SPORT Change to life memberships Blockbuster face-off THE AFLNT has moved to close a loophole on player life membership By GREY MORRIS ‘‘It gives us some bigger bodies in eligibility in the NTFL. ST MARYS midfielder Cameron the clinches, when we need to get The 200-game criteria set down for Territory Tigers to debut against Cats hold of the footy and use it prop- Ilett expects tonight’s NTFL life members meant former Wan- erly,’’ he said. ‘‘Players from both derers, St Marys and Palmerston second semi-final to be one of the TERRITORY recruits Relton Roberts until recruited in this year’s AFL Rookie sides have played a lot of finals champion (pic- and Troy Taylor will play their first Draft, can’t wait for the first bounce. great grand final qualifiers. footy, so it will be important we use tured) fell 17 games short. games in a Richmond jumper today. ‘‘I’m really looking forward to it, it’s The first St Marys-Tiwi Bombers the ball well.’’ But the league’s annual general second semi-final has the potential Wanderers utility Relton Roberts a dream come true for me,’’ Roberts The Tiwis’ decision to recruit meeting on Monday has changed all to live up to Ilett’s expectations. and South goalkicker said last night. former Essendon forward Courtney that. Changes to the league consti- Both sides have skilful players, Troy Taylor learnt their football ‘‘They’ve named me on a forward Johns and Mt Gravatt ruckman Joel tution now mean player life mem- foot speed is plentiful and the 1500km apart. flank next to Troy, so hopefully we can Smouha has paid dividends with the bership includes representative marking power in both camps is But the tiny Victorian hamlet of Yea kick a few goals between us. height and strength both players matches for the NT and QAFL team exceptional. Ilett has had limited provide. But it has been regulars Thunder, regarded as the pinnacle game time this season because of his brings them together for the same ‘‘Having Richard (Tambling) out Rupert Pupangamirri, Simon of representative football. Thunder commitments. cause today when the Tigers meet there with us will be good as well. Munkara, Edward Darcy and Roy But it has been enough to con- Geelong in a practice match. ‘‘He’s a Territorian as well and Kantilla who have provided the Jeffrey’s 22 representative games vince Saints officials of his worth to Roberts, a star with the NTFL Eagles knows how we play which is a bonus.’’ spark to detonate the side. against AFL and SANFL clubs eas- ily qualified him for the honour. the side with his pacy breakaways, Add Patrick Heenan, Gerrard kicking to position and ability to previous years,’’ he said. Ilett has welcomed the inclusion Cunningham and Bradley ‘‘I’m pretty rapt about getting life control proceedings. ‘‘The fans who turn up will be in of defender Aidan Hill and ruckman Palipuaminni to that equation and membership,’’ he told the Northern ‘‘This is a very good Tiwi side, for a treat, it should be a terrific Ryan Smith to the side that beat the Bombers have all the ammu- Territory News last certainly much better than those of game of footy.’’ Southern Districts last week. nition required to win a final. night. ‘‘Especially when rep games were included, I was lucky enough to play against some Hard slog as Pies give Crows Buckley’s chance of a win pretty good sides in PUB: my career.’’ By MAX BENNETT AFLNT chairman at Traeger Park Bob Elix led the push for changes to

TNEWS NT made a accommodate the appointment of a winning start to his senior Board of Directors and life member- coaching career as Colling- ship. The number of directors will wood defeated Adelaide by be capped at seven, with appoint- 22 points in monsoonal con- ments made by the AFL, including ditions last night. one from the AFL executive. Torrential rain greeted AFLNT represents the whole of both sides, reducing the the , including DATE: game to a scrap with the the NTFL, 11 affiliate leagues and a clean hands and composure big push into remote areas, with the of the Collingwood players new process of appointing the board proving the difference after accommodating that need. 27-FEB-2010 half-time. Jeffrey, Nightcliff’s Robert Camp- Facing an Adelaide side bell and Mark Derksen and St smarting from an embarr- Marys’ Anthony Vallejo will be assing NAB Cup loss to Port awarded life membership at the Adelaide, the Magpies Nichols Medal count on March 7. adapted to the heavy condit- Elix and Wanderers vice- ions best breaking away to a president Eddie Motlop will be pres- two-goal lead early in ented with honorary life member- ship for their services to the game. PAGE: the piece. However a hungry Ade- Goal umpires John Dong and laide side came back into the Leon Fennell also join the 200-club. contest, turning the screws on its opponents, but lived to 86 rue its inability to convert the pressure on the Bombers still

COLOR: scoreboard. The impressive goaled early in hot favourite the second term to take the THE Tiwi Bombers are warm favour- lead out to 18 points as the rain fell. ites to win the 2009-10 NTFL flag with Sportingbet Australia. C As the game appeared to be slipping out of the Crows’ The Bombers shortened to $2.15 for M reach, a Kurt Tippett goal SLIP AND SLIDE: Collingwood’s Harry O’Brien tries to give Adelaide Crow Taylor Walker the slip in atrocious the flag late yesterday when more conditions at Traeger Park last night and, inset, a rain-drenched Nathan Buckley. Picture: JUSTIN BRIERTY money came in for the islanders.

