AN FULL day of NTFL All-Star football saw Team Spears take away three wins over the Heat, with the senior spoils shared between local and import teams. The four representative fixtures were kicked off by girls and boys Under 18 Futures games, before the seniors took centre stage at TIO Stadium.

Stay tuned to Rookie Me Central, where we’ll post Scouting Notes from both Futures games.

SENIOR MEN’S ALL-STARS

Spears cut through the Heat

TEAM SPEARS sliced through the local contingent with their precise possession play in a convincing 53-point win to end All-Star Saturday. The squad of talented imports burst open the floodgates after an inaccurate first term, piling on 16 goals to five over the next two quarters.

Spears captain and Waratah midfielder Cody Szust was named best on ground, booting four goals alongside Boyd Bailey and Archie Stevens. Southern Districts’ Beau Schwarze (three goals) was the best in defeat for Team Heat, whose speed and counterattacking style was quelled.

HEAT 0.4 | 2.7 | 5.8 | 10.13 (73)
SPEARS 1.7 | 9.7 | 17.9 | 19.12 (126)

GOALS:
Heat: B. Schwarze 3, M. Thompson 2, D. Barry, W. Farrer, S. Carlin, Ka. Kantilla, Ki. Kantilla
Spears: B. Bailey 4, C. Szust 4, A. Stevens 4, L. Edmonds 2, J. Braunthal, L. Patterson, J. Hillis, J. Brown

BEST:
Heat: B. Schwarze, S. Carlin, W. Rioli, B. McLean, M. Dennis, R. Bartee
Spears: C. Szust, B. Bailey, M. Trewhella, A. Stevens, N. Denes, L. Edmonds

BOG:
Heat: Beau Schwarze (Southern Districts)
Spears: Cody Szust (Waratah)

SENIOR WOMEN’S ALL-STARS

Heat complete final quarter comeback

TEAM Heat ensured the local fans had something to cheer about in the senior showcase after producing a stunning final quarter comeback. Having trailed all day against a Spears side which hardly strayed in front of goal, the Heat stormed home with three unanswered majors to snatch the two-point win.

Nightcliff pair Gracie Roy (Heat) and Gabby Deller (Spears) were best afield for either side. The Spears initially kicked clear with two goals each from Shannon Murphy, Fleur Davies, and Zimmorlei Farquharson, but the Heat’s six individual goalkickers teamed up to deliver a scintillating finish.

HEAT 1.1 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 7.6 (48)
SPEARS 3.0 | 5.0 | 7.2 | 7.4 (46)

GOALS:
Heat: M. Carlton, C. McWilliam, E. Harris, P. Rock, J. Baltais, C. Niesner
Spears: S. Murphy 2, F. Davies 2, Z. Farquharson 2, J. Ware

BEST:
Heat: G. Roy, L. Cagney, M. Carlton, J. Baird, T. Smith, J. Baltais
Spears: G. Deller, Z. Farquharson, M. Shaw, S. Murphy, G. Hodder, K. Grady

BOG:
Heat: Gracie Roy (Nightcliff)
Spears: Gabrielle Deller (Nightcliff)

UNDER 18 FUTURES BOYS

Smiler stars as Spears quell Heat

SONNY Smiler lit up the Futures boys exhibition with five goals to help set up Team Spears’ 60-point thumping of the Heat. While Team Heat stayed on track with seven-straight goals, the Spears’ weight of 27 scoring shots took toll, especially after half time to deliver a one-sided result.

Smiler was joined on the scoresheet by Owen Campbell-Shields (three goals) and Hugo Timms (two), while Riley Seden-Kurnoth was prominent. The Heat’s effort was led by Oakleigh Chargers prospect Gary Lawford, who had support from Hau-Tze Rock and Edward Darcy‘s three goals.

HEAT 2.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 (42)
SPEARS 2.3 | 6.6 | 10.9 | 15.12 (102)

GOALS:
Heat: E. Darcy 3, J. Campbell-Hill 2, D. Ah Sam, P. McAuliffe-Smith
Spears: S. Smiler 5, O. Campbell-Shields 3, H. Timms 2, M. Mason, J. Sambo, J. Wesley

BEST:
Heat: G. Lawford, H. Rock, I. Thomson, D. Oliver, G. Trigwell, L. Case
Spears: S. Smiler, R. Seden-Kurnoth, M. Patrick, B. Barnard, A. McWilliams, M. Mason

BOG:
Heat: Gary Lawford (Darwin Buffaloes)
Spears: Sonny Smiler (Wanderers)

UNDER 18 FUTURES GIRLS

Spears salute to start the show

THE FUTURE of Northern Territory women’s football kicked off All-Star Saturday, with Team Spears storming home to a 21-point win. The victors led at every break but held onto a four-point buffer at the main and final breaks, before slamming on four goals to one in the fourth quarter.

Claira Johnston (five goals) and Amy Ward (two) dealt the scoreboard damage as Amber Quinn was named best on ground for the Spears. Taniesha John-Forrest was the Heat’s standout, while Chanelle Fejo and Akia-Marie Lake snared two goals apiece in the defeat.

HEAT 1.0 | 4.1 | 6.1 | 7.3 (45)
SPEARS 3.5 | 4.5 | 6.5 | 10.6 (66)

GOALS:
Heat: C. Fejo 2, A. Lake 2, T. John-Forrest, R. Ryan, M. Smith
Spears: C. Johnston 5, A. Ward 2, A. Ah Fat, A. McGarvie, S. Rankine

BEST:
Heat: T. John-Forrest, G. Anstess, M. Smith, C. Fejo, D. Daly, K. Pilkie
Spears: A. Quinn, K. Ilett, C. Johnston, B. Akers, H. Lacey, A. Bucklar

BOG:
Heat: Taniesha John-Forrest (Tiwi Bombers)
Spears: Amber Quinn (Nightcliff)