Nightcliff captain Phillip Wills says the passion to improve at Tigers is as strong as ever, as it attempts an NTFL three-peat in 2020-21
SPECIAL FEATURE: Nightcliff captain Phillip Wills on why his team will once again be hard to beat as it attempts to win a third consecutive NTFL flag
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THE reason why inspirational Nightcliff captain Phillip Wills believes his team can record a historic NTFL premiership three-peat this upcoming season is simply because the bond among his squad is as strong as it has ever been.
And the strength of that bond is clearly evident in every discipline – simple or difficult – which Tigers players carry out during their gruelling pre-season training sessions at Dripstone Middle School.
Everyone at Tigerland is clear in the knowledge that all opposition teams will be plotting their downfall, starting when St Mary’s face the two-time defending champions in a blockbuster 2019-20 grand final rematch in Round 1 at TIO Stadium on October 3.
And that’s fine with Wills because his teammates’ collective preparation for the home-and-away season will have been meticulous by then.
“Everyone is coming for us. We know that, but individually and as a team we want to go as high as we can and stick to it,” Wills told the NT News.
“Whether it’s jogging as groups, bringing everyone in for a drink and jogging over as a team, little things like that.
“Or getting ready for training with handballs in lines in your groups, and after training recovering really well together.
“Everyone has their own abilities, but it’s about just trying to push to your potential and just work as hard as you can.
“And bringing people with you.
“The pre-season is as it should be – hard.
“But we’re getting through it and encouraging each other, so it’s good.”
What pleases Wills is that it is no longer about the likes of him and fellow veteran team leaders Cameron Ilett, Brodie Filo, Trent Melville and Nathan Brown who are tasked with leading the way after every sprint or drill during the pre-season.
Ryan Mu, still just 21 but now an established livewire at the Tigers, has taken it upon himself to summon his teammates to continue fronting up for that extra effort needed.
“You have young Mu – Ryan and his younger brother (Nathan),” Wills said.
“He’s getting the boys in at training when we’re regrouping, and then talking it up.
“That’s his role now to start stepping up as well. He brings energy which is good to have, and the young fellas all bring a great eagerness.
“It’s deadly.”
The young Tiger brigade – now nipping at the heels of the experienced club legends mentioned above – is a continually-growing group of highly talented players ready to take their opportunities in the 2020-21 campaign.
“Andy Moniz Wakefield has been good, with his brother Graham,” Wills said.
“Christos Gikas played last season with us in A-grade, and he’s looking pretty good as well.”
They are among the many youngsters who hang off every word from Wills at training.
And why wouldn’t they?
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Yes, the 33-year-old is a two-time NTFL premiership winner at Nightcliff since crossing over from Darwin Buffaloes for the 2017-18 season.
But he’s also been through hell on the injury front. The way he has matured from those setbacks means he has valuable wisdom to pass down to the Tigers’ younger generation.
“I’ve torn my left and right adductor a year and a half apart, and I did my knee,” Wills said.
“So I think those setbacks always give you the mindset to come back and be better.
“People always think ‘he’s injured, he’s not going to be the same’. But I like to think I can come back better and stronger.
“When you have that mindset you can go out there and be better.
“It’s good to be able to give back and have the boys respect you enough to listen and take that all on. They text you asking what they should be doing, which is awesome.”
Now, Wills says he is feeling fresh both mentally and physically.
No off-season football this year means he is embracing every exhausting pre-season task.
“I’m ready to go. It’s the first time in a long time I gave my body a rest. I love to work hard, so I’ve been getting the hard work back in again,” Wills said.
“So I’m really looking forward to this season now.
“Just getting some extra training sessions under the belt. And as you get older you get smarter as well.
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“So I know not to push when I don’t need to push. If my body is sore I’m not going to smash myself and tear my groins off the bone again.”
You would think Wills and his teammates sat back and enjoyed the spoils of their thrilling 13-point win over Saints in the 2019-20 grand final back on March 14.
But nothing comes easy in the NTFL. Indeed, the celebrations of a second consecutive flag were very much enjoyed at Tigerland.
However, soon afterwards it was straight back to work. That is because the players had to start preparing to get flogged on the training track for this pre-season, readying themselves to be the hunted champions once again.
“Getting ready for a pre-season is like getting ready for a game. To get the most out of pre-season you need to prepare for it like a game,” Wills said.
“So you can smash yourself, and so when the game comes you know you’ve got that extra effort in you.
“You cross your Ts and dot your Is, as the saying goes.
“You know you’ve got the money in the bank to go out and smash it.”
Talking a good game is one thing. Following up with actions is another.
But Wills – who spoke with a genuine passion for improvement – strongly believes his team will be ready to defend its crown for a third time come the new season in October.
“I just think everyone has still got the hunger there,” he said.
“You can see it in their eyes and on the track now when you have to push an extra 400m. “They’re not giving up. Everyone’s there to push hard and you can see the hunger.
“The guys are getting to training early and doing the little things right. That’s there. You wouldn’t be doing this unless you’re hungry and you love the game.
“I think everyone here really loves the game and they prepare strongly. When you have that purpose you’ll try to do your best every time.”
That collective purpose to continually set high standards is certainly not lost on Wills and the leadership group, with Territory football champion Ilett, 35, regularly leading the way.
“We (Tigers veteran) have still got a love for the game and we’re all so hungry,” Wills said.
“That comes with that passion and purpose to strive every training. We love it.
“Judging how Cammy’s always looking and training – he’s 35 and he’s up the front.
“That just comes down to his professionalism and his commitment and his consistency over the years.
“If he’s not playing a game he’s going for a hard run once a week, or doing that kind of hard stuff.
“He’s always conditioned to withhold that load when he’s ready to go.”
While a few mentally-crushing injuries actually helped mature Wills into the respected leader he is today, everyone develops differently.
And Wills has noticed some positive character changes in two-time Nichols Medal winner Filo, who will return to be part of a strong and intimidating roster once again in 2020-21.
“Most of them (star players from last season) will be back up. Brodie is really keen to come back, and he’s really matured as a leader on the field,” Wills said.
“He was probably known as an individual five or six years ago. People playing against him probably said that.
“But playing with him now he’s developing a selflessness about him and passing on his knowledge to the younger players.”
The Tigers were yesterday thrilled to announce Tom Boyd, 21, as another exciting youngster to join their list, as revealed by the NT News.
The tall 192cm forward – who has represented Greater Western Sydney in the NEAFL and Werribee in the VFL – is a massive addition to an already strong Tigers forward line.
He will join reigning Chaney Medal winner Melville, who was last season’s second-leading goalkicker with 51 majors.
“I haven’t seen him (Boyd) play, but I’ve heard some really good raps on him,” Wills said.
“For us to be able to attract players of good calibre is good for the club, with the platform we’ve created for people to come to our club.
“They want to be here. We don’t have to go chasing them. They want to come to us, which is a good thing.”
With so much pre-season work still to be done between now and the Tigers’ eagerly-anticipated clash against the Green Machine in Round 1 of the 2020-21 NTFL season, Wills promised yellow-and-black supporters his players would be ready to go.
“It’ll be a big one. We’re always looking forward to that game,” Wills said.
“I think the league is going to be really strong this year with the guys who didn’t get to play much down south (due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis).
“So they’re going to be coming up hungrier than ever. I reckon the standard of footy is going to be really good.
“We’re looking forward to it.
“I reckon they (Saints) are going to come out pretty hard. Chopper (St Mary’s coach Anthony Vallejo) is a good mate of mine as well.
“There’ll be some banter.”
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