One of the greatest players to ever represent the Nightcliff Football Club is without a doubt Joseph Daby. Better known as the ‘Flying Five’, Joe commenced his football career in 1969 at just 14 years of age playing in the Under 17 Tigers team.

Joe went on to play 210 games over 18 seasons for Nightcliff in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL). A brilliant utility, Joe was awarded Nightcliff’s Best and Fairest six times between 1971/72 and 1980/81.

A player in the Club’s 1973/74 and 1978/79 grand final teams, he was also the Tigers leading goal kicker in 1973/74 with 64 goals. 

Between 1971/72 and 1980/81, Joe consistently polled high in the Nichols Medal count, winning it twice. Runner-up in 1971/72, his first win was in 1972/73 and in 1980/81, Joe won his second Nichols Medal. This year proved to be one of Joe’s best, receiving the NTFL’s highest individual honour and receiving the NT News Footballer of the Year award, the Qantas Award, the Vic Jewellers Award and Runner Up in the BP Player of the Year Award.

A small player blessed with a big heart and electrifying speed, Joe had uncanny ball handling ability and was deadly in front of the goals, part of the reason he was selected in the NTFL team who played against the Australian Amateurs in 1979 at VFL Park in Melbourne. Named at number 6 in the 1989/90 “Toyota Top 20 Players” from 1974 to 1990, Joe was also named in the “Back to Cyclone Tracy Team of two Decades”.

Considered one of the best Rovers the NTFL competition has ever seen, admired by all for his undeniable passion and love of the game, Joseph Daby, a true Tigers champion, is welcomed into the AFLNT Hall of Fame.