A new season with a big dose of the old and the new at Premier League clubs Nightcliff and the Tiwi Bombers and Waratah's attempt to back-to-back men's flags for the first time in 24 years adding up to a fascinating 2023/24 TIO Northern Territory Football League season.
Darwin sportswriter Grey Morris has deciphered the 16 men's and Women's Premier League clubs in a bid to get some insight into the makeup of the competition and who are the serious contenders this season.
Former Western Bulldogs and Richmond utility Patrick Bowden will coach the Tiwi Bombers, while the Bombers' only premiership coach, Leigh Crossman, has replaced three-time premiership coach Chris Baksh at Nightcliff.
Of the seven other clubs, Ryan Ayers will again coach Waratah, Shannon Rusca resumes his tenure at Southern Districts, Anthony Vallejo remains at St Mary's, and Cameron Stokes heads up the Darwin Buffaloes' coaching staff. Shannon Motlop takes charge at competition rookies PINT, Aaron Motlop holds the reins at Wanderers and Josh Heath begins his third season at the Palmerston Magpies.
TIO NTFL MEN'S PREMIER LEAGUE
Waratah
- Nickname: Warriors
- Home Ground: Gardens Oval
- Premierships (16): (1921, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1937, 1941, 1947, 1948, 1953, 1954, 1974, 1977, 1999, 2000, 2023).
- Nichols medallists (9): D Ganley 1952, G McKee 1953, B James 1954, J Wilson 1961, Bertram 1963, K Nickels 1972, H McPhee 1980, P Ivanoff 1982, P Ivanoff 1987). T Mosquito 2017
- Last Season: Premiers.
Coach Ryan Ayers says: "It's been 24 years since we last went back-to-back in terms of senior premierships and it's going to be a tough ask. If we can focus on player retention we know they've been successful already, which means the focus is on the playing group as to whether they've got the hunger, desire, and the right mindset to go back-to-back.''
Southern Districts
- Nickname: Crocodiles
- Home Ground: Norbuilt Oval
- Premiers: (3): 1998, 2007, 2018.
- Nichols medallists (7): B Hughes 1990, A Collard 1999, K Maher 2000, K Maher 2001, B Jarmyn 2002. S Rusca 2007, M Cannard 2010),
- Last Season: Runners-up.
- Ins: Matt Johnston (midfielder, Ballarat), Jordan Johnston (midfielder, Ballarat), Nick Rokahr (midfielder, Norwood), Wyatt Ryan (ruckman-forward Central Districts), Jordan Cotter (defender, Melton), Shaydon Close (forward, Rovers).
- Outs: Ben Galbraith.
Coach Shannon Rusca says: "I think we'll be all right after finishing runners-up last season. We're keen to be better by taking one more step, but to do that we've got to be one cohesive unit where we get everyone to learn a new brand of footy that suits the Darwin competition. There will be a transition of players that is normal for Darwin, but with recruits like Nick Rokahr, a back-to-back runner-up in the Magarey Medal, we're going to be OK.''
St Mary's
- Home Ground: TIO Stadium
- Premierships (33): 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1972, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022.
- Nichols medallists (23): B Roe 1955, N Davies 1956, G Lew Fatt 1955, L Gregory 1967, J Pepperill 1970, P Murphy 1972, P Murphy 1973, M Graham 1974, B Bennett 1978, S Thomson 1985, D Christensen 1986, W Rioli 1989, M Athanasiou 1991, N Long 1993, M Christensen/C Rioli 1996, T Weetra 1999, J Ilett 2005, H Culpitt 2006, I Vallejo 2009, P MacFarlane 2014, C Ilett 2015, D Landt 2023.
- Last Season: 3rd.
- Ins: Tex Kowewha (forward, ruckman from Werribee), Seth Harris (on-baller from Frankston), Will Robinson (midfielder from Eastside).
- Outs: Matt Green (knee injury).
Coach Anthony Vallejo says: "Obviously our aim is a top-three finish to give us the double chance as in previous years. We've got a couple of young kids we're hoping will play a lot of Premier League footy if they continue to do all the right things.
Nightcliff
- Home Ground: Darwin Mazda Nightcliff Oval
- Premierships (6): 1957, 1961, 1965, 2019, 2020, 2021.
- Nichols medallists (18): H Muir 1957, J Bonson Sr 1960, J Bonson Sr 1961, B Lew Fatt 1964, K Bonson 1971, J Daby 1973, M Motlop 1978, J Tye 1979, J Daby 1981, N Murphy 1997, N Murphy 1998, W Berto 2008, B Filo 2016, C Ilett 2018, P Wills 2019, B Filo 2020, D Brew 2021, D Bowles 2022.
