Interstate standouts playing in the 2024-25 NTFL season
Former AFL players, state league stars and players from across the country have flocked north to join the NTFL for the 2024-25 season. Check out some of the top interstaters playing in the NT.
As footy competitions across the country come to close for the year, the NTFL bursts into life – and for that reason, plenty of top players have made their way north to try their hand at Top End footy.
Whether they’re former AFL players or state league performers plenty of stars have made their way north to take advantage of the extra play time and mix it with the local NT talent.
Even some legends of the game have come to the Top End including Eddie Betts and Gary Ablett Jr, boosting the profile of the league.
There are other players that have the Top End their home including Nichols medal winners Brodie Filo and Dylan Landt, or multiple women’s best and fairest winner Jasmyn Hewett.
But for the purpose of this list we’ve highlighted some of the standout men’s and women’s players who have arrived more recently so limited the list to players who have only played two seasons.
Check out the list below.
WOMEN
Alessia Smythe (Southern Districts Crocs)
Smythe has state league experience, with seasons for Southport’s ressies and first grade outfits in the QAFLW.
So far she has been a weapon for Districts and has earned six best player votes in her six games this season.
Caitlin Sargent (St Mary’s Saints)
Sargent’s first full season with the green machine has got off to a flyer, in a side eager to go one better than their previous season.
With her resume boasting time at St Bernards in the EDFL, Hillside in the Coates Talent League and more recently played a few matches for the Bombers and Bulldogs in the VFLW.
Eilish Grundon (PINT Greenants)
A seasoned veteran from Queensland, Grundon is in her second season for the Queenants.
She has a lot of interstate experience with time in the QWAFL (Wilston Grange, Coolangatta Tweed), the VAFA and VFLW (Fitzroy, Port Melbourne) as well as time in the WAWFL (South Freemantle).
In 2024-25 Grundon has earned three best player votes from six games.
Eliza Hand (Nightcliff Tigers)
The New South Welshmen has impressed many in the ruck in what is her first campaign at Nightcliff.
With most of her career spent in the Hunter and North West leagues, Hand has been another great addition to the Tigers, and has earned three best player votes in her five games outings.
Ella Ward (Palmerston Magpies)
In her early 20s but already playing like a seasoned veteran the West Australian has been a menace in the ruck for Palmerston.
With time spent in the WAFL and WAWFL at South Freemantle, Ward has quickly established herself as a cornerstone of the Pies’ rebuild with 15 best players in her 22 outings for the club.
Ellie Kellock (Tiwi Bombers)
The Glenelg premiership skipper is in her first season at the Bombers and has lived up to her billing.
A Morphettville Park alum, Kellock is frequently one of if not the best on in the SANFL and has carried that from into the NTFL, already with seven votes in nine games.
Erica Rowe (Palmerston Magpies)
Another product from south of the border Rowe is in her first year at the Magpies.
She has played her footy across the SANFLW and Barossa leagues, and has picked up three best on votes in her six caps.
Gabrielle Deller (Nightcliff Tigers)
Playing her second season for Nightcliff, Deller is a bit of a journey woman who has played in the VFLW and QWAFL.
Capable of creating something out of nothing, Deller has received five best players in her six games this season.
India Barker (Darwin Buffaloes)
Another Buffette in their second stint at the club Barker has been a great edition to a rebuilding side.
With most of her footy career played in the EDFL for Maribyrnong Park FC, she’s since spent time at both the West Bulls and Williamstown in the VFLW.
Imogen Loftes (Waratah Warriors)
In her first season at Waratah Loftes’ has injected a level of talent in the struggling outfit. She has high quality experience and skill from her time in the Adelaide Footy League and SAWFL for the Pulteney football club, and stint at West Adelaide in the SANFL.
Jessica Nannup (Tiwi Bombers)
A new addition to the Bombers, Nannup decided to play for Tiwi following her partner Marlion Pickett signing on for the Bombers’ season 2024-25.
Originally from WA Nannup’s had experience in a number of different leagues including the WAWFL (South Fremantle), NFNL (Fitzroy Stars), and Moonee Valley (EDFL).
Maddi Shaw (Southern Districts Crocs)
In her maiden campaign with the Crocs, Shaw has already made an immediate impact.
A winner through and through Shaw won the VFLW flag in 2023 with Port Melbourne and is currently signed to the Bombers VFLW list.
Meg McGuiness (PINT Greenants)
A Queenslander playing her first season at PINT McGuiness has played her trade in the QWAFL for both Southport and Yeronga.
In just the three games to date, McGuiness has earned two best player nods, making a noticeable impact to the reigning premiers.
Roxy Beuzeville (Darwin Buffaloes)
The Sydney-sider is in her second NTFL season and continues to be one of the standout performers for the side.
A Pittwater Tigers junior, Beuzeville has since established herself in the VFLW with the Western Bulldogs.
