Wanderers veteran Aaron Motlop says Muk Muks have good balance between young and old, says Joel Jeffrey and Beau O’Connell are ‘unbelievable’ Territorian talents

WANDERERS veteran Aaron Motlop believes the plethora of young talent coming through at the Muk Muks – led by AFL hopefuls Beau O’Connell and Joel Jeffrey – made his decision to commit to another NTFL season a no-brainer.

Wanderers veteran Aaron Motlop believes there is a good mix of experienced and youthful talent at the Muk Muks heading into the 2020-21 NTFL season. Picture: KERI MEGELUS

WANDERERS veteran Aaron Motlop believes the plethora of young talent coming through at the Muk Muks – led by AFL hopefuls Beau O’Connell and Joel Jeffrey – made his decision to commit to another NTFL season a no-brainer.

The 34-year-old – who took a break before Christmas in the Eagles’ 2019-20 campaign to spend time with his young family – is now throwing himself into pre-season training.

And he’s liking what he’s seeing so far in the testing sessions at Marrara.

“We’ve got a really good crop of juniors coming through. You look at our under-18s and under-16s sides, and they’ve made grand finals and won premierships,” Motlop told the NT News.

“It’s exciting at Wanderers with the talent we have. Those young guys can carry the club forward and give us a great future.

“Guys like our captain Braedon McLean, (coach) Shannon Motlop, Shane Thorne, Thomas Motlop, Nook Mansell and myself are here to teach those young guys what it takes to be successful.”

Jeffrey is set to participate in the AFL Combine on the Gold Coast on October 3.

And O’Connnell – a Nichols Medal winner last season at just 18 – has also been talked up as an AFL possibility.

“They’re both unbelievable talents, and you can see why AFL scouts are looking at them,” Motlop said.

“Ronnie Fejo is another one.

“Beau had a hugely successful season last season, and you hope these guys get an opportunity at that level.

“If not, it would be great to see these boys back in a Wanderers shirt.”

The mix between young and veteran talent at the Eagles appears to be a potent combination going into the 2020-21 season, with Wanderers to begin their campaign against Southern Districts on October 3.

And fans of the blue and yellow can at least be confident their team will notch up more than three wins – as it did last season – before finishing a lowly seventh.

“Braedon and Brenton Motlop are leading the way at pre-season training, and Simon Bates has been really vocal,” Motlop said.

“The vibe has been really good and we’re building to hopefully have a really good season.

“With the hard work we’re doing we’re quietly confident we’ll improve on last season.

“I’ve had my time as captain and co-captain. Now I’m just here to support our leaders and the young boys at this club.”

Motlop – the 2010-11 Chaney Medallist – has not yet decided whether or not this will be his last season in what has been a brilliant NTFL career.

“It depends how my body handles it. I’m hoping to play every game and enjoy this season, and we’ll see how it all plays out,” he said.

Motlop – a father of three young children – said his family has given him a different perspective on winning and losing.

“They’re growing up, and we’re getting them involved seeing their dad and uncles play,” Motlop said.

“Now I’m probably not as ruthless in the way I think about footy like I used to be.

“But they give me added motivation – I train and play for them.

“If you lose it makes it easier when you see their faces because they’re always smiling.

“The result doesn’t matter to them.”