- Last Season: 4th.
- Ins: Jonathan Lanyon, midfielder from Banks, Brett Kennedy, forward from Banks, Mitch Norton, defender from Nuriootpa.
- Outs: Shaun Wilson (Banks)
Coach Leigh Crossman says: "I'm in a situation where a new coach comes in with new ideas and a fresh change after Chris (Baksh) was there for seven years. I think a new voice has been good for the group where we've had very good numbers at training where we've all excited and I know I am, about the year ahead, Coming up against clubs like Southern Districts, Waratah, St Mary's and the Buffaloes presents big challenges and great opportunities.''
Darwin Buffaloes
- Home Ground: TIO Stadium
- Premierships (22): 1925, 1926, 1927, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1949, 1950, 1961, 1952, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1980, 1989, 2006.
- Nichols medallists (11): J Sarah 1950, S Abala Sr 1951, D Stokes 1968, A Muir 1969, R Quall 1976, B Damaso 1977, W Briston 1984, S Stokes 1988, J Jones 1992, J Jones 1994, B AhMat 2003.
- Last season: 5th.
- Ins: TBC
- Outs: Liam Holt-Fitz (PINT), John Crosin (interstate).
Coach Cameron Stokes says: "Obviously our main goal is to play finals every year and for our fairly young group thast has been together for a long time now, we're probably after consistency. We've faded at time in previous years and had to work our way back, so it's important we set some foundations early and be a lot more consistent. Our skipper Jarrod Stokes always sets the parameters around the club and Hassan AhMat-Watkins is coming off a strong year in Victoria's Swan Hill league with Nyah Nyah West so he will be a key for us.
PINT
- Home Ground: DXC Arena (Marrara)
- Premierships: Nil
- Nichols medallists: Nil
- Last Season: 6th.
- Ins: Steven Motlop (forward-midfielder from Wanderers), Liam Holt-Fitz (forward from Darwin).
- Outs: TBC
Coach Shannon Motlop says: "The footy club cannot afford to miss the finals again after we went so close in our first season in the Premier League. We should have played finals footy in our first season and with the right planning and addition of players like my brother Steven and Liam Holt-Fitz we'll go a long way to achieving that goal.''
Palmerston
- Home Ground: Cazalys Arena
- Premierships: (3): 1981, 2001, 2002.
- Nichols medallists (3): I Wallace 1978, T Lehman 1983, E Guthrie 2022.
- Last Season: 7th.
- Ins: TBC
- Outs: TBC
Coach Josh Heath says: "We're aiming at another successful start to the season and we want consistency among the playing list to be a big factor in making that happen That's something all the clubs try to do and we'll do it without Gary Ablett Jr, who unfortunately won't be back this season after his one-off game last season, something we were happy to bring to the competition.
Wanderers
- Home Ground: Tracy Village Oval
- Premierships (12): 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1958, 1982, 1983, 1993, 2011, 2015.
- Nichols medallists (9): T Cooper 1958, P Marrego 1960, T Cooper 1962, R Moreen 1966, M Ryan 1969, J Howes 1995, T Karpany 2004, J McNamee 2011, B O'Connell 2020.
- Last Season: 8th.
- Ins: TBC
- Outs: Steven Motlop (PINT).
Coach Aaron Motlop says: "Obviously losing a player of Steven Motlop's ability will hurt us, but his leaving does provide an opportunity for other players to make their mark at the Premier League level. Every season is important for us and while last season was disappointing for us, we're aiming at a big reset this time where we're going in with no expectations. The players we have had at training are putting in a lot of work and with that will come game time and opportunities.
Tiwi Bombers
- Home Ground: Stanley Tipiloura Oval (Wurrumiyanga Oval)
- Premierships (1): 2012.
- Nichols medallists (1): Shane Tipuamantamirri 2013.
- Last Season: 9th.
- Ins: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (Essendon), Anthony Munkara (Essendon).
- Outs: TBC
Coach Patrick Bowden says: "We're just trying to be competitive where we want to go out and compete for four quarters and make the competition stronger by doing that. We're just trying to come back by making the team and the players secure than getting some continuity in there by attendance at training and on game day, where we want to compete and not a team that gets run over after half-time.
TIO NTFL Women’s Premier League breakdown to follow.
Written by Grey Morris for AFL Northern Territory
