Welcome Warriors - new and old - it is great to have you with us!
We are well into the 2016/17 season now.
Most teams have 6 or 7 games under their belt - so let’s take a look and see how they are
all traveling……………………. enjoy!
U12 ATKINSON –
Well what a ‘ding-dong’ battle Tahs U12’s had against Nightcliff! From the opening bounce one could sense this
was going to be a ripper game and it did not disappoint.
Nightcliff edged ahead by a goal at quarter time.. only to be overtaken in the 2nd quarter by a Tahs outfit that
found their mojo.. Tahs going into the main break 3 points up.
3rd quarter - much the same - a tight tussle .
4th quarter the game was broken open in the opening minutes by a brilliant, crumbing goal by Jack Rieniets who
mopped up a spilled contested mark between Tahs ‘big fella’ Ty Aitken and Nightcliff’s full back, ran 15m and
kicked truly….
But wait there was more brilliance from one of the Tiwi superstars Sylvanus Tipiloura, right foot snap over-theshoulder GOAL… the game had been put out of Nightcliff’s reach. GO THE TAHS !!!
U14 GUNDERSON –
U14 LEW FATT –
Coming off two hard fought wins against Palmerston
and St Marys, this week we came up against an inform Nightcliff outfit. Our boys started slowly and
were down by 53 points at half time. To their credit
they regrouped and showed glimpses of their true
ability, winning the third quarter and eventually going
down by 62 points.
The boys have just recently come together as the
Division two team and Friday night was there
second game as a team. They played a great game
and dug in to finish with a strong 4th quarter. Final
score was Palmerston 8.12-60 and Waratahs 3.927. There are a few AFL first timers in the team so
will be exciting to watch them build on their skills
through the season.
Congratulations to Remon Baker, Lester Timothy
and Taren Cooper for receiving coaches awards and
special mention to Clayton Jewell and Tom Venturin
for a great effort.
Best players were Joshua Batista, Jordan Venturin,
Kalon Goodger, Sam Elder and Ben Kronk.
U15 GIRLS –
U15 Girls had an awesome win in Round six defeating Tracy Village 151-0 in very hot conditions. Ella Hoy and
Brooke Hayne both scored 4 goals with Olivia Hatzismalis scoring 3, Reagan Wilkins, Nancy Holtze, Trisharnee
Mawson and Charlie Nesbit with 2 each and Georgina Roy and Tess Jungfer with 1. Ella Hoy was best on ground
with some impressive goals, kicking on the run.
The team is a mixture of players from last year and newcomers. They are a great group of young ladies with loads
of potential and talent. It is going to be an exciting season ahead with 3 wins from 5 and the team currently
sitting 4th on the ladder.
This team is lucky enough to have Colleen Gwynne assisting Dieter Mittermayer in the coaching team. Colleens
experience and passion for the game is inspiring the girls to get out on the field and play with guts and
determination while still having fun.
U16 DIVISION 1 –
After what could only be described as a very slow start to the year with numbers, we were able to put a team on
the park for our first game. Since then numbers have steadily increased which has been great to see, it has
however meant that the coaches have had to go through a team selection process each week and having to
rotate the boys through. This year the U16's are lucky enough to be being coached by some of the Senior Playing
Group with Jare Krjnic; Matt Toogood and Justin Beugelaar stepping into the coaching role, all who played their
junior footy with Watarahs. Their experience as senior footballers will greatly assist the U16 boys playing group.
While the boys have only had one win to date there have been a couple of close ones, with only 1 point in our loss
to Buffaloes. But each week they are getting better as their skills and fitness improve and they have started to
develop more of a team playing style.
We have a bye in round 7 but looking forward to our first home game against Palmerston in Round 8.
The game against rivals Nightcliff last week was a
close and tough fought out game in what was
under unbearable conditions and while there was
only a goal in it most of the game we went down
by 15 points in the end. Strong performances by
Brendan Kantilla, Michael Morgan, Ben Jungfer
and goals by Troyce Mawson(2), Aben Sandy (2),
Michael Morgan, Brendan Kantilla, and Adam
Keriniaua and helped keep the Warriors in close
contention all day.
U18’s BOYS –
Waratahs Vs Big River Hawks U18 Boys
The boys had a disappointing loss to Big River Hawks after a hard fought even battle. The boys played some
really good inside tight footy and matched it with the Hawks for most of the game.
Our lack of commitment and running in the third quarter by all but 5 or 6 boys to allow the Hawks to put 4 goals
on us saw us go into the 3rd quarter time break trailing by 27 points. A few home truths and challenges laid onto
them during the break saw the boys come out firing to redeem themselves.
