St Mary’s unbeaten 1994-95 NTFL premiers reunite for 30 year anniversary
St Mary’s legendary undefeated 1994-95 team are set to reunite 30 years on from capturing their slice of NTFL history. Read some of the reflections on that famous season.
St Mary’s is known for making NTFL history, but a particularly special moment was their 1994-95 undefeated season – and now, 30 years later, their club legends are reuniting.
The Green Machine were particularly dominant in the late 80s and early 90s as their rivalry with the Darwin Buffaloes was at its peak.
Saints went through the season without losing a game before meeting their rivals in the Big Dance, which they won 21.13 (139) to 6.6 (42).
The John Taylor coached outfit was full of NTFL legends including Chaney medallist Noel Long, goal scorers Dennis Dunn and Brian Stanislaus, and Cyril Rioli.
For then captain Michael Athanasiou, now an NTFL Hall of Famer, it was awe-inspiring just to be in those Saints sides.
“Our club has always had amazing players and that team was no different,” Athanasiou said.
“We had people playing in VFL or the AFL, and the range of family names, just to be standing on the oval next to them was awe-inspiring.
“And then the coaches, John Taylor was one of the most amazing coaches here and he’ll go down as one of the greatest NTFL coaches ever.
“The club, led by Vic Ludwig at the time, was so professional and so well organised; we were never far away from achieving the goal of winning a premiership.”
Athanasiou was a part of many great St Mary’s sides in a career that exceeded 300 senior games, winning the Nichols medal in 1990-91 and playing in 12 premierships.
He also represented the NT 21 times, but captaining his club side to an undefeated season was a special honour he still holds dear.
“It really was a pleasure and an honour to be captain of that side, it’s a really proud moment for me and was for my family too,” he said.
“We achieved something as a group, but we’ve always looked at it as achieving something for our club and families and everyone that helped us during the season.”
Thirty years on Athanasiou and others from the legendary team are reuniting to remember the victory as their club takes on the Buffaloes in Round 9 of the 2024-25 season.
“It will be wonderful to catch up with all these past legends and heroes after all this time, it’ll be an amazing experience,” he said.
“It’ll be a happy time but sad as well, because unfortunately a few of those players aren’t with us anymore.”
St Mary’s continue to succeed being the NTFL reigning premiers.
They currently sit second on the table.
“I’m just so proud to see the growth in our club in the junior space, the female ranks and the volunteers who keep giving back to the club after many years,” Athanasiou said.
“I really love watching the footy now, no era is better than any other, ours was more free-flowing and now there’s better structures, but it’s about how they build on the legacy.
“I love the fact we can be so passionate and emotional about a game of footy, but it runs deeper, it’s about the next generation and inspiring them to be better than those before.”
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Originally published as St Mary’s unbeaten 1994-95 NTFL premiers reunite for 30 year anniversary
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