Ruby O’Dwyer (Waratah Warriors)
In her second proper stint at the Tahs, O’Dwyer has become a mainstay of the team.
From Victoria she’s played most of her footy in the SDFL and Coates Talent (Eastern Rangers).
This season she’s had three best players from five matches.
MEN
Tom Simpson (Darwin Buffaloes)
It hasn’t been the start the Darwin Buffaloes would have wanted, but the recruitment of Simpson from Queensland has been one of the shining lights.
Simpson has been with Labrador in the AFL Queensland League for the past few seasons earning him a call up into the state’s rep team earlier this year.
At Buffaloes he’s a strong body in the middle with a booming kick that often gets around the ball in assistance of his standout skipper Jarrod Stokes.
Lachlan Tardrew (Nightcliff Tigers)
Tardrew has been one of the standout ring-ins for the Nightcliff Tigers across the past two seasons and brings a point of difference they rely on often being the one to burst through and find space.
He’s only made one appearance so far this season, but it received a best player’s nod to go along with his six from seven outings in 2023-24.
The Tigers fly-in had an outstanding season in the Bendigo competition too as a frequent standout for Sandhurst on their charge to the grand final.
Sean Hunter (Nightcliff Tigers)
A young recruit at the Tigers who has shown all the talents already to prove he will play a big role in Nightcliff’s finals prospects.
Hunter already has a Rising Star nomination from his first stint in the Top End as well as five best players nods from six appearances.
The Victorian played in the Central Murray Football Netball League grand final for Kerang prior to his trip north, having played at that stage in both the previous seasons.
Boyd Bailey (Nightcliff Tigers)
Bailey got his first taste of Darwin footy in the 2021-22 season when he featured for Banks in a Division 1 grand final making season, but this year he’s returned for a Premier League outfit.
In the interim he has turned out for Morwell in the Gippsland League and is a near constant in the outfit’s best players when around.
It makes him a huge boon for the Tigers this season where he has brought some pace, but crucially as proven against Palmerston he’s not bad in front of goal either.
Cameron Nyko (Palmerston)
The midfield dynamo is another leading the bunch for Palmerston with multiple best player mentions for the Magpies already this season.
Nyko is fresh off a VFL season with Essendon and is already making a name for himself in his debut season in the NT.
A player who can impose himself on the contest and impresses with what he does with the ball, and one that can influence the young outfit around him.
Nayef Hamad (Palmerston Magpies)
Hamad quickly made an impression in his first outing for Palmerston with a best on ground performance where he notched up 35 disposals.
It was the Magpies’ first win since the 2022-23 season and one that indicated the former Footscray VFL player would be a perfect fit for the side.
He’s an experienced head who brings plenty of composure to a side that has struggled in recent times.
Tristen Waack (Palmerston Magpies)
Palmerston fans had plenty to celebrate when they noticed that Waack was indeed back after a season and a half out of the outfit.
His footy career has grown leaps and bounds in the time since his departure midway through in his debut 2022-23 season with VFL appearances for both Box Hill and the Northern Bullants.
The Magpies can play across the ground whether in the ruck or down back in a rebounding capacity and he’s even good for a surge forward to goal when the need strikes.
Riley Mayne (PINT)
The former QAFL player has slipped seamlessly into life at the DXC Arena club on his return to the footy scene.
Mayne is a big unit who can do the business in the ruck as well as around the ground when required, even able to offer himself up for a goal or two.
One of the big new signings at PINT he’s sure to be a menace for any opposition, and was particularly dangerous in outings against Districts and Palmerston.
Christopher Nield (PINT)
Nield has returned to the fold at the Greenants after an injury sidelined him form an appearance in their 2023-24 finals debut season.
The forward has been quick to make a reimpression as one of their better strike weapons in front of goal alongside Benjamin Brett.
Nield hails from Tasmania and is both strong at taking marks and at booting the ball accurately, traits that have helped him become PINT’s top goal scorer of the season.
Matt Shannon (Southern Districts)
Shannon has returned to the Crocs after a year off and is once again one of the dominant midfield forces of the competition.
A hugely influential figure in generating play out of the middle and someone happy to go forward to score himself when the time is right, as proven in his recent six goal outing against Palmerston.
The Crocs were already shaping up to be a side to be reckoned with considering their stars across the field, and Shannon brings something extra after narrowly missing out on a VFL premiership.
Matthew Johnston (Southern Districts)
There’s no lacking of form for this man who came into the 2024-25 season fresh off captaining East Point to a Ballarat grand final, while picking up the Henderson Medal.
Johnston kicked 22 goals across the distance for his side and now in the NTFL for the second time is bringing that same influence to Southern Districts.
The midfielder comes as a package deal with his brother Jordan Johnston and the pair are already putting in some standout performances in side full of weapons.
