St Mary’s NTFL defender Kieren Parnell modest about brilliant tagging role on Waratah’s Abe Ankers, says his team can beat anyone ahead of Wanderers clash

ST Mary’s defender Kieren Parnell bristled when it was suggested he largely nullified one of the NTFL’s top midfielders – Abe Ankers – during his team’s 26-point win over Waratah in the elimination semi-final last Saturday.

Star Saints defender Kieren Parnell cannot wait to face Wanderers in the 2020-21 NTFL Preliminary Final at TIO Stadium on Saturday night. Picture: Celina Whan/AFLNT Media

ST Mary’s defender Kieren Parnell bristled when it was suggested he largely nullified one of the NTFL’s top midfielders – Abe Ankers – during his team’s 26-point win over Waratah in the elimination semi-final last Saturday.

Parnell, 22 and set to continue pushing his AFL claims at North Adelaide in the SANFL this year, proved his versatility when he stood out in Saints’ engine room against the Warriors.

“I wouldn’t say I shut Abe down. He still got plenty of the ball,” Parnell told the NT News.

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“I just tried to stay on him and run with him. I was more proud he didn’t kick a goal, because he’s also a dangerous scoring threat.”

Parnell has been named in the back pocket – where he will mark up against Marlon Motlop – for Saturday night’s preliminary final against Wanderers.

But he will relish any more time he will get in the midfield.

“They’ve got a handful of super midfielders who are quite fit,” he said.

“If I get a role in there I’ve just got to make the most of it.”

Parnell – arguably the best on ground against Waratah and who has enjoyed a fine season – thrives on playing in big games.

“I can’t wait – this is what you play all year for,” he said.

“My first senior coach Rick Nolan would always say ‘players’ reputations are made in the big games’.”

Parnell enjoyed taking the field with Saints legend Henry Labastida once again last Saturday, with the veteran called up to play his first Premier League game of the 2020-21 season.

“I offered his No. 5 jumper back to him, but he told me to keep it,” Parnell said.

“Henry has won five to seven premierships and it showed.

“He got 10 to 15 touches against Waratah and they were all good ones.”

Kieren Parnell was arguably the best on ground during Saints’ 26-point win over Waratah in the elimination semi-final last Saturday. Picture: Felicity Elliott/AFLNT Media

Parnell said his Green Machine teammates strongly believed they could win a staggering 33rd title by overcoming Wanderers on Saturday night, and then two-time reigning champions Nightcliff in the grand final next Saturday night.

“We’re confident in the footy we’re playing. If we play to our potential we can beat anyone,” he said.

“They (Wanderers) got us (by 20 points in the qualifying final) because they used the ball better and switched the ball really well.”

Star Wanderers midfielder Shaun Mannagh told the NT News earlier this week that his teammates were ready to lift for suspended captain Braedon McLean.

The inspirational skipper will miss the rest of this season for a misjudged bump on Saints’ Shaun Edwards during the qualifying final.

It is just one of the many fascinating subplots – along with the unprecedented penalties St Mary’s received from the AFLNT for fly-in player rule breaches late on Thursday night – which will see interest in this game skyrocket.

And with tensions set to be at a fever pitch on the field, Territory football fans can expect plenty more hard hits and flashpoints on Saturday night.

Parnell echoed Mannagh’s thoughts on McLean.

“Braedon is irreplaceable – no one is as silky with the ball as he is,” Parnell said.

“But if that happened to us at Saints it would bring us closer together as a team.”