Y close to half-time sparked a mini-revival with Jared going into the final term, the Today’s second semi-final op- K Petrenko, Jack Gunston and Crows managed to reduce the ponents and defending premier St Richard Douglas helping to margin with the perform- Barry bustles Hawks on debut for Dogs Marys are rated a $3.60 chance, with reduce the deficit to two ance of Douglas, four goals, Waratahs ($5.00) and Southern Dis- points at the main interval. impressing coach Neil Craig. : Boom recruit Barry Hall has today’s West Coast-Port Adelaide match in a tricts ($5.50) completing the market. The half-time break For Collingwood Harry starred in his debut as Cup semi-final. Sportingbet’s AFL manager seemed to drain the momen- O’Brien made light work of they belted Hawthorn by 57 points in their Stephen Fletcher said the Tiwis had tum from the side, with the done more than enough to justify the slippery conditions, pro- AFL NAB Cup quarter-final. WESTERN BULLDOGS 0.5.3 0.8.7 0.15.9 1.15.12 (111) clean hands and clinical fin- their favouritism. viding much of the Magpies’ HAWTHORN ...... 0.1.5 0.4.7 0.6.8 0.7.12 (54) ishing of the Magpie for- power off half-back. Hall took four marks and kicked six goals ‘‘They’ve been fantastic as their wards all but ending the as the Bulldogs dominated for most of last Nine pointers: Western Bulldogs: M Boyd. Hawthorn: Nil. Goals: Western Bulldogs: B Hall 6 J Hill 2 R Murphy 2 A record (16-2) indicates after 18 Crows’ hopes of recording night’s match at Etihad Stadium to win rounds,’’ he said. ‘‘They’re a very COLLINGWOOD 2.1 5.4 9.7 11.8 (74) Cooney B Moles D Cross D Giansiracusa S Higgins. their first pre-season win. ADELAIDE . . 1.2 5.2 5.3 8.4 (52) well organised side with a lot of good 1.15.12 (111) to 0.7.12 (54) . Hawthorn: J Morton 2 J Roughead 2 L Breust L Franklin L A four-goal to nil third Goals — Collingwood: D Swann 3 S players, which makes them a really Sidebottom 2 C Dawes B Macaffer S O’Bree Hodge. term ensured Buckley would ‘‘Six goals is good, but that’s not what it good bet.’’ B Sinclair J Barham J Fraser. Adelaide: R Best: Western Bulldogs: M Boyd B Hall D Giansiracusa R leave a saturated Traeger Douglas 4 N Gunston 2 K Tippett J was about — I thoroughly enjoyed myself Griffen B Moles A Cooney. Hawthorn: S Mitchell L Hodge B Waratahs is a $1.75 favourite to Park with his perfect coach- Petrenko. Best — Collingwood: H O’Brien A tonight,’’ Hall said. beat Southern Districts ($2.05) in ing record intact. Didak S Sidebottom D Swann B Sinclair. Sewell C Peterson G Birchall. Adelaide: R Douglas J Petrenko R Sloane N The Bulldogs will play the winner of Venue: Etihad Stadium. today’s first semi-final. Chasing a 28-point deficit Gunston. And the Tiwis are odds-on favour- ites at $1.60 to beat St Marys ($2.30) in the second semi-final. In Nichols Medal betting, Dis- Districts pray rain can close gap with Waratahs tricts centreman Ben AhMat and Palmerston midfielder Jake Dignan By GREY MORRIS premiership players high and with the play in the preliminary final if his are joint $6.50 favourites to win the MICHAEL McLean (pictured) has Darryl White and Chris Johnson rain that’s been side can get over Districts. league best and fairest award. were still confirming their avail- been around brand of around we’re con- ‘‘We’re not going to risk him for Palmerston defender Luke Tyrrell ability last night, while Thunder’s one game and lose the next three,’’ football for more years than he cares fident the gap be- ($7.00) and Southern Districts Steven May could also miss the he said. to remember. tween both sides midfielder Matt Cannard ($7.50) are 3.30pm clash. Withers said the confidence A member of the AFL’s exclusive will close up a next in the betting. ‘‘It doesn’t look too good on those fair bit.’’ among the players had been boosted 200-club, regular NT and Allies fronts ... whatever reason we’re not by Leigh McCombe’s not guilty St Marys midfielder Karl Lohde representative player and Districts’ at full strength won’t be an excuse at Waratahs has its verdict at the tribunal on Wednes- and Tiwi Bomber’s forward Roy second premiership coach fills a the end of the day,’’ Mclean said. injury concerns with Josh Chaplin day. Kantilla are rated $8.00 chances. portion of his resume. ‘‘The players are ready for a full- (shoulder) and Dave O’Sullivan ‘‘We’re pretty confident, though McLean and Districts enter to- on effort against a very, very good (hamstring) facing late fitness tests. you never know what can happen in Nichols Medal — $6.50: B AhMat, J Dignan. $7.00: Wingman Brad Rayson (groin) is L Tyrrell. $7.50: Matt Cannard. $8.00: K Lohde, R day’s NTFL first semi-final as side in Waratahs and that’s all I can this game,’’ he said. Kantilla. $9.00: R Prendergast. $11.00: R underdogs and with clouds over the ask of them right now. The spirit still a week away. Tahs coach ‘‘The rain won’t worry us too Pupangamirri, A Bond, P Heenan. $12.00: E Darcy, availability of three key players. and work ethic among the group is Lincoln Withers expects Rayson to much, both sides have to play in it.’’ D Staunton. $13.00 Brett Blackwell. 86 — Northern Territory News, Saturday, February 27, 2010 www.ntnews.com.au