32 SPORT FRIDAY MARCH 14 2014 Wanderers count on family unity to push them over final line By GREY MORRIS the grand final, is ready for a ney (Shane Thorne) who “But even though it’s a great won’t beat Saints. The formula over your shoulder, even when NTFL repeat performance. hasn’t been at his best since opportunity, there is a very for beating them is pretty you’re in front,’’ he said. “Dis- And he will have Daniel Daniel was suspended.’’ tough side standing in our way. tough as well. Four quarters, tricts were four goals up with WANDERERS’ joint skipper back in the side after the for- Motlop smiled when re- “We’ve got to lift in goalk- running both ways and grab- five minutes left in their match Aaron Motlop concedes his mer AFL star completed his minded of the Saturday night icking. I’m not sure what we bing any opportunity we get against Saints and they still side has been undermanned suspension last week. three years ago when he won kicked against Tahs last week, with both hands.’’ came back and beat them. since his cousin Daniel was “There’s been a few players the Chaney Medal as the best I think it was 11.11, but it wasn’t Motlop said St Marys’ mid- “We’ve got Liam Patrick, suspended for nine matches in who have not played their best player on the ground and as many goals as we would field was so good, their back- Chris Dunne and Thomas early January. footy since Daniel was sus- Wanderers won the flag. have liked. line super strong and their (Motlop) and will be better Aaron, the 2010-11 Chaney pended,’’ Motlop said. “That was a very good day “This week it’s crucial we forwards so talented that beat- players with Daniel back there. medallist when Wanderers “Daniel does so much for for the footy club and myself make the most of our chances, ing them would require maxi- “Having a big key forward surprised everyone but them- our forward line and takes the and one we’re very keen to do especially going forward be- mum concentration. like Saints have means we’ll be selves by beating St Marys in pressure off players like Thor- all over again,” he said. cause we know a low score “And you’re always looking able to spread the load.’’ Will the third time set to be Motlop Eagles charm? THE smile on Paul Motlop’s face was the first hint of the confidence coming out of the Wanderers camp in the lead- up to tomorrow night’s NTFL Grand Final. quietly Good things come in threes and it is the third time Motlop has taken his side to the third Saturday in March and the third time his team has faced off against St Marys. And it will be the third time assured Wanderers have gone in as underdogs after the 2009 and 2011 grand finals ended in a DANIEL Motlop is looking for win to each club. an early birthday present when “Look, that suits us just fine, he makes his playing come- taking the underdog tag into back from a nine-match sus- the biggest game of the year pension in tomorrow’s NTFL seems to sit well with us,’’ he Grand Final against St Marys. said. “I’m confident we can Motlop turns 32 on Sunday, this one will go the right way,’’ beat Saints and I believe we only hours after what he hopes Motlop told the NT News last can do it with our pace and will be a breakthrough day in night,” he said. “It’s going to be quick, clean movement of the his football life. a big battle for both teams, a ball across all the lines. While talk of retirement has very, very close game and I’m “We need to get on the eased after the initial disap- feeling good. board early by kicking some pointment of the suspension, “I’ve trained hard and am goals, because we didn’t get the his passion for the game and confident I’m ready to go ... I’m good start against Waratahs search for an elusive first just there to help the team last week and it really hasn’t premiership medallion has not. where obviously my experi- happened in the finals so far. ‘’I’m not 100 per cent sure ence in big games is going to “We had a lot of the footy in about retiring, I’ll see what be important.’’ the third quarter but wasted it. happens after the game and a Motlop has returned from With Daniel (Motlop) coming season down south playing a 10-day training session in in, it gives us another avenue footy,’’ he said. “Right now I’m Adelaide, where he engaged to goal and that’s going to be just trying to enjoy it and soak in different forms of sprint important. As I said earlier this it all up. The grand final is training centred around fast week, when Daniel and Shane going to be a really good ex- twitch movement. Thorne were down there, sides perience for me and the young “I wanted to get the body struggled to contain us and I blokes we’ve got involved. right and that included getting reckon that will happen this “The big thing is we’re qui- involved in some game simu- week.’’ etly confident, now that we’ve lation work,’’ Motlop said. Motlop has placed his made a grand final, that we can While agreeing St Marys’ nephew on an extended inter- beat Saints and that would be midfield had plenty of hard- change bench, though many fantastic for the footy club.’’ running players with good pundits expect him to line up Saturday night’s game is skills, Motlop said Wanderers’ in the forward line. only the second grand final engine room had several plus- “Daniel might not have Motlop has been involved in ses around it. played for nine weeks but he’s during a long playing junior “We’ve got a good midfield done a lot of work to keep him- and senior career that has too and ... we’ve got a lot of self in touch and he’s going to taken in NTFL club Wander- class in our ex-AFL and be a big asset in the goalsquare ers, SANFL club North Adel- SANFL players,’’ he said. for us,’’ Motlop said. aide, Territory Thunder, AFL “Eddie Sansbury, Nathan “There will be some selec- clubs North Melbourne and Djerrkura, Liam Patrick, Mar- tion headaches, that’s for sure. Port Adelaide and Meningie in lon Motlop and Josh Cubillo But the guys that have missed country South Australia. are all in there and know out so far haven’t given up and “I lost that 2007 grand final how to run and put pressure have been regulars at training against Geelong, so hopefully on opponents.’’ Wanderers’ Daniel Motlop prepares for tomorrow’s grand final decider. Picture: JUSTIN SANSON despite their disappointment.’’ Womens’ All Stars squads named for NEAFL round two bout By JESS WEBSTER players the best chance of Debbie Lee and Daisy Pearce Sally Riley (Tracy Village), gatopi (St Marys), Lateesha mons (Palmerston), Natasha NTFL being selected in this year’s squads. The match will be Nicky Paterson, Shay Cocka- Jeffrey, Bo De la Cruz, Michae- Puautjimi, Michelle Friel, Ka- AFL Womens Draft to either played on April 5 at TIO Stadi- too (S’Districts), Beckie Taylor, line Brown (Palmerston). lisha Rioli, Caitlyn Wonaeam- AFLNT has named the NTFL the Melbourne Demons or um before Thunder takes on Lauren Motlop, Tama Thomp- Daisy Pearce Squad: Bron- irri, Jess Sullivan, Sissy Dunn Womens’ All Stars squads to Western Bulldogs. Aspley in their NEAFL clash. son, Ellie Hardwick, Jacqui wyn Davey, Gabrielle King (St Marys), Megan Crauford, play in next month’s curtain AFLNT Talent and Edu- Debbie Lee Squad: Tabitha Singh, Shaqkayla Bading (Buffaloes), Hannah Graham Claire McVeity, Jessie Stevens raiser to NT Thunder’s Round 2 cation Manager, Tavis Perry, Robinson, Adele Brazenor, (Wanderers), Jaylene Bound- (Tracy Village), Darrelyn Pu- (S’Districts), Cassie Henders- NEAFL clash at TIO Stadium. said the calibre of the squads Abbey Holmes, Shannon Mil- ry, Shaan Mitchell, Shay War- runtatamirri, Sue Nalder, Amy en, Anne Knight, Molly Fuge The match, the first of its were of a very high standard. lar, Lisa Roberts (Waratahs), burton, Teresa Moore Chittick, Belinda Bentley, Lau- (Nightcliff), Danielle Smith, kind in the NT and streamed The Melbourne Demons Cheley Watson, Sharadene (Buffaloes), Gladys Puruntata- ren O’Shea, Angela Foley Contel Vea Vea, Teresa Foster, live on YouTube, was specifi- will provide guernseys for both Solien-Senge, Jessica Stimson mirri, Jamie-Lee Puautjimi, (Waratahs), Natasha Med- Virginina Cardona, Bianca cally created to give Territory sides, who will be known as the (Nightcliff), Kerryn Fulton, Skye Roberts, Cecilena Mun- bury, Tayla Thorn, Nicole Si- Scrymgour (Wanderers). 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