Wyatt Ryan (Southern Districts)
Ryan has established himself as the dominant ruck of the 2024-25 NTFL season racking up the hit outs for his side full of midfield performers.
The SANFL player for West Adelaide joined the Crocs in the 2023-24 season where he quickly formed a strong partnership with Matt Dennis.
But this season he has made the rucking position his own with knock down stats frequently exceeding 40 in a match, while he can make an impact elsewhere as well.
Connor West (St Mary’s)
The former West Coast Eagle has had a strong start to life in the Top End with back to back strong showings in the Saints outfit.
A strong possession getter compliments the Green Machine’s midfield and will be important tool for the side as the season progresses.
West plays for West Perth in the WAFL having returned to the club following the close of his AFL career at the end of the 2023 season and now brings that experience to the NTFL.
Joel Garner (St Mary’s)
The VFL player has already made a bit of a name for himself in the Top End competition with a Chaney medal winning performance in Saints most recent premiership.
Garner is known for his big tackles and important possessions that increasingly come to the fore as a game rolls on giving Saints their spark even in the dying stages.
He’s returned to the fold this season and brought some friends in Chad Harris and Kaelan Bradtke along for the ride.
Liam O’Brien (St Mary’s)
A Queenslander who is enjoying his first season in the Top End with reigning premiers St Mary’s and is holding his own in the squad.
O’Brien plays for Palm Beach Currumbin in the QAFL, a club that has reached finals for the past three seasons with him playing an important role.
He gets through plenty of possessions at Saints and throws himself into the contests to find a way to pull his side on top.
Marlion Pickett (Tiwi Bombers)
There’s always question marks on how an established player will perform when they first tackle the Top End heat, but signing of the season Pickett hardly missed a beat.
The Richmond premiership player is not only an inspiring, experienced head for the young Bombers outfit but a constant grafter in the action as much as he can be.
His handy possessions have helped give the Bombers stability in their early success, and his ability to play across the ground, including in the ruck, is vital to the building side.
Jackson Broadbent (Tiwi Bombers)
The 201cm former draft prospect has proved a vital cog in a Tiwi machine that has been on the rise in the 2024-25 season, and having a big unit in the middle has sure helped.
Broadbent played his first two Top End games for Banks before getting the call up to the Bombers, where he’s played his role well in the middle allowing the likes of Karlson Kantilla to go forward.
The West Australian played for Eaton Football Club in the South West Football League throughout 2024, and has previous experience with Peel Thunder and South Fremantle.
Liam Odea (Waratah)
The gun midfielder from Woori Yallock has brought plenty of pace to the Waratah midfield and forward line.
Odea can win clearances and knows how to use his skills in the contest to either create a scoring chance or go himself when the time comes.
Recently played in the Outer East Football Netball League’s preliminary final where he was named among the best and is having similar standout performances in the Top End.
Ricky Monti (Waratah)
Monti is one of several newcomers to the Waratah outfit for the season and has taken to the Top End game admirably for a younger player.
Has been rated one of the Bendigo’s premier midfielders in the past couple of seasons, and played for the Essendon VFL side earlier this year, and the skills he’s put on show in the NT reveal why.
Gets plenty of the ball in a Waratah midfield full of great players and does what he needs to in order to impose himself.
Jack Bambury (Waratah)
Bambury has been one of the big pickups for the new look Waratah outfit of the 2024-25 season and has rewarded the club with some huge showings.
The rebounding half-back was one of the best players for Sebastopol throughout the Bendigo league season and helped form them into a premiership threat.
And again in the red and whites he’s part of a Waratah side that will threaten for top honours as well, with Bambury having achieved five best players’ nods already.
Jaxon East (Wanderers)
The premier ball winner at Wanderers was the shining light in the early stages of the season for the side with his instinctive ability to make an impact on the play.
East can hold his own against any midfield and usually comes away with plenty of the footy, as proven in his 38 disposal showing against Districts in Round 2.
He played a crucial role in the side’s opening win of the season and it was an outing the Muk Muks have built on since.
Jack Sinclair (Wanderers)
The hero from Wanderers Round 8 defeat of PINT with his last minute goal from the sideline that not only took the lead but sealed the deal in an incredibly tight tussle.
Sinclair has been one of the big signings for the Eagles in the 2024-25 season with previous experience in the Murray Football League and the Kyabram District competition.
His strong possessions have added some attacking flair to the side, while he has more than proven his ability to kick a goal in trying times.
Jak Trewin (Wanderers)
The Wanderers top goal scorer has added some real spark to the much-changed rebuilding outfit he has joined in the NTFL.
Trewin is a potent threat up forward in a side that has made additions across the ground, including Jeremy Piercy and Billy Crofts, and has 16 majors to his name and assisted more than a few more.
The new Eagle recently featured in the Murray Football League final for Congupna having scored four goals, after scoring a hat trick on the same stage the season prior.
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