SIX rounds into the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Men’s Premier League and there are a host of ex-AFL and AFL hopefuls getting strutting their stuff in the Top End. For the Round 6 recap, we take a look at which players have already made waves and are impressing for their respective sides. We particularly focused on four players who have proven to be consistent stars, and could well take their game further in the future to push for top level consideration.

Baxter Mensch (Palmerston Magpies)

The ex-Geelong Falcons player has had a massive start to the season roaming through the midfield, racking up more disposals than anyone in the competition with 187 (31.2 per match). Mensch represented the Falcons across 2017-18, playing 17 matches in his top-age year and averaged 20.1 disposals and 3.6 clearances, while slotting eight goals. For the Magpies in 2022, Mensch has averaged more than four clearances per game, and kicked seven majors in his six matches.

Dylan Landt (St Mary’s)

Landt is a year older than Mensch, but they crossed paths during the same time period in the NAB League, with Landt running out for the Calder Cannons in 24 games across 2016-18. In that time he averaged 14 disposals per match, with a career-high season of 17.1 in his top-age year of 2017, where he also earned Vic Metro honours. At NTFL level, Landt has become a dominant player the last couple of seasons, second in the league for clearances with 7.2 per game, and averaging 29.8 disposals and 8.0 inside 50s per match for the Saints.

Tristen Waack (Palmerston Magpies)

Not too far removed from the NAB League system, Waack ran out for Gippsland Power on eight occasions just last year before Covid put an early end to the season. In that time, Waack played as a rebounding defender, averaging 13.4 disposals and 4.5 rebound 50s, whilst taking 2.6 marks per match. For the Magpies, Waack has been a welcome inclusion, averaging 17 disposals, 3.3 marks, 3.3 clearances, but incredibly 24.5 hitouts. The defender has reshaped his game as a ruck, despite being recorded at just 188cm last year, and is leading the league in hitouts for the season.

Brodie Newman (Wanderers)

One of the more unlucky players not to land on an AFL list on the first or second point of asking, Newman is a class above in defence, and a clear readymade option. Having played as a tall defender (193cm) who has the capacity to match up on a variety of opponents, Newman has settled into the defensive 50 with aplomb. In the 2022/23 season, Newman has averaged 20.2 disposals, 7.2 marks – including 1.6 contested – and 6.2 rebound 50s. Newman last played NAB League in 2019, where he ran out with the Calder Cannons and earned Vic Metro honours. That year he averaged 18.9 disposals, 5.9 marks and 4.8 rebound 50s for the Cannons, as well as 16 disposals, 7.5 marks and 3.0 rebound 50s for Metro.