Hall of Fame to be stuff of legends Saints’ biggest little man By GREY MORRIS By GREY MORRIS THE inaugural ST MARYS rover Josh Heath is small Australian football Hall Of Fame will in stature, but in heart and ability he embrace champions from every era. rubs shoulders with the big boys. The selection committee will One of the recruits of the season for select two separate lists for the reigning NTFL premiers, the 163cm induction at the first Hall Of Fame (5ft 4in) on-baller has consistently been dinner on October 30. in the best players in Saints’ senior side. A maximum of 25 players, The 2009-10 TEAFA coaches, administrators and winner with University has always umpires from Territory preferred the oval shaped ball to competitions will be introduced at a round one. the dinner. Another bracket of Territory The 26-year-old was introduced to

PUB: Australian football at a young age and footballers who made AFL, Picture: KATRINA BRIDGEFORD SANFL and WAFL playing lists will immediately embraced it. also be announced. ‘‘I don’t mind watching soccer, but I’d

TNEWS NT Committee chairman Bryan rather play AFL,’’ he said. Moroney said the interstate HOF list ‘‘I was born in South Korea where I was was still to be officially named. adopted and moved to South Australia. ‘‘We’ve talked about legends, ‘‘I was brought up in the country at icons or even the elite, which is Lameroo where I played footy for difficult because the local team before going down to they all apply in this case,’’ he said Adelaide for school. DATE: The Territory has ‘‘We’ve moved around a fair bit since, been spoilt by a including coming up to Darwin and series of great moving back south to Tasmania where I players in AFL played for the Northern Bombers.’’ 5-FEB-2010 ranks, including Heath grinned when asked if his small , Michael Long stature had ever worked against him Michael Long, in the non-stop game of Australian Michael McLean and . rules football. Present day giants like Andrew ‘‘It’s never really done too much to me, McLeod, and Cyril everyone thinks it does,’’ he said. Rioli will get their chance when their ‘‘You just have to keep working PAGE: playing days are over. towards your goals and putting in the And the WAFL and SANFL hard work and the results will come.’’ produced greats like , The best and fairest player in last David Kantilla Sr and Henry season’s TEAFA competition with 52 Peckham. University, Heath was advised to make Within the Territory’s borders the step-up to the NTFL after his season COLOR: players like Dennis Dunn, Michael in Tasmania. Athanasiou, Doug Kelly, Noel Long, ‘‘I think skill-wise the NTFL is much Mark Motlop and Joe Bonson are better and it’s quicker,’’ he said. right in the mix. ‘‘But I find it easier to play in the NTFL Don Bonson Sr, Reuben Cooper because you don’t have to work as hard, I suppose.’’ C Sr, William ‘‘Put’’ AhMat and Walter Lew Fatt head an elite list from the So, are Saints a chance for the flag M early years of the NTFL this season?

Y competition. ‘‘I hope so,’’ Heath said.

K Add long serving league and club ‘‘We’ve definitely had a tough season, administrators like Hunter but we’ve stepped it up in the last month Harrison, Joseph Nichols and Vic or so. Ludwig and umpiring icons like ‘‘We’re striving towards winning Percy Ellis and the list becomes another flag and hopefully it will turn out never ending. LEAN ON ME: Saints’ Ryan Smith rests his arms on the head of pint-sized teammate Josh Heath that way.’’

52 — Northern Territory News, Friday, February 5, 2010 www.ntnews.com.au