Tahs Beat Buffs to Cement Finals Spot
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AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL Districts We're no big spenders newcomer set By GREY MORRIS Holmes, Jordan Doering) will be for Bombers selected in the finals.’’ By ANDREW ALOIA TIWI Bombers chairman Tiwis chairman hits back at claims ‘‘Our aim has always been to be Allan McGill has hit back at competitive and in the first two up here, but we’ve only got a as did Matthew Wonaeamirri’s from getting a game at league level. seasons we fell off after Christmas. TI TREE’S Kenny Morton has re- critics of his club’s supposed big limited budget and have to be very Andrananguwu family. ‘‘We haven’t had anyone com- ‘‘We’ve learnt from that and we turned to Southern Districts after a spending tactics. careful to operate within that Private firm Shorelands has plain to us, in fact the Tiwi senior know we need size and strength in six year NTFL absence to get a run- The Bombers played five south- scope. We get no money from the committed $300,000 over three people on the football sub board the side to compete with the top up start to second season with the ern recruits in the 10-goal win over government and the same money years to the Bombers’ coffers. and the players are totally support- sides at finals time.’’ Territory Thunder. Palmerston last week, a policy the all the NTFL clubs get from ‘‘All of that funding is for this ive of what we are doing,’’ he said. McGill said operation manager The 22-year-old’s plan worked a critics say is costing the club up to the AFLNT. year only, we’ve got no guarantees ‘‘Coach Karl (Gundersen) ex- Kevin Tandogac’s quote that the $1500 a week in player wages. little bit better than he anticipated, ‘‘There is no money to help us after that,’’ McGill said. plains to them every week we’re club would ‘‘spend everything running himself ragged against St Other criticisms centre around available to win the premiership’’ travel into Darwin each week to ‘‘We’ve even budgeted to take picking a side for a particular game Marys last week. the big number of recruits costing play football. That costs us be- some of the money forward so and it’s been working very well. was not quite right. local players a game. tween $120 and $130,000 a year and we’re not starting from scratch. ‘‘We are getting together a group ‘‘In fact we’re using the Tiwi While he might live and play most ‘‘Absolute rubbish,’’ was McGill’s it’s done through sponsorship ‘‘All that means we’re definitely of taller players and our plan Bombers as a means of influencing his football 1500km away from the response on both fronts. money, definitely not from govern- not going mad on spending money is to get them qualified to play in social change among the Tiwi nearest Tiwi Bomber, Morton is well ‘‘I’ll be up front and say only one ment grants.’’ on players.’’ the finals and therefore available people,’’ he added. aware that action will be turbo- of our recruits get paid and that’s McGill (pictured) said Walter McGill also refuted claims the for selection. ‘‘The more successful we are on charged in the top-of-the-table meet- only $100 a game. Kerinaiua’s family Mantiyupwi Tiwis’ recruiting campaign was ‘‘Who knows if they (Courtney the ground the more likely we are ing at Norbuilt Oval today. ‘‘Yes, we pay airfares to get them Pty Ltd contributed $100,000 a year, preventing island-based players Johns, Joel Smouha, Blake to be successful off the field.’’ ‘‘Oh, I’m sure they are going to he hard to keep up with,’’ Morton said. ‘‘They are all so quick and very tricky.’’ Magpies Saints smash Eagles, but still room for improvement Morton’s only other NTFL appear- ance came in 2004, which was a two- By GREY MORRIS match cameo. hope to STRONG LEADER: Waratahs captain Lincoln Withers and his Darwin opponent contest the ball. Pictures: KATRINA BRIDGEFORD The Rovers CAFL star was enticed ST MARYS coach Brenton Toy to return north by former Thunder hardly raised a smile when quizzed QAFL coach and Districts boss use home on his side’s 102-point win over Michael McLean to better prepare Wanderers yesterday. himself QAFL duties. Saints won 23.14 (152) to 7.8 (50) in His comeback match may have felt advantage a performance that left many Tahs beat Buffs to more like a hostage situation, but he pundits contemplating a another appreciated getting a crash-course in PALMERSTON skipper big St Marys push in the finals. Top End footy before taking on the Mark Berts knows there is no But a reserved Toy observed league leaders. tomorrow when his Magpies some areas of the game his side ‘‘It’s really fast, I couldn’t believe tackle Nightcliff in the NTFL still needed to improve in. how quick it was,’’ he said. match at Cazaly’s Oval today. ‘‘I think by our standards it was Nothing short of a win will an average performance,’’ Toy cement finals spot ‘‘The ball was just on the move the satisfy the Magpie hierachy, said. ‘‘We need to lift our commun- whole time, it was tough.’’ with a top-three finish still ication on the field and be more Morton did well thinking on his within their grasp. accountable at times. feet, moving between midfield and PUB: Good news for the home ‘‘But there were a lot of good Warriors in five after 97-point victory the forward line early before finding side is former Melbourne for- signs as well. himself bunkered down in defence for ‘‘Shannon Rioli kicked 4.6 and the second half. ward Paul Wheatley’s second By ANDREW ALOIA position — albeit in the opposite successive appearance at was very good for us all game. Districts will have added incentive SUNDAY pocket — that he found himself ‘‘Throw Ross Tungatalum back Cazaly’s — the scene of Palm- in last week when he had to perform today after having their erston’s gutsy win over in the mix, James Puautjimi, WARATAHS closed the the chance to win the match seven match winning streak soiled by reigning premier St Marys a Cameron Ilett and Luke Stapleton NTFL finals door behind a 59-point thrashing. and we’re in good hands.’’ against Nightcliff. fortnight ago. them at TIO Stadium last Morton might be the newest ad- St Marys played its best football But ace spearhead Darren night with a 97-point win In his first kick since the dra- dition to the club, but he is fully aware from the midway point of the Ewing will miss again, over Darwin. matic miss, the midfielder took of what’s on the line. second quarter when Wanderers the opportunity to put his side DATE: leaving the goalkicking The 19.19 (133) to 5.6 (36) demo- ‘‘We dropped our heads too briefly threatened. ahead with authority. duties with Wheatley, Mishai lition sees Tahs move two games quickly,’’ he said. Perry and Clinton ‘‘Cool Run- A Campbell Wurramarrba goal clear of the sixth-placed for Wanderers to get his side back It was a brief lead with Wara- ‘‘It was a disappointing result but nings’’ Runnall. Wanderers with only two tahs kicking five of the next to within 29 points was the spark rounds remaining. we want to comeback and show that Berts said his side was play- that lit the Saints fuse. six goals. 31-JAN-2010 It would take disastrous outings we are a better team than that.’’ ing good, constructive football Two quick goals by the brilliant despite last week’s disappoint- against Nightcliff and St Marys Wilson and tenacious Samson Rioli and another two from Karl and the Eagles upsetting the Tiwi Henry were the source of all of ing 10-goal loss to flag favour- Lohde and Craig Parsons took the ites the Tiwi Bombers. Bombers and Southern Districts Darwin’s good work in the open- lead out to 59 points by the last to keep the Warriors from playing ‘‘We played some good footy change. ing half, while Tahs could rely on finals football. the kicking of Josh Hill, leader- against the Tiwis, particularly From there it was all one-way Safe in the knowledge that they in the first quarter when we traffic as the green machine rolled ship of Lincoln Withers, hard- were in control of their finals running Tom Mount and hustle used the ball well,’’ he said. into action. destiny after Wanderers Allan May drifted forward from of Butler to take a stranglehold PAGE: ‘‘Unfortunately we couldn’t crumbled to a 102-point loss to go on with it, but the signs defence to kick two goals, Rioli Saints earlier in the day, Tahs of proceedings. Round 16 were definitely there. added his fourth for the game and strolled to victory. Darwin defences were at red ST MARYS 4.6 10.8 14.10 23.14 (152) Anthony Vallejo booted two in a Ryan Butler starred with six alert in the second term with the ‘‘We know a win against WANDERERS 1.2 4.4 6.5 7.8 (50) Nightcliff is essential, any- nine-goal run home that blew the goals in a match that signalled Warriors storming the forward 24 scoreline out. thing less and the double the triumphant return of 50m with ease. But the inaccurac- GOALS — St Marys: S Rioli 4 A Vallejo 3 A May 2 I Vallejo chance is gone for us.’’ Port Adelaide premiership Trevor Oliver.