Star Nightcliff Tigers defender Daniel Bowles says playing cricket kept him fresh for ’20-21 NTFL

BRILLIANT Nightcliff defender Daniel Bowles says he feels refreshed after not playing any football during the off-season. That was telling in his team’s big 52-point win over St Mary's last Saturday, the long kicking left-footer finishing with 26 disposals. The Wodonga Raiders star is capable of repeating that performance against Waratah today.

Star Nightcliff defender Daniel Bowles started his 2020-21 NTFL season on fire with 26 disposals against St Mary’s in Round 1. Picture: Glenn Campbell

CONSISTENT Nightcliff defender Daniel Bowles believes his side picked up where it left off after its 2019-20 premiership-winning season following its convincing 52-point win over St Mary’s last Saturday.

“We played a four-quarter game. Dom Brew is a hard nut and Tom Boyd is another very good addition for us (both Werribee recruits from the VFL),” Bowles told the NT News.

“Everyone played their roles, and Brodie Filo was also very good.”

Bowles – one of the Tigers’ best in his team’s thrilling 13-point win over the Saints in the 2019-20 grand final – said he was feeling good after not playing any football over the off-season.

All four Round 2 NTFL matches exclusively livestreamed on ntnews.com.au

‘We are the champions’ was the message Nightcliff handed out to St Mary’s last night

And that showed against the Green Machine in Round 1, the long kicking left-footer finishing with an impressive 26 disposals, his 19 kicks and seven handballs combining well with six marks.

Because of COVID-19 bringing Victoria to a standstill, instead Bowles played C-grade cricket for the Tigers alongside tough-nut defender Nathan Brown, both showing plenty of natural ability with both the bat and ball.

“It was really fun. There were a few of us footy boys, with (Division 1 Tigers player) Nathan Russell,” Bowles said.

Bowles – also a star for Wodonga Raiders alongside Filo in the Ovens & Murray Football League – has continued to improve as a Territory footballer.

“It’s good to play competitive football week in week out up here with the core group we’ve kept over the past three years,” he said.

Bowles said he was expecting Waratah to continue its impressive form when the Tigers host them at Darwin Mazda Nightcliff Oval from 4pm today.

“They’ve got a few good recruits from Victoria, and they were good in their first game (a 69-point win over Palmerston),” he said.