Tiwi Bombers star Paddy Heenan on his love for helping Ngukurr Bulldogs, his Tiwi captaincy goals and AFL games in the Territory

FEATURE: IN a wide-ranging interview, Tiwi skipper Paddy Heenan talks about his passion in helping Ngukurr become a Big Rivers Football League premiership force, and how delighted he was with the national coverage Territory footy recently received

Bombers star inside midfielder/rover Paddy Heenan is keen to captain the Tiwi outfit again in the upcoming 2020-21 NTFL season. Picture: HELEN ORR

DESPITE some key personnel losses, Tiwi Bombers captain Paddy Heenan believes his side can deliver on its incredible collective potential when the 2020-21 NTFL season begins on October 2.

The Bombers’ roster has been hit hard in the off-season, with stars Ross Tungatalum and Nathan Djerrkura signing for St Mary’s and Wanderers respectively.

But there is no shortage of playing talent at the team which finished its 2019-20 home-and-away campaign in third position, before bowing out of the finals in straight sets.

And freakishly-gifted forward Adam Sambono has the potential to offset that pain, joining Tiwi from Darwin Buffaloes.

The 23-year-old kicked a stunning 12 goals in a big 113-point win to the double-blues against Tiwi in Round 1 last season.

“We’ve lost a few players with Ross going to St Mary’s and Nathan Djukurra going back to Wanderers,” Heenan told the NT News after his Ngukurr team’s 18.11 (119) to 13.5 (83) defeat to Katherine Camels in Round 9 Big Rivers League action on Saturday night.

“But in saying that we’ve also been able to get new players who want to be a part of Tiwi, and I’m looking forward to the NTFL season.

“With Ross he’s a freak with his uncanny ability and what he can do on the field.

“Also, Nathan and his experience and big body playing in the middle with myself helped us out a lot.

“But that also gives someone else an opportunity. They’ve moved on now and that’ll allow someone else to come in like a younger fella to learn and get experience.

“That was the first time I saw it (Sambono signing with Tiwi on the weekend). I haven’t heard anything else.

“I’ll have a chat to the coaches and see if there are more surprises.”

Heenan – an inspirational and tough inside midfielder/rover – said he would embrace the responsibility of leading the Bombers again in the 2020-21 NTFL season.

That is despite the high level of expectation which will be placed on the team, with many believing it is now finally capable of breaking a nine-year title drought.

“I’d love to (captain Tiwi again), but I have work limitations. I’m based in Darwin,” Heenan said.

“If the boys want me to captain again I’m more than happy to continue.”

Heenan said he still had plenty of football left in him, despite the fearless way in which he plays the game and his already-lengthy career.

The 30-year-old has played 123 games for Tiwi, with a combined 66 at Waratah and Palmerston, and he represented NT Thunder on 54 occasions in the NEAFL.

“I’m old now – just turned 30,” Heenan said with a smile.

“Once you hit 30 you’re at that veteran age.

“But I’m happy if I can keep going for the next at least two to three seasons, and I’ll see what happens from there.

“My body will tell me.”

Meanwhile, Heenan is loving his time at the Ngukurr Bulldogs, and thought his team produced a gutsy effort against the first-placed Katherine Camels on Saturday night.

The Bulldogs led by 11 points at halftime, before the class and experience of Katherine – led by the likes of Joel Budarick, Daniel Allan, Josh Carlin and Aaron Moules – saw the hosts finish stronger.

“We were pretty impressive. Hopefully we can keep that going towards the finals,” Heenan said.

“We’ve got another game (against Kalano on Saturday) and then we’re in the finals, and hopefully we can keep our form going.

“Coming up against a good side like Camels I think we scared them for a little bit there with our pace.

“But then we lost a few players like Davin Hall and Kurtley Silver. Hopefully they can get themselves right.”

It was a family bond which saw Heenan opt to play for the Bulldogs this year, in a massive coup for the small remote town about 635km south-east of Darwin.

“I wanted to get involved in this club through my mum’s family connection, but also to help out,” he said.

“We’ve got a young side. Playing structured footy up in Darwin with Tiwi Bombers, and sharing that here has been good.

“There are a lot of (talented players). I’ve only played three or four games, but Kurtley is good, Jake Farrell has played up in Darwin and he’s still young, and he’s giving back to his community.

“I could go on and on. It’s just a great bunch of boys here, and hopefully we can start gelling now coming towards the finals.”

Heenan said the roughly 630km round-trip to play for the Bulldogs was tough, but worth it.

“It’s a 3 ½ hour drive (one way) being based in Darwin,” he said.

“But last season I was playing (for Tooleybuc Manangatang) in the Central Murray League and I was doing an eight-hour trek, with the four-hour flight there and then back.

“So I’m pretty happy doing this as long as I can keep helping these boys.”

Heenan lives and breathes footy, and was rewarded with AFLNT life membership for reaching 200 games in 2019, alongside St Mary’s stars Benjamin Rioli and Ryan Smith, and his Tiwi teammates Simon Munkara and Ross Tungatalum.

Therefore, it was no surprise he was delighted at the exposure Territory football has received nationally in recent weeks.

Melbourne Demons edged out St Kilda by three points at Alice Springs’ Traeger Park on Saturday night.

And Darwin was treated to a memorable AFL double-header in Round 13, with Carlton beating Gold Coast by 33 points, followed by Richmond’s 12-point triumph over Essendon in the Dreamtime Game blockbuster.

Both were played at TIO Stadium, with the Northern Territory taking advantage of COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria.

“It’s big. Having AFL games coming up and playing for premiership points is big for the Territory,” Heenan said.

“It gives a lot of the youth in grassroots footy something to look up to.

“And hopefully one day they can fulfil their dreams.

“Territory people love their footy, so it’s massive.”