The 2024 Michael Long Cup took place over the weekend in a remarkable display of talent and enthusiasm, showcasing some of the Northern Territory’s brightest future stars in the under-15s matches.
Emerging athletes from across the NT travelled to Darwin, were selected from local trials in their respective regions. The tournament featured a diverse representation, with players hailing from Darwin, the Tiwi Islands, Gove, Katherine, Arnhem Land, the Barkly region, Alice Springs, and remote Central Australia.
For these young players, the event also presents an opportunity to put forward their name for the 2025 Cazalys NT Talent Academy Under-16s squad.
In the matches, Team Bush excelled, remaining undefeated across their two games. Meanwhile, Team Johnston and Team Rowland each secured a victory.
Results:
Game One: Team Bush – 8.9.57 defeat Team Kievit – 5.5.35
Game Two: Team Rowland – 9.9.63 defeat Team Johnston – 6.3.39
Game Three: Team Johnston – 7.6.48 defeat Team Rowland – 6.6.42
Game Four: Team Bush – 9.13.67 defeat Team Kievit – 4.4.28
All matches can be viewed on the AFLNTv YouTube Channel.
The coaches, in collaboration with the NT Talent team, had the privilege of selecting the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for each team. The MVP award was determined not only by individual performance but also by how well players demonstrated teamwork and camaraderie.
Most-Valuable-Players:
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Team Kievit – Bella Brown
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Team Bush – Brylee Akers
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Team Rowland – Hugo Timms
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Team Johnston – Owen Campbell
NT Talent Head Coach Dale Eames expressed the importance of the Michael Long Cup and the success of the four matches. “For many of these young footballers, it was their first chance to demonstrate their skills against some of the best across the NT.”
“The matches were closely monitored by AFL clubs aligned with NGA (Next Generation Academy) regions, as well as our NT Talent Academy team, as we begin to shape the 2025 Academy Squads. We were thrilled with the engagement and connection the players displayed throughout the camp and were impressed by the intensity of the matches.”
“There is some exciting talent coming through, and we look forward to seeing their continued development.”
