Star Nightcliff Tigers small forward Liam Holt-Fitz wins his second Barkly Australian Football League flag in as many attempts, to go with his two NTFL premierships

THREE Territory football titles in as many seasons.And with Saturday’s thrilling 7.15 (57) to 8.3 (51) triumph for Spitfires over Elliott in the 2020 Barkly Australian Football League Grand Final at Purkiss Reserve, that’s two BAFL premierships in as many attempts for star Nightcliff small forward Liam Holt-Fitz.

Star Tennant Creek product Liam Holt-Fitz celebrated yet another Territory premiership after the 2020 BAFL Grand Final on Saturday. Picture: Glenn Campbell

THREE Territory football titles in as many seasons.

And with Saturday’s thrilling 7.15 (57) to 8.3 (51) triumph for Spitfires over Elliott in the 2020 Barkly Australian Football League Grand Final at Purkiss Reserve, that’s two BAFL premierships in as many attempts for star Nightcliff small forward Liam Holt-Fitz.

Add two grand final best-on-grounds in there, too – in the 2018 BAFL decider with the victorious Eagles and the 2018-19 Chaney Medal – and there's no doubting the 20-year-old ranks among the Territory’s best footballers.

“I won in 2018 with my dad Dale (as the Eagles coach) and this one was special, too, because I played alongside my younger brother Myles,” Holt-Fitz told the NT News.

“He scored a goal, too.”

It was hardly a walk in the park for minor premiers Spitfires, the team winning its second consecutive BAFL premiership flag.

They trailed at every break, including by 16 points at three-quarter time.

But they kicked three unanswered goals in the final term to seal the victory.

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“It was awesome (the fourth-quarter comeback),” Holt-Fitz said.

“I was yelling at everyone. We had some missed chances at goal.

“Our young fella (Llewellyn Morrison) who kicked the last goal to win us the game – that was his first goal of the game.

“Elliott played a really good game, and the Raymond brothers are really handy players for them.

“It was a great crowd – we couldn’t hear the siren at fulltime there were so many people. “This competition is really good.”

Can it now be four Territory titles in the space of just two years, with Holt-Fitz back at two-time reigning NTFL champions Nightcliff?

“It’s early, but we’re working hard and the boys look really fit,” said Holt-Fitz, with the Tigers 2-0 and looking very strong to start their 2020-21 campaign.

There was a drawback for Holt-Fitz.

He picked up a hamstring injury and is set to miss the Tigers’ next two games.

Spitfires captain and fellow NT Thunder representative from Tennant Creek, Matt Green, was the best on ground.

He kicked two goals, and Holt-Fitz (one goal) was arguably the next best on ground.

“Matt led by example from the front all day, and everyone else just followed him,” Holt-Fitz said of the league MVP.

“That’s what you want in a leader.”