St Mary’s announce squad bound for Alice Springs

St Mary’s Football Club, fresh off their triumphant 34th NTFL Premiership win earlier this year, is set to take on the CAFL Representative side in a highly anticipated match at TIO Traeger Park on July 20 proudly supported by Yeperenye Shopping Centre. Head Coach Anthony Vallejo has unveiled a formidable 24-man squad for the encounter, signalling their intent to start the upcoming 2024/25 TIO NTFL season on a high note. 

The Saints secured their latest NTFL title by defeating the Nightcliff Tigers in a thrilling contest. In the past seven weeks of preparation, their focus has turned to the representative match, with Vallejo emphasising the significance of this match in gauging their readiness for the upcoming season. 

“We at Saints, are really looking forward to the chance to represent the club in Alice Springs in a weeks' time,” he stated. 

“We are in our pre-season phase at the moment, and it will give us a first look at some of the work our guys have put in on the track over the last six to eight weeks as we prepare for the 2024/25 NTFL season.” 

Historically, St Mary’s has been a powerhouse in the NTFL, boasting a rich legacy that includes numerous premiership victories. The squad announced for the CAFL clash features a blend of seasoned players like Jackson Calder and Zac Robinson alongside promising talents from their under 18’s premiership-winning squad.  

However, despite being the most successful club in NTFL history, St Mary’s Football Operations Coordinator Karl Gundersen added his thoughts of their opposition. 

“We have immense respect for the talent level of players in Alice Springs, our club (Saint Mary’s) have had a number of players in the past who have played in the competition over the years including club greats such as Cadji Dunn, Michael Long, Rod Mchee, Michael Graham and Tommy Weetra,” Gunderson shared. 

“The influx of players from Saint Mary’s heading south to play in the Alice Springs competition did not stop there either, with players such as myself, Henry Labastida, Rory Hood, Kieran Parnell, Jake Toa, Nick Yarran and Braxton Ahmat also having played in the CAFL competition during the dry season in recent times.” 

Key Match Day Timings: 

• Under 18’s Male West vs Federals: 9:30 am 

• Under 18’s Male Souths vs Pioneer: 11:15 am 

• Women's Curtain Raiser Under 23s vs Over 23s: 1:00 pm 

• CAFL Representative Game CAFL vs St Mary's: 3:00 pm 

Tickets can be purchased at the gate on match day. 

Below is the list of players named in the 2024 St Mary’s squad: