The name Russell Jeffrey is synonymous with Territory football. Hugely respected and admired by all, dedicated and determined Jeffrey had a stellar playing career that stretched from the mid-1980s to 2002. Russell Jeffrey played 201 NTFL Games for Saint Mary’s, Wanderers and the Palmerston Magpies. A proud Territorian, he donned the Northern Territory representative Guernsey an amazing 24 times.
He was a key member of the historic 1988 Bicentennial Team, the Indigenous All Stars Team in 1994, a member of the ‘Back to Cyclone Tracy team of two decades and in 1990 became the first NT footballer to represent Victoria in a State of Origin match.
A talented footballer he caught the eye of AFL recruiters and after stints with Geelong, St Kilda and the Brisbane Bears he returned to the NT and captained Wanderers to a premiership in 1992/93, winning the coveted Chaney medal for a brilliant performance in the Grand Final.
Highly regarded as an excellent coach as well, he coached Wanderers from 1993 to 1997, the NT Teal Cup team in 1994/95, was the NTFL representative coach in 1996, 1997, and 2000 and famously coached the Palmerston Magpies to back-to-back Premierships in 2001 and 2002.
His contribution to NT football was recognised in 2009/10 when he was awarded NTFL player life membership and inducted into the AFLNT Hall of Fame in 2010. In recognition of talent, hard work and a lifetime of commitment to Northern Territory football, he richly deserves his spot in the greatest team of all time. Russell Jeffrey, we welcome you into the AFLNT Team of the Century.