Leo Castillon started his league career with Buffaloes Football Club in 1936-37 and the following year at the tender age of seventeen became the youngest player to win the coveted NTFL Best and Fairest award, now known as the Nichols medal.

Not content with being the youngest winner Leo went on to win the award again in 1946-47 and was runner up three times.

No stranger to Northern Territory football’s biggest occasion, Leo played for his beloved Buffaloes in an estimated nine NTFL Grand Finals, suffering the heartbreak of playing in the losing side six times before tasting the ultimate success, famously winning three flags in a row as a key member of the legendary Buffaloes Grand final teams of 1948-49, 1949-50 and 1950-51.

As a man who took his football seriously, Leo Castillon was extremely focused on his fitness and diet, ensuring he was in excellent condition and fully prepared to face the rigors of playing NTFL football at the highest level.

A Buffalo through and through, Leo Castillon was also a great club man, heavily involved in all of the clubs activities.

A tough, courageous and uncompromising rover, Leo Castillon was one of the most talented, experienced players in the league in 1948-49 and Leo was named in the NT representative team that played against Alice Springs that season.

Leo transferred to the Works and Housing Football Club in 1951-52 and won the club’s award for best new player. Leo served as club captain from 1951-52 until 1953-54 and was also captain/ coach in 1952-53.

Adding to his tally of individual awards, in 1958-59 Leo won the NTFL Reserve grade Best and Fairest, the Mitch Lee medal.

A life member of the NTFL and a life member of the Nightcliff Football Club, Leo Castillon dedicated his life to football. It was his true passion, and his life’s work. Sadly he passed away on the steps of Football Park, Marrara, the evening of the stadium’s first night game.

It is both an honor and a privilege to induct one of Northern Territory footballs true heroes, a man who played a tough but fair brand of football. We welcome Leo Castillon, into the AFLNT Hall of Fame.