To the boys credit they lifted for the last quarter keeping the Hawks scoreless for the first 15 minutes to claw our
way back to within 8 points and looked like we were going to over run them before allowing the Hawks to score
two easy goals which saw them eventually run out winners by 20 points.
While the loss of a game we should have won was disappointing it was pleasing to watch these boys start to
play with belief in each other and work together as a unit. Their inside and close work was great to watch and at
times our outside run was fast and flowing. The boys are starting to look to hit their targets and take the game
on which is pleasing.
The loss of big Marcus to premier league gave an opportunity for Finn Clark to stand up as the number one
ruckman for the game which he took on and didn’t lose a ruck contest all day. Dillon Long playing through the
mid field was best on ground with his run and hard contested body work leading from the front while Southern
District recruit Daly Banks was his usual reliable self tirelessly working through the mid field creating run and
dropping behind the ball when needed. 1st year U18 player Jordan “Larry” Wilkins was exceptional at centre half
forward taking some great contested marks while captain Tully Hemsley and Texta were both solid contributors.
Year to date
The boys are currently sitting in 6th position on the ladder with 2 wins and 3 losses. We have a challenging next
couple of weeks with a big game against ladder leaders Nightcliff and the next two after that we lose players for
schoolies and other commitments.
All in all, the boys are steadily improving week by week with some of the younger players starting to come out of
their shells and taking the game on. We are now starting to look to deliver the ball to a lead rather than bomb
away and hope for the best.
The boys are starting to take on our match day set ups and learning the on field rotation set ups.
It is good to see the development in the guys with a lot of them who couldn’t kick the ball properly now starting
to straighten up and deliver to their targets. It has been pleasing to watch the way they are playing as a team
over the last couple of weeks and their willingness to switch play and move around.
We are instilling in all the players the will to continuously improve as individuals and as a team and their thirst
for knowledge in these areas is pleasing.
We have some really good talent in this squad which bodes well for the future of the Waratahs Football Club
with 4 or 5 players who with a bit more work could be pressing for senior selection later this season or early next
season.
With the way we are improving and the dedication most of the boys are showing I expect they will be playing
finals footy this year. While it would be nice to play finals our main focus with this group is to develop them and
have them ready for senior football over the next couple of years to the style the senior coaches play.
DIV 2 –
Final score:
Waratah 7-4 - 46
Banks 13-9- 87
Liam Keith with 3 goals, Tyson
Powell with two.
Photo of Matthew Smith (Fletch)
in the ruck.
DIV 1 –
After starting the season winning the first 4 games and coming off round 5 bye, we went down to southern
districts by 11 points, 9.4.58 to 9.15.69. To date we are sitting 3rd on the ladder. We have a tough match against
Nightcliff this Saturday. Numbers are strong, boys are putting in at training so we hope to finish strong for the
last 5 games before the Xmas break and set the season up for run home after coming back in the new year, when
traditionally all clubs step up and work to lock up a position as high as possible up top of the ladder.
WOMEN–
The Waratah Women’s Premier Division team has debuted 11 women so far this season who had previously
never played football before, and a total of 16 who started the season with less than 20 games total experience.
Inspite of this we sit second on the ladder with only one loss in the first five games and momentum as we enter
the second quarter of the season. The most exciting fact so far has been the development of the whole playing
group and the commitment each player has shown to improving their game. This means that we are only going
to get stronger as the season progresses. Ofcourse we’ll all be cheering for Adelaide in the inaugural AFL
Women’s competition, with four Waratah Women (Angela Foley, Heather Anderson, Abbey Holmes and Lauren
O’Shea) drafted to the Crows for the 2017 season.
PREMIER LEAGUE –
PREMIER LEAGUE –
Round 7 for the Premier League Team was the ‘Tiwi Trip’ AND Sam “rump steak” Godden’s 50th Senior Game!
The lads and support staff travelled over to play the Bombers on the islands. There were some nervous flyers
(Mago the Coach and Trevor the Pres) so, as you would imagine, some of the others tried their best to make the
experience even more stressful on the very small but, in the end, reliable plane. Once there and on-the-ground it
was a great experience to mingle with the Tiwi people - especially the kids who get very excited being around all
the players and staff.
The game was played in hot and dry conditions. The boys battled hard and the first quarter was an arm wrestle
with neither side dominating. At the first change it was the Tahs by 2 points.
In the second term, the Tiwi Bombers got on a roll and kicked 7 goals 3 to Tahs 4 goals 2. The writing could have
been on the wall but Mago gave the boys a fair spray at half time and asked them to ask themselves are they
doing enough, are they chasing, are they tackling, are they protecting each other and how much they really
wanted to win. He asked that they start again, erase in their minds the events of the first half and work our way
back into the game as we trailed by 17 points at half time.
