The best performing NTFL players from the 2022-23 season so far
From a premiership-winning captain, a Nichols medallist to a league-leading goalkicker, these are the best players of Men’s Premier League so far.
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There has been plenty of incredible individual performances in Men’s Premier League so far this season, from goalkickers, prolific ball winners to dynamic backmen.
And to squeeze the best players into a Top 25 list was close to impossible with scores of players truly unlucky to miss the cut.
To qualify, players must have played at least five games and shown to be an integral asset to their club’s chances in 2022-23, complemented by favourable NTFL statistics to Round 12.
1. Dylan Landt – St Mary’s
It should be no surprise the 2021-22 NT News Player of the Year Award winner has had another dominant season with St Mary’s as they recovered from a disappointing 1-3 start to land in the top bracket of the NTFL ladder by Christmas after a five-game winning run.
The NTFL premiership player has shown an ability to rack up an unequalled number of possessions for the Saints – first for disposals, contested and uncontested possessions – but also proved to be a danger up forward.
Landt is second for the club for score assists and goals – his 14 major only behind Chaney medallist Jackson Calder – while first for inside 50s.
He is also a tackling machine (the club’s number one) while also leading for clearances, ground ball gets and handball receives, consistently giving his side a burst of momentum.
Was also named in his club’s best on five occasions from 10 games.
2. Dylan Collis – Waratah
Named Waratah’s vice-captain for the 2022-23 season, Collis has stepped up in a big way at Gardens Oval.
Known off the field for his role in recruiting interstate players to the Warriors, Collis has matched that influence with class and toughness across the backline, making him one of the standouts of the season in red and white.
The former Casey Demon leads the club for rebound 50s, spoils and disposals, and is second for handball receives and uncontested possessions.
3. Baxter Mensch – Palmerston
The Palmerston star who leads the league’s disposal count has arguably been the NTFL signing of the season.
Up from Geelong West in the GFL, Mensch has not been overshadowed by the big name AFL players recruited by the Magpies (Eddie Betts, Travis Varcoe, Neville Jetta).
Has featured in each round – seven times named in his club’s best from 11 matches – and is more often than not a catalyst for the Pies’ forward forays.
Palmerston’s second highest goalkicker (11 majors), Mensch also leads the club for score assists.
Will be heavily relied on if Palmerston want to keep their finals hopes alive.
4. Jarrod Stokes – Darwin Buffaloes
Stokes been the dominant Buffalo for many seasons now, and this year has been no exception, leading his club back into finals contention in 2022-23.
There are very few players in the league who make the difference Stokes does for his Buffs, with his ability to bomb the ball out of the midfield or burst out of the contest.
Add his pace and ball-winning ability (third for the Buffs for disposals, second for contested possessions and inside 50s) and you have yourself one of the most potent midfielders in the NTFL.
5. Luke Smith – Southern Districts
Smith, in his second season at Freds Pass, may have slipped under the radar early but is now producing the kind of footy which has helped Southern Districts to the top of the Men’s Premier League table.
The former Geelong VFL player has proven to be an elusive force for head coach Shannon Rusca, leading the club for disposals, contested possessions, marks and uncontested marks.
He is also dominating in clearances, tackles, score assists, uncontested possessions and forward 50 marks, second in all of those categories.
With the loss of Jonathon Ross, Smith has stepped up alongside Sam Dunstan to be a consistent forward line menace, slotting 19 goals.
Named in his club’s best on seven occasions from 10 games.
6. Brodie Filo – Nightcliff
It’s been a tough year at Nightcliff Oval but prime midfielder Filo has continued his dominance of previous seasons.
The Nichols medallist and 2019-20 NT News Player of the Year has again been an on-ball beast in 2022-23, charting first at the club for disposals, contested and uncontested possessions, marks, clearances, inside 50s, uncontested marks, ground ball gets and handball receives.
Perhaps underlining Nightcliff’s lack of firepower this season, Filo is in the top five for goals and score assists in Men’s Premier League.
He has also been named in his club’s best on eight occasions from just 10 games.
7. Steven Motlop – Wanderers
One of many former AFL stars to descend on the NTFL this season, few players had a bigger impact at their club so far this season.
Alongside two bags of six, the 217-game AFL star has led the club for goals, disposals and uncontested possessions.
