Nightcliff superstar forward Trent Melville says Tigers teammates were ready for defeat, before late heroics in 2021 NTFL Grand Final

THE scoreboard looked so dire for Nightcliff that one of the clutch stars of the show from Saturday night – Trent Melville – was getting ready to accept being an NTFL runner-up after fulltime.

Trent Melville celebrates a clutch goal for Nightcliff during the 2020-21 NTFL Grand Final against St Mary’s, a game many are saying was the best NTFL title decider of all time. Picture: Che Chorley

THE scoreboard looked so dire for Nightcliff that one of the clutch stars of the show from Saturday night – Trent Melville – was getting ready to accept being a runner-up after fulltime.

St Mary’s had surged to a stunning 18-point lead late in the final term and looked near certainties to stop the Tigers from winning a third-straight NTFL premiership.

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But late goals by Brodie Filo and Bailey Henderson – before John Butcher showed ice-cool calmness to level with a snap with six seconds remaining – took the game to extra-time.

And that was where Melville – last season’s Chaney Medal winner – once again stood up when it mattered by booting his third goal of the night.

It proved to be the matchwinner in a game which many Territory football pundits are now saying is the greatest ever NTFL grand final.

Shaun Wilson was one of Nightcliff’s standouts against St Mary’s in the 2020-21 NTFL Grand Final, booting two goals for the now three-time reigning premiers. Picture: Che Chorley

“Yes (there was still a collective calmness among the Nightcliff playing group) but at the same time some of the boys were starting to understand that it just wasn’t quite going to go our way,” Melville told the NT News, adding he believed teammate Shaun Wilson was the best on ground.

“Then when I kicked my goal in extra-time, I didn’t quite think we had won it, but it gave us a really handy seven-point buffer.”

Melville is a winner, there is no other way to describe him.

He’s played three seasons at Tigerland and won three Premier League flags.

In the big moments he delivers – he booted three goals against the Green Machine on Saturday night, all from long range, including the matchwinner.

“But that’s why I got recruited – to kick goals,” he said.

“It’s my job and what I was brought up here to do.”

Nightcliff Tigers celebrate a third-straight premiership flag after beating St Mary's in the 2020-21 NTFL Grand Final on Saturday night. It was a game which many are now rating the greatest competition decider in NTFL history. Picture: Che Chorley

Melville was full of praise for John Butcher’s game-tying goal in the dying seconds.

“He showed great game awareness to play on and snap it – he probably prefers the snaps to the set shots,” Melville said.

The magnitude of Nightcliff’s win still hadn’t sunk in among its playing group on Sunday.

“It’s the best game I’ve played in, and all the boys are also saying that,” Melville said.