The third quarter saw the Tahs link and carry and we kicked the first 2 of the term and it was game back on. The
tahs got their tails up and all at the game knew we were on for a great last ¼. The boys were positive at the last
break and knew that if they wanted it bad enough and if they stuck to the team rules, we would get the job done.
The lead ‘see-sawed’ for the entire last ¼ until the siren eventually went with the ball in the hands of Trevor Oliver
in the square, one umpire paying a free kick to him for a high tackle and one blowing full time. Every player on
the ground was exhausted, we saw a good game of footy and we came away with 2 of the 4 points.
Huge shout out to the support staff who came over for the game - team manager, Sue, assistant coaches Davie O
and Coota, runners Kotzy and Kyle “Chubbsy” (geez it’s a wide ground boys!!!) Evans, Jacko and Leo for running
water and to Jan Wray for not only being the lone trainer, but she also provided food for us all for after the game.
Also a big thanks to Adam Kerinaiua and his family for use of their vehicle to transport the gear from one side of
the oval to the other, for organising the ice and also for timekeeping. It is a big job to travel over there, to get
everyone and everything organised so well done to all.
It is a great experience to travel to the Tiwi Islands for football. We listened to indigenous music and linked arms
for the “No More Family Violence” campaign - and we saw the talent that is Kim Kantilla on fire in front of goals
booting 6 goals 4 points. He took big marks, he chased, he tackled and he got the crumbs! Other goal scorers
were Jacko Fergusson and Henry Kerinaiua with 2 each and singles to Rowan Bonson, Lachie “finemaster”
Collihole, Trev Oliver and Jack Fallon.
As we move into the pivotal round 8 home game against Palmerston, the Premier League boys are sitting in a
finals position 6 points clear from the next closest team. The next 4 games leading into the Christmas break is a
chance for the lads to solidify their spot in the finals. However if they drop the games to Palmerston, Buffaloes
and Tiwi they will find themselves with a big fight on their hands after Christmas. The feeling amongst the group
is a positive one and Mago has the boys focused on the task at hand. Hopefully, as the season goes on, the
learning of this very young group will continue as well.
Hopefully all the hard work that has been put in by the group will pay off this weekend with a Red and White win
against the Magpies!!!
UPCOMING EVENTS
The vibe around the club is on the up, with everyone getting around the Tahs in our 100th
season. Of course the major centenary celebration is the Waratahs Ball to be held on the
27th of Jan. Seats are filling up fast and the Gurus sources say the night will be MC’d by
a Waratah AFL export and Magarey Medalist, with one of our most popular and diminutive
skippers alongside him. Also, amongst the attendees the interstate contingent is building up
and includes a powerhouse dual B&F and premiership midfielder turned coach….looking
forward to seeing the Waratah veterans in the house!
Speaking of powerhouse, number 35 most powerful person in the NT is our one and own
Colleen Gwynne as revealed by the NT News. Chief Minister one day Gwynny?
Another Tah kicking goals is our Co-Captain Buegs, recently announced as Thunder vicecaptain for 2017. Unfortunately he’s not always kicking as well, shanking his kick in
qualifying for the long-distance kicking comp and missing a gig on AFL Grand Final day for a
shot at the title of Australia’s Superboot.
Need a fishing guide? Go no further than Marty “Rex Hunt” Sargeant. Sarge recently
hauled in a MONSTER Marlin, which barely could fit in the boat ….. and all on a barra rod!
Hope you saved some fillets for Poo Marty!
Recently spotted tearing down the training track was Maysy, Herb and Rayso….comeback
boys? Also on the track was Jimmy B, but he seems more content to dish out advice with
Smarty and Gags.
Randy Rumours…Melbourne Cup day proved lucky for one senior footballer spotted (and
snapped) with a leggy filly later that evening. Great to see Aunty Cath at the club last
week, however she was disappointed to hear none of her Waratah spunks had gotten
married…lift your game boys!
After dominating women’s footy in the NT, Tahs have dominated the women’s AFL draft
with Ange, Abby, Ando and Loz all selected to join the Crows in 2017. Good luck to all the
girls, the Crows need a new hero post-Dangerfield!
And finally our Super-Trainer and NTFL volunteer of the year Jan Wray is apparently in
desperate need of some new cookware. The Guru has it on good authority that the recent
visit from son James resulted in damage to some of her best fry pans ….bad cook Jimmy?
We would like to thank our Major Sponsors for
their ongoing support to The Waratah Football
Club: