Hamish Hartlett will make his Top End debut this Saturday for Nightcliff against St Mary’s
Former Port Adelaide player turned coach opens up on the fresh challenges of coaching his best friends and making his Top End debut against St Mary’s.
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Coaching some of his “closest mates” at Port Adelaide will be the “biggest challenge” Hamish Hartlett will face next AFL season, the former Power hard nut says ahead of his Top End debut this weekend.
The 32-year-old will play for Nightcliff this Saturday against St Mary’s more than a year after the idea was first proposed by former Port teammate and Tigers forward John Butcher.
“He was on to me about coming up to play and I was really keen to do that,” Hartlett said, who was delisted by Port in September last year.
However, joining West Adelaide as a player for the 2022 SANFL season delayed those plans.
“It’s a good opportunity to play at a level that is slightly more relaxed ... it certainly drew me,” he said.
It’s been a curious 12-month period for the 193-game heart and soul type.
After being culled by Port, Hartlett would join the Power’s new AFLW team in a coaching capacity in May this year.
Then, just more than a year after his delisting, Hartlett returned to Alberton Oval as an assistant coach.
Hartlett, who will work with the backline under Nathan Bassett, expected to take a few of his closer friends aside – Hartlett is godfather to Tom Jonas’ daughter – before pre-season kicks off to reiterate “everything I do, everything I say is in the best interest of making us a better team”.
“If that means giving you a clip here or there, it’s nothing personal, it’s just the way it is,” he said, taking a “blank canvas” approach to each player.
“I feel like that’s probably going to be my biggest challenge.
“A lot of these guys are some of my closest mates.
“The ability to challenge them in the right way, a respectful way, which is agreed upon by both parties is going to be an interesting one.”
He said there were “no hard feelings” with his delisting, admitting he was a realist about where Port was heading.
“Would I have loved to have had another opportunity to play another year? Of course, it’s an amazing job, I still felt like I had a little bit more to give,” he said.
“I don’t think it was an easy decision for (senior coach) Ken (Hinkley) and (general manager) Chris (Davies) to come to. It wasn’t easy for anyone.”
Meanwhile, Hartlett, who has been battling a foot complaint in recent weeks, was keen to put in a big session on the track Thursday night in largely foreign conditions.
While the NT News understands Nightcliff were keen to get Hartlett to qualify for a 2022-23 finals berth, Hartlett was a bit more cautious.
“I’ll have to play it by ear, see where things land in terms of my new (coaching) role at Port Adelaide,” Hartlett said from Adelaide Airport.
“Whether there will be time for another game or two, I’m certainly open to doing that.”
Travis Varcoe discovers his love for footy again in the Top End
Dual AFL premiership player Travis Varcoe says playing with Palmerston this season has helped him rediscover his love for the game.
Varcoe, 34, who won flags with the Cats in 2009 and 2011, had not kicked a ball in anger since his 2020 retirement after 230 games following stints at both Geelong and Collingwood.
He has been one of a mass influx of ex-AFL stars to head north for the Men’s Premier League season, with his fourth and final game this Saturday against Darwin Buffaloes.
He is also one of a high powered quintet to play at Cazalys Arena in 2022-23, alongside Mathew Stokes, Eddie Betts, Neville Jetta and Gary Ablett Jr, who will play his first Top End match against the reigning premier St Mary’s on November 18 at TIO Stadium.
Varcoe told the NT News he found his final AFL season, at Collingwood, was “pretty draining” after being severely impacted by Covid restrictions.
However, he said coming to the Territory was a “no-brainer” after Palmerston, through Stokes, showed interest after initial contact with the Tiwi Bombers and then the Buffaloes came to nothing.
Varcoe said he had been impressed by a strong culture at Cazalys Arena, with the Pies now top of the ladder, after many years without finals success, following strong wins over Nightcliff and Wanderers.
“I’m grateful and indebted to them for giving me the opportunity to find love for the game again,” Varcoe said, who came to the NT with his wife and daughter.
“After 15 years (at the top level), it takes a toll on you.
“For me it was having fun again, and I feel like Palmerston, the club, has made me find that part of it.
“The group has been phenomenal. It’s a really nice place to be around.
“It didn’t have a great reputation a few years ago but they’ve been able to put the right people in the right places.
“Build a nice little culture, and for me to slot into that has been great. They’re obviously doing something right.”
He also praised the influence of new recruits, including former Geelong West midfielder Baxter Mensch (“an old head on young shoulders”), plus Tristen Waack in the ruck, with each leading the disposal and hit out count respectively.
He has also been impressed by Chris Williams’ leadership and Josiah Farrer’s team-first attitude.
“He’s one guy I admire and love the way he goes about it, no fuss, hard-nosed and does what the team needs him to do,” he said of Farrer.
Varcoe has combined footy with trips to Katherine and Gunbalanya, plus some work with the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre.
“I’ve loved every minute of it,” he said of his Top End trip so far.
“It was a no-brainer for us as a family.”
Meanwhile, he said the recruitment of Ablett Jr – who he described as a “pretty low key, pretty quiet” guy – was a “magnificent get” by the club.
“He’s got a lot of pride in what he does,” he said.
“I couldn’t see him doing what I did: ‘Oh yeah we’ll just put the boots on, we’ll have a crack’.
“It’s going to be phenomenal to have somebody of that calibre (playing).
“I’m sure he’ll do something ridiculous.
“I reckon it’ll be like he hasn’t missed a beat.”
Varcoe admitted to some “rust” before his first game against Nightcliff in Round 3, but had kept himself in reasonable shape since his retirement and found the Top End heat not as unbearable as he first feared.
He has slotted four goals from his three games so far; his first footballing foray since his 2020 retirement.
