side-by-side.

Tiwi Bombers teenager Karlson Kantilla stunned the NTFL with a massive torpedo, which for some brought back memories of Malcolm Blight’s 1976 torp for North Melbourne.

The Bombers have had a resurgence in the 2023-24 season, progressing from three successive wooden spoons to four NTFL wins, including one against league leaders St Mary’s.

An influx of youth has played a big part in the side’s uptick in form, including 19-year-old Kantilla, as well as fellow Rising Star nominees Damien Dunn and Thaddeus Puautjimi.

However, in Round 17 the side were down and out on the scoreboard against a relentless PINT, hunting their own slice of history of a first finals campaign.

Tiwi Bombers young gun Karlson Kantilla in action during the 2023/24 NTFL season. Picture: David Bradley

But early in the fourth quarter Kantilla gave his side the piece of magic they had been lacking, after deftly taking a mark from Puautjimi just outside the 50.

The teenager, who has filled in at ruck in his debut premier league season walked back a long way into the centre square before sizing up the sticks.

Despite a brief turn of the head to eye up an opponent, Kantilla didn’t break his stride, eventually booting the ball from the edge of the square, sending it barrelling through the sticks more than 60m away.

The Bombers all got around him after the massive effort, with former Western Bulldogs and GWS player Sam Darley the first to put his arms around the youngster.

Tiwi Bombers young gun Karlson Kantilla in action during the 2023/24 NTFL season. Picture: Celina Whan

The major sparked memories of Blight’s match winning 80m torpedo for North Melbourne against Carlton in 1976, which went through above post height.

The iconic moment at Princes Park has been etched into footy folklore and is still thought of highly by North Melbourne fans, who voted it the club’s best ever in 2020.

And while the circumstances were somewhat different, it is another weapon Kantilla has in his arsenal, which he will be hoping to use on bigger stages as he progresses in the football world.

The young gun will already be on Essendon’s radar after playing for their VFL side against a NTFL representative outfit last month.