Motlop also charts in the club’s top five for forward 50 marks, inside 50s, clearances, score assists, ground ball gets and contested possessions, showing an ability to be used all over the park.
8. Matt Dennis – Southern Districts
The competition’s premier ruckman has made a seamless switch from Palmerston to Freds Pass, a consistent accumulator of the leather despite his obvious size.
Dennis leads the competition for hit outs this season, ahead of PINT’s Brock Carter who has played three more matches.
He also charts within the club’s top five for marks, uncontested marks and one percenters.
Underlying his ability to bulldoze the ball forward no matter how, Dennis is also third at the club for clearances and is a regular entrant into his club’s forward 50 arc.
9. Jayden Magro – Waratah
The X-Factor small forward has enjoyed another strong season at Gardens Oval.
Appears to be running away with the leading goal kicker award too with 37 goals currently to his name after 11 matches.
His early season form for the Tahs carried on from a sensational finals series for the Cairns City Lions where he was awarded the best on ground in the grand final.
Expect more goals from the excitement machine in the second half of the season as he looks to cement his hold on the Dennis Dunn award.
10. Mitch Robinson – Darwin Buffaloes
The former Carlton and Brisbane veteran has kicked off his NTFL career with a bang, slotting in perfectly at the Darwin Buffaloes.
Robinson has formed a formidable midfield partnership alongside captain Jarrod Stokes, with the former AFL player not one to back away from the contest.
Has endured a dose of leather poisoning since his Top End debut against Southern Districts in Round 4, racking up big numbers in 2022-23: first for clearances and inside 50s; second for handball receives, marks, uncontested marks and disposals, and third for uncontested possessions.
11. Nate Paredes – St Mary’s
The St Mary’s captain has once again been the benchmark player for the reigning premiers.
His side may have started the season slowly, but under his leadership the side bounced back with five wins on the trot to sit in the top three by the Christmas break.
Has once again been a formidable double act with midfield partner Dylan Landt, as the pair managed eerily similar stats.
Paredes has stood out in a bunch of key benchmarks: second in disposals, contested and uncontested touches, ground ball gets, inside 50s, tackles and equal first for score assists with Chaney medallist Jackson Calder.
12. Eric Guthrie – Palmerston
The defending Nicholls medallist has continued to show why he has been regarded as one of the best NTFL players since his 2020-21 debut.
After taking on the captaincy at the improved Palmerston at certain times this season, Guthrie continues to show the way with plenty of possessions to his name (fourth for the club).
The club’s top tackler so far, his clearance (second) and contested ball-winning ability (second) is also elite.
Unsurprisingly for a heart and soul player, he also leads the club for one percenters.
13. Scott Carlin – Waratah
Alongside forward line option Darcy Hope, midfielder Scott Carlin has also been a quality pick up for Ryan Ayres at Gardens Oval this season.
The Victorian, who also played with Geelong’s VFL team in 2022, is second at the club for disposals and first for uncontested touches, marks and uncontested marks.
One of eight Waratah players included in the NT representative squad against South Fremantle later this month.
14. Matt Shannon – Southern Districts
Another recruiting coup for Shannon Rusca at Freds Pass, the former Carlton VFL player has greatly helped the Crocs’ rise back up the ladder to first by the Christmas break.
The numbers show Shannon has been hugely influential in generating play at Norbuilt Oval: second for contested possessions, score assists and uncontested marks while third for disposals and marks.
In a further string to his bow, Shannon charts number one at his club for clearances, inside 50s and tackles while slotting nine goals including a bag of four early in the season against Waratah.
15. Brodie Newman – Wanderers
Newman has been the intercept mark king once again in the 2022-23 NTFL season blocking opposition forward moves, time and again.
Wanderers have endured their struggles in the first half of the season, but Newman has played a vital role in giving his side a chance each week.
Topping the league in intercept marks and fourth for contested grabs, his rebound skills (seventh for the league) were finally harnessed as the Muk Muks recovered from a dismal start to the season.
16. Damian McMahon – PINT
In their first season PINT needed to recruit big, and pulling McMahon from St Mary’s in the Geelong Football League has paid dividends for the side.
The winger has been a standout, often beating the opposition for pace while giving his forwards plenty to work with and displaying an engine that can run all day.
Has only got better as the season has gone on, averaging 30 touches a game over his last three matches.
17. Matt Green – St Mary’s
Tennant Creek product Green has become one of the competition’s premier defenders.
