NTFL Buffaloes and the Glenelg Tigers in a return to the days of old when rep footy was king

Territory leg speed and Glenelg discipline adds up to a tense return to representative football after 36 years.

The guernseys being worn by the NTFL and Glenelg. Darwin's own Marlon Motlop and Keelan Fejo designed and drew the Glenelg indigenous jumper.

A GLANCE at both coaches’ boxes during Saturday night’s NTFL-Glenelg interstate clash at TIO Stadium will reveal a lot of firsts.

Buffaloes coach Chris Baksh and Glenelg’s Brett Hand are on senior coaching duties for the first time, a throwback to the 1985 clash between both clubs.

John Taylor was handed the coaching reins of the Territory side back then and Glenelg turned to its retired player Graham Cornes to take them forward, with his first step being a 35-point loss to the NT.

Baksh, the reigning NTFL premiership coach with Nightcliff, admitted to a few nerves with the first bounce less than 12 hours away.

“It’s a huge challenge for everyone involved with the NTFL side, but I really think we’ve got the right mix to take the game right up to Glenelg,’’ he said.

“It is very hard on all the players who aspired to be in the side, I know that, but unfortunately we can only pick 24 to run out on the day.

“We’re happy with the makeup of the side, with a pretty settled back half, midfield and forward line.

“And we’ve included a bit of x-factor on the outside we reckon will work against a quality opposition like Glenelg.’’

Baksh and his selectors have picked a form side, with prolific Southern Districts midfielder and Woodville-West Torrens premiership player James Tsitas starting in the middle.

Nightcliff (six) and Wanderers (six) form half the side after stellar seasons in the NTFL Premier League.

Tigers Brodie Filo, Cameron Ilett and Kyle Emery form the half forward line for the Buffaloes.

Hand will have a series of stars from Adelaide’s bayside club to throw at the home side.

Leading the pack is midfielder Luke Partington, the 2019 Magarey medallist in Glenelg’s premiership year.

Max Proud will captain the side in Darwin where he will play a key defensive role.

“We’ve got a great leadership group with leaders all over the ground, but the coin tossing and that sort of stuff will be Max’s job,’’ Hand said.

“Liam McBean, who was on Richmond’s list and Luke Reynolds will be key players up forward for us where games are run and won and we’ve got our premiership captain Chris Curran back from medical studies that kept him off the ground last year.’’

Hand said a lot of people at Glenelg held high hopes for 19-year-old small forward Will Chandler who will start in a forward pocket on Saturday night.