Nightcliff Tigers young gun Joel Budarick believes he can continue to improve in 2020-21 NTFL comp

NIGHTCLIFF young gun Joel Budarick is only 18 and already has four senior flags under his belt in both the NTFL and BRFL.But the 2020-21 NTFL competition could be his best season yet.

Joel Budarick - pictured playing for Big River Hawks’ under-18 team - said moving to Darwin will help him be a better footballer for Nightcliff, as the Tigers chase a third-straight NTFL title in the upcoming 2020-21 season. Picture: JUSTIN KENNEDY

NIGHTCLIFF young gun Joel Budarick is only 18 and already has four senior flags under his belt in both the NTFL and BRFL.

But the 2020-21 NTFL competition could be his best season yet.

That is because the Katherine product – who starred with two goals in the defending-premier Camels’ 18.11 (119) to 13.5 (83) win over Ngukurr on Saturday night – is set to move to Darwin.

Which will mean no more six-hour round trips on match day.

“I’m planning to move up,” Budarick told the NT News.

“The travel is really tough. I wouldn’t do it again – it gets to you.

“Six hours travelling every weekend – it’s pretty much my weekend.

“I lived up there (in Darwin) six months last season and that was so much better.

“I’ve lived here (in Katherine) all 18 years of my life.”

The Tigers are known for their first-class development of talented juniors, and Budarick is just one of many in that strong production line.

He reserved praise for former Big Rivers Hawks coach Greg Bain – now an assistant with Darwin Buffaloes – in enticing him to go to Nightcliff.

“I got to Nightcliff through Greg Bain. He used to be at Nightcliff. He believed I could play Premier League back when I was 16, and I played a few games then,” Budarick said.

“The Camels have been good to me. I’ve been playing here since I was 15, and the Big River Hawks as well.”

Along with his four senior Territory football titles, Budarick’s impressive playing resume also includes seven appearances for NT Thunder in the 2019 NEAFL competition.

But the young talent is never satisfied and wants to continue his rapid improvement in the upcoming NTFL campaign, which starts when Waratah hosts Palmerston on October 2.

“I just want to be better all-round with more influence on the game as we chase our third premiership in a row,” Budarick said.

“Cameron Ilett, Phillip Wills, Nathan Brown – they’re a great group of guys and they take care of you.”

COVID-19 two-week quarantine measures for star NTFL players living in Victoria will throw a number of curve-balls at all clubs this upcoming season.

But Budarick said the Tigers’ roster was once again looking strong.

“Hopefully John Butcher is coming back, hopefully Brodie Filo. Daniel Bowles is still in Darwin,” he said.