And he is highly regarded by his own club, named in the best on seven occasions from eight games in 2022-23.
He has led the club for spoils and one percenters while distributing the ball at 73 per cent efficiency by foot.
Green, who played mid-year with Eastside in the Big Rivers Football League, is also second for rebounds from defensive 50.
18. Harley Bennell – Tiwi Bombers
A true swingman, Bennell has become the Bombers’ most important player in 2022-23.
Playing his first season in the Top End, the former AFL star has had a profound impact with the Bombers from just eight games in Men’s Premier League games.
The stats also show a man who can be relied upon in any part of the ground, while picking up the most disposals, contested possessions and ground ball gets and second for clearances and tackles.
He is also in the top five for forward 50 marks and inside 50s.
19. Sam Clohesy – Palmerston
Another new recruit who has quickly made his mark at the Magpies’ nest.
Recruited from Werribee in Victoria, the young gun can play a role across the park, but it’s in defence where he’s really stamped his authority.
Has formed key partnerships with fellow defensive mainstays, Ashton Hams and Andrew Green, to make defence an area of strength for the men in black and white.
He has led the club for defensive 50 rebounds, spoils and second for one percenters.
Clohesy is also not a player to shy away from the football, averaging 24 possessions per game and second for total touches and uncontested disposals.
20. Ed Morris – Waratah
Another gun Victorian recruit at Waratah, Morris has shown the ability to not only win the ball in prolific numbers but also drift forward and kick a goal.
In an attacking sense, Morris leads the club for inside 50s, second for marks and uncontested marks and is third for goals.
He is also first for clearances, second for ground ball gets and third for disposals and uncontested touches.
Morris sits comfortably next to Scott Carlin and Dylan Collis as the most reliable ball getters in 2022-23 in the red and white.
21. Elliott Chalmers – PINT
The former North Adelaide player has enjoyed a strong first season in the NTFL for the Greenants.
He made an impression almost instantly in PINT’s Round 1 losing cause against Nightcliff, where he saw plenty of the ball and ensured the Tigers didn’t have it all their own way.
Chalmers has been a real weapon in the middle, in the top five for disposals, contested touches (second), ground ball gets, clearances and tackles (first).
22. Bradley Stokes – Darwin Buffaloes
Tackle pressure has been the name of the game at Darwin Buffaloes this season, and it’s a system Stokes has been able to thrive in, charting fourth for the club in 2022-23.
Stokes has been a defensive weapon this year, regularly repelling attacking assaults to lead the club for defensive rebounds as the Buffs has raced back into finals contention after a disappointing season last year.
Has also spent plenty of time with ball in hand to top the Buffaloes stats for possessions, uncontested and contested disposals
23. Kieren Parnell – St Mary’s
Parnell has proven time and again he is a more than dependable defender for the Green Machine, and this season has been no exception.
The former NT Thunder and North Adelaide reserves player has been able to enjoy a consistent NTFL season where he has shown off his prowess.
Had a match to remember in Round 8 against Palmerston where he was given the job of manning up on Gary Ablett Jr, a testament to the trust the club has in his capabilities.
His strong rebounding and contested ball skills were rewarded once again with selection into the NT rep squad against South Fremantle.
24. Michael Bowden – Southern Districts
A mainstay of the Crocs defence for many seasons, Bowden has again shown to be Mr Reliable at Freds Pass.
On the back of a strong 2021-22, Bowden has continued his work yet again this season, tracking third in the league for intercept marks and rebound 50s.
Often the starting point for another Crocs forward assault, Bowden is the second most prolific at the club for possessions.
25. Eddie Betts – Palmerston
Palmerston’s most damaging forward despite only playing five games and not being sighted since Round 9, Betts has had more impact than his debut NTFL season in 2021-22.
The Pies have only lost once with Betts in the team – kicking four against Waratah in Round 4 – and signed off for the year with five against Crocs at Freds Pass in November.
With 20 goals from five games, Betts has nine more than his nearest rival (Baxter Mensch with 11) and is third for score assists and fourth for forward 50 marks.
Named in his club’s best one three occasions from five games.
Apologies to honourable mentions Jackson Calder, Ryan Nyhius, Ashton Hams, Darcy Hope, Dion Munkara, Brayden Taylor, Jacob Long and Mitchel Taylor.
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