Meanwhile, he hoped Stokes, who was also instrumental in getting Ablett Jr to play at Cazalys, might be playing this weekend against the Buffaloes.
“I thought he was meant to be up here this weekend, so we could at least play one game together,” he said.
“I don’t think he’s too far off.
“I think he’ll pop his head in to say he still runs the place (laughs).”
With the likes of Cam Ellis-Yolmen (Southern Districts), Majak Daw and Harley Bennell (Tiwi Bombers), Mitch Robinson (Buffaloes), Hamish Hartlett (Nightcliff) Steven Motlop (Wanderers) to play NTFL this year, Varcoe said the top flight influx could be linked to players wanting a unique experience after two years impacted by Covid.
“It’s what the Northern Territory has to offer from an experience point of view,” he said of the appeal.
“I think Covid has pulled more people back home to have a look at.”
Steven Motlop opens up on his tough decision to join Wanderers
Former mercurial AFL forward Steven Motlop said he made his decision to play with Wanderers this season at the “last minute” following a lengthy period of contemplation.
Motlop, 31, who retired from the big league after 217 games at the highest level with Geelong and Port Adelaide, had long planned to play NTFL footy post-retirement.
But he was faced with a difficult decision ahead of the 2022-23 Men’s Premier League season: either join his brother Shannon at PINT or return to the Eagles and play with close family and friends.
Motlop, speaking to the NT News at the CareFlight charity golf day at Darwin Golf Club on Friday, admitted he made his decision about a week out from Round 1.
“It was incredibly tough,” Motlop, who has a handicap of nine and loves to play golf up to four times a week, told the NT News.
“And to the last minute as well. It was literally probably a week before the season started. That’s how long it took me.
“There was a little bit of pressure.”
He said he was tempted to head to the Greenants where Shannon would guide the club for their debut season in Men’s Premier League.
“With him going to PINT it was always a possibility,” he said.
“Because I want to support my brother, I’ll always put my family first.
“That’s the reason I’m moving back (to Darwin).”
Motlop said he wanted to spend some time back in the Territory, “get a feel” for the local football terrain before making a call.
He said playing with cousins Thomas and Marlon, and some close friends, eventually made him favour the Muk Muks.
“At the end of the day that was the reason I wanted to play,” he said.
“And there’s no doubt Shannon will be back one day with Wanderers.”
Motlop said he was loving being back in the Top End, and his form has shown that, with a six-goal game against Southern Districts at Freds Pass.
It followed a four-goal debut against Darwin Buffaloes in Round 1.
“It’s been amazing … a really fun start to the year,” he said.
“It has been 15 years, it feels a little bit surreal too.”
He said his body was “pretty good” despite struggling with some tendinitis in his knee last round.
Meanwhile, Motlop expected former Power teammate and friend Hamish Hartlett to debut for Nightcliff against reigning premier St Mary’s on November 12.
“He was looking at coming and playing with me but he’s good friends with (Nightcliff player) John Butcher,” he said.
“My decision being late probably impacted his decision too, he wanted to come and play with me.
“He’s a good mate of mine, he’s going to play against Wanderers a couple weeks after his first game.”
Mitch Robinson to debut for the Darwin Buffaloes
Darwin Buffaloes’ push for their first final in two years has been bolstered by the addition of ex-AFL midfielder Mitch Robinson.
Robinson said on Instagram he was “rapt” to be playing with the Buffs in 2022-23.
“A club that has embraced me for 13 years, helping me to train in the off-season, can’t wait to get stuck into it,” Robinson said.
“First game Sunday.”
And the Double Blues could also include Jed Anderson at some point this 2022-23 season, who has been training with Buffs after he was delisted by North Melbourne recently.
Darwin coach Cameron Stokes said Robinson would arrive in Darwin this week, linking up with Buffs assistant Joe Anderson, who the 33-year-old had played with at Carlton.
“He’s got some links to Darwin and moved his family up here in recent weeks,” Stokes said of his new recruit.
“He’ll be up here for the season. It’s a big boost for our midfield.
“We’re really excited. And he’s excited to spend some time with Joey and the Anderson family and play some footy with Buffs.”
Robinson was delisted by the Lions last month after a 247-game career following stints at Carlton and Brisbane.
He was dropped after the Lions’ elimination final win over Richmond at the Gabba, leaving the popular player “devastated”.
However, Robinson has said publicly he would like to play on in 2023 after 14 years at the top level.
Robinson will join a host of new faces at Buffs, including Dom Brew, Kaine Riley, Kokwam Niki and Liam Holt-Fitz.
However, Stokes did not discount Jed Anderson playing NTFL this season.
“Jed might have some opportunities, I’m not sure what the go is with Jed just yet,” he said.
“Being a local he’s always down at the club when he’s back in Darwin.”
However, rumours former AFL goalsneak Jeff Garlett would play for Buffs were exactly that.
The number of ex-AFL stars playing in the Top End this season has now grown to 10 with Robinson’s commitment to the club.
The 33-year-old will join the likes of Eddie Betts, Gary Ablett, Travis Varcoe and Mathew Stokes at Palmerston, and Cam Ellis-Yolmen (Southern Districts), Hamish Hartlett (Nightcliff), Steven Motlop (Wanderers), Harley Bennell and Majak Daw (Tiwi Bombers) at NTFL clubs this season.
Meanwhile, Stokes said his charges did plenty of goal kicking drills on Tuesday night after they scored 7.22 against Tiwi Bombers in a four-point win.
“It’s not the way you want to be finishing in front of goal,” he said.
“It is what it is, we just needed to go away and focus obviously on getting better.
“You’ve got to win ugly sometimes, I’m just thankful to walk away with the win after being so inaccurate.”
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