NTFL star Lateesha Jeffrey stoked to join family club Wanderers after years of service with Southern Districts

It was while playing for Cairns City Lions when the moment dawned on a former Southern Districts star – ‘I need to go back to my family club’.

IT was while playing for Cairns City Lions that the moment dawned on former Southern Districts star Lateesha Jeffrey – “I need to go back to my family club”.

And that is why the 30-year-old will line up in Wanderers colours for the 2021-22 NTFL season.

Her father Russell is an Eagles legend, and it is the club from which her brother Joel was drafted to the Gold Coast Suns.

“During our off-season I played seven games for Cairns City Lions and the club’s motto is ‘one club, one family’,” Jeffrey said.

“I had such an amazing experience there.

“You had mothers and daughters playing on the same team and I thought ‘I want that’.”

Former Districts star and new Wanderers signing Lateesha Jeffrey in action for Cairns City Lions. Picture: Brendan Radke

Jeffrey’s family members will be stoked to see her represent the Darwin club.

“Initially they all thought I was joking,” she said.

“But now they’re all pretty excited to see me there.

“I’m really excited and looking forward to running out in the blue and gold.”

Jeffrey played a major role in Districts’ incredible 18-point win over Territory football powerhouse side Waratah in the 2019-20 grand final. During her first few seasons at the Crocodiles, her side regularly copped thrashings of 100 points or more.

“Districts have been a really huge part of my life,” she said. “It’s been good to reflect on my time there with (former coach) Tarmon Elliott.

“We both started and finished there at the same time.

“I’m confident in the younger players at the Crocs like Bella Clarke and Grace Mulvahil, who I have a strong connection to, as well as Rhiannon Busch, who is an experienced player.

“There will be a few butterflies and a fair bit of emotion when we take on Southern Districts. “We achieved some amazing things together there, including winning a premiership.”

Lateesha Jeffrey is proud to now be a Wanderers player, which is her family club. She is pictured – after signing with the Muk Muks – with senior women’s team coach Dave Totham. Picture: Wanderers FC

Jeffrey believes the sky is the limit for how far Wanderers can go, and will help with her on and off-field leadership. This is despite the fact the team finished second-last with just three wins in the 2020-21 season.

“I’m looking forward to playing alongside Djimila Totham,” Jeffrey said.

“I worked with her as an assistant coach in the Under-19 NT Thunder Academy.

“A few of the Wanderers players have transitioned back to footy from soccer and rugby, so numbers have been good at training this past week.

“A few Cairns City Lions women play at Palmerston Magpies, and I am hoping to provide more opportunities for other players in the NTFL.

“I won’t be captaining the (Wanderers) team, so I’m looking forward to just going out there and playing.

“I think with any team I go in wanting to make a difference.”

Former Southern Districts captain Lateesha Jeffrey said being a Croc was a huge part of her life. Picture: Aaron Black AFLNT/Media

Jeffrey brought up her 150th Premier League game while at Districts against Wanderers on October 31 last year.

She’d love to reach the 200-game milestone at the Eagles.

“I’ve got a couple more seasons to get there, but I’m working towards that,” she said.

Like her, Jeffrey’s younger brother Joel also believes he can go far in the game.

And he showed his potential as an AFL rookie, kicking two goals for Gold Coast in four games this year.

“It was amazing, but hopefully we’ll actually be able to fly down and watch him next year,” Jeffrey said.

“He’s always been a quietly confident person.”