Rovers’ CAFL coach Damien Hall: We have plenty of NTFL-ready talent, with Kurt Abbott starring

EXCLUSIVE: Rovers coach Damien Hall has called on all NTFL clubs to take a closer look at the CAFL, with his four-time reigning premiership outfit featuring no shortage of Territory-bred stars.

Rovers’ Nigel Lockyer Jr (pictured celebrating a goal with Redtails) is enjoying a fine 2021 CAFL season, kicking 12 majors after the first two rounds. Picture: Glenn Campbell

ROVERS coach Damien Hall has called on Darwin’s NTFL clubs to take a closer look at the playing talent in the Red Centre after his reigning four-time CAFL premiers won a thriller against Federal on Saturday.

The Double Blues were 13 points down at halftime, but kicked 12 second-half goals – six in each term – to finish 18.6 (114) to 15.11 (101) winners.

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Nigel Lockyer Jr was the best on ground, kicking six goals for the second week in a row in the Round 2 fixture, helping his team to a 2-0 record in the clash at Albrecht Oval.

Hall last week told the NT News that Lockyer Jr (pictured, with the Redtails) – who just missed the last spot on Essendon’s roster after training with the Bombers in 2020 – was the “best player by far” in Alice Springs.

But Hall believes there are plenty of other talented footballers who could excel in the NTFL if they were given the opportunity.

“There’s plenty of talent down here, and we’re only a two-hour flight from Darwin,” Hall told the NT News.

“You look at when Shaun Edwards and Cameron Ilett (respective stars for St Mary’s and Nightcliff) came down here last year they played very well and picked up best-on-ground honours, but they didn’t dominate every game.

“It’s a good standard of competition down here.”

Hall said NTFL clubs could do no worse than look at someone like Kurt Abbott, who was a standout in his side’s win over Federal.

“Kurt has been playing at half-back, but we’re trying to get him into the midfield. He was fantastic for us, and he is developing into a really damaging player,” Hall said.

“We had a GPS tracker on him and his top speed was 34km/h.

“He had 63 high efforts and covered a total of 9km.”

Lockyer Jr also starred again, after helping his team to a big 113-point win over West in Round 1.

Rovers star Nigel Lockyer Jr (pictured playing for the Redtails) covered 9km while booting six goals in the Double Blues’ 13-point win over Federal during Round 2 CAFL action on Saturday. Picture: Glenn Campbell

And it wasn’t just with his straight kicking.

“Nigel didn’t have a great first quarter – he had his hands full,” Hall said.

“But he has so many tools at his disposal, and he used them all.

“He covered 9km and took 12 or more contested marks.

“Adam Davis was also brilliant, and Tom Clarke did some good things which can go unnoticed.”

Hall said his players’ slow start – after West also held them to just two goals in the first quarter last week – was not a worry at this stage.

“Our first half was pretty poor, but we fixed it in the second half,” he said.

“It’s not really (a worry) because there has been lots of energy and effort there.

“The boys have a good fitness base.

“No (I didn’t give them a halftime rev-up). We just talked about what we needed to improve on.”

In the earlier Round 2 game, West beat South 16.8 (104) to 7.6 (48).