Top End fans are treated to another Motlop special with 17yo Jesse debuting with Wanderers

Another Motlop, another football treat as 17-year-old Jesse grabs the Round 11 nomination for the NT News Rising Star

Jesse Motlop goes long in his senior debut for Wanderers. Picture: Felicity Elliott AFLNT/Media

THE next generation of Darwin’s Motlop footballing family is upon us, with 17-year-old Jesse beginning to make waves at schoolboy and colts level in Western Ausralia.

The son of Port Adelaide and North Melbourne goalkicker Daniel made his senior debut for NTFL Premier League club Wanderers on Saturday and created an instant impression with his 15 touches, four marks and three goals.

One attempt at mark of the year almost came off when Motlop rose high above the pack, reminding fans at the ground of the springheeled leap his dad possessed in his playing days.

The sparkling debut was enough to gain Jesse the Round 11 nomination for the $500 NT News Rising Star, an award that annually recognises young Territory talent.

A member of Fremantle’s Next Generation Academy squad while completing his schooling at Aquinas College in Perth, Motlop’s on-field action is tied to his school side and the South Fremantle colts.

“I try to rotate between forward pocket and the wing, usually at a time when I’m getting into the game or can’t get into it is when I move out to a wing,’’ he told the NT News.

“The only thing I wasn’t into in my first league game was the amount of time the quarters go for up here, because after the first quarter I was struggling a bit.

“But it was a lot of fun, I’ve always dreamt about running out with the Wanderers Premier League side and to have my uncles Brenton and Aaron there with me and my cousin Matthew as well, was pretty good.’’

Motlop said AFL football was his ultimate goal, with the 2021 draft on his radar after filling in the relevant nomination forms this year.

‘My draft year begins really begins now in 2020-21, so it’s time to get down to work and make sure I’m nominated,’’ he said.

“The Dockers have me in their Academy at the moment, kind of like a father-son, so they have priority over me in terms of being drafted.’’

His dad’s 11-season AFL career stretched from 2001 to 2011 with North Melbourne (47 games) and Port Adelaide (83), including kicking 208 goals through a series of big marks and freakish finishing inside the 50 metre arc.

“I didn’t appreciate it when dad played in the AFL, it was only later when I got to watch his highlights I realised what a good player he was,’’ Jesse said.