AFLNT Chief Executive Officer Michael Solomon is pleased to announce Russell Jeffrey as the Manager of Community Football and Facilities after a lengthy interview process.
Jeffrey comes into the role with not only football knowledge but also a strong business background.
The name Russell Jeffrey is synonymous with Territory football having had a stellar playing career that stretched from the mid 1980’s to 2002 playing 201 NTFL Games for St Mary’s, Wanderers and the Palmerston Magpies in the NTFL. 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 and in 2016 he was inducted into the AFLNT Team of the Century.
AFLNT CEO Michael Solomon says, ‘We think the appointment of Russell is fantastic for NT football as he brings with him not just football knowledge but also his sharp business acumen and he is highly respected by many Australia wide’.
‘Our process has been extensive and thorough and Russell has impressed along every step of the way’.
Jeffrey says ‘I am very excited about the role and looking forward to hitting the ground running’.
‘Football is 24/7, all year round in the Territory and I can’t wait to get going straight into NTFL season and I’m looking forward to working with the team at AFLNT’ he said.
Jeffrey will start in the role on Monday 16th October 2017.