TEAM SPEARS saluted in Saturday’s Under 18 Futures match, as part of the NTFL’s All-Star weekend. Wanderers prospect Sonny Smiler shone with a bag of five goals in the romping win, which showcased the best emerging talent the Northern Territory has to offer. We took note of some of the standout performances from either side.

>> RESULTS: 2026 NTFL All-Star Saturday

HEAT 2.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 (42)
SPEARS 2.3 | 6.6 | 10.9 | 16.12 (108)

GOALS:
Heat: E. Darcy 3, J. Campbell-Hill 2, D. Ah Sam, P. McAuliffe-Smith
Spears: S. Smiler 5, O. Campbell-Shields 4, H. Timms 2, M. Mason 2, J. Sambo, R. Taylor, 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)

TEAM HEAT:

#4 Hau-Tze Rock (Nightcliff)
Defender/Midfielder | 179cm | 03/03/2008

Rock was at his industrious best on Saturday, racking up possessions in defence before being unleashed further afield. He started out with the kick-in duties and build into proceedings with sharp short passes, before delivering it flatter and longer as he grew in confidence. Rock got more creative and daring with his run as the game wore on, sharking the ball at ground level and making typically terrific decisions as Team Heat’s main playmaker.

#6 Nathaniel Lampton (Palmerston)
Wing/Defender | 177cm | 04/11/2008

Co-captain to Rock, Lampton played a similar role on the outside. He started out on the wing before dropping back, providing endless run as he drove his legs between the arcs. The Palmerston prospect was consistently there to provide an outlet either out of defensive 50 or to go inside forward 50, acting as a crucial connection piece for Team Heat. He tended to back his leg speed and did his best to hurt the opposition that way with each possession.

#11 Gus Trigwell (Nightcliff)
Midfielder/Defender | 180cm | 12/12/2008

Trigwell started out at the centre bounces but arguably looked most comfortable with a second half switch to defence, where he was an Under 16 All-Australian last year. The Nightcliff utility used his pace to evade opponents and wheel onto his favoured left foot, which he utilised all day long. While he sometimes found himself cornered or under pressure, Trigwell got into good positions to win the ball and effectively mopped it up across the backline.

#16 Kairyce Lowah (St Mary’s)
Defender | 179cm | 07/05/2009

Lowah had some tough matchups in the Team Heat defence but battled hard, particularly in the first half. His attack on the ball was clear to see, chiming in for brave defensive 50 spoils and intercept marks. He showed great power and spring in those instances, putting his body on the line to cut the ball off before looking to send it forward. That no-fuss approach made him effective.

#20 Deacon Summerville (Palmerston)
Defender/Midfielder | 184cm | 15/05/2008

A bigger body in the midfield rotation, Summerville also spent plenty of time in defence where he provided a cool head alongside Rock. He got involved in some early kick-mark play and showcased a clean set of hands off the deck to mop up loose balls. Summerville’s composure with ball in hand stood out and he produced some ultra-competitive efforts, most notably including tackles and intercept marks during the second quarter.

#25 Edward Darcy (Wanderers)
Forward | 182cm | 07/02/2008

Darcy was situated one-out deep inside 50 for much of the day and cashed in with three first half goals. He kicked Team Heat’s only two majors of the opening quarter, using his speed and superior reactions to do so. A quick checkside finish in the second term brought about his third and final score, though opportunities were much harder to come by thereafter. A dangerous finisher.

#26 Gary Lawford (Darwin/Oakleigh Chargers)
Midfielder/Defender | 175cm | 02/05/2009

Lawford was awarded Team Heat’s best on ground medal and helped set the tone in midfield. The strong and combative ball winner leant on his crash and bash style to prise first possession, thriving at ground level and cleverly drawing free kicks. His clean hands and core strength made dishing the ball out to teammates look easy, though it was tough at times to find space moving forward. Lawford also spent time down back in the second quarter, which suited his one-on-one craft.

Others: Ian Thomson was a standout among Team Heat’s tall stocks, providing a great target and showcasing his competitiveness all day. Oscar Timms joined him in the ruck, proving a raw prospect with good mobility. Things could have been much worst if not for the defensive partnership of Lukah Case and Brodie Costello, while Jalyn Priestley showed nice signs out on the wing.

TEAM SPEARS:

#3 Owen Campbell-Shields (Palmerston)
Small Forward | 172cm | 08/05/2009

Campbell-Shields got on the end of Team Spears’ fluent end-to-end movement on several occasions, finishing with four goals. He snuck out the back to snare his side’s opening major, but did most of his scoring in the second half. Campbell-Shields had little trouble converting over the mark, but arguably his highlight of the day was an improvisational soccer goal one-out deep inside 50. He bookended the game nicely with the final goal, slotted after the siren.

#17 Isaac Herold (Southern Districts)
Ruck | 200cm | 30/07/2008

A genuine key position player in the NT’s ranks, Herold skill to match his size. He utilised his reach advantage in the ruck with fluent leaps and taps, but also followed up nicely in open play. The Southern Districts prospect dropped back to intercept on several occasions and was a reliable target down the line. He often looked to move the ball on quickly after marking by taking ground.

#18 Hugo Timms (PINT/Oakleigh Chargers)
Key Forward/Ruck | 193cm | 17/12/2009

Timms chopped out in the ruck but did the bulk of his work up forward, hitting the scoreboard with two first half goals. He did what he could with wayward delivery at times, presenting up the ground and displaying good ability below his knees. That came into effect with both his goals coming in open play – the second being a well timed front-and-centre crumb. Along with Smiler, he provided headaches for the Heat defence. Timms was the NT’s Under 16 MVP last year.

#19 Sonny Smiler (Wanderers)
Midfielder/Forward | 176cm | 20/10/2008

Far and away the best player afield, Smiler booted five goals and was an absolute menace in the forward half. He started in midfield and showed off his dancing feet, sometimes taking on too much but proving creative nonetheless. His flair turned into substance with an assist for Team Heat’s opening goal, before he embarked on his own scoring rampage. Smiler tore the game open with three goals in the second quarter, putting on a finishing clinic with his ability to crumb and turn onto his left foot. He also set up chances for others by breaking tackles with his speed and agility.

#20 Mazlan Patrick (Darwin)
Defender | 179cm | 06/06/2009

Patrick was deservedly named among Team Spears’ best for his role in defence, while much of the action took place at the other end of the ground. He made excellent reads to not only get in position to intercept, but also peel off his direct opponent when necessary. Patrick played taller than his 179cm standing would suggest, holding his own in the air but also swooping on loose balls and using his turn of foot to break clear on the rebound.

#21 Ben Barnard (Southern Districts)
Defender/Midfielder | 182cm | 26/03/2008

Owner of arguably the best foot skills of any player afield, Barnard delivered some scintillating passes through the middle of TIO Stadium. He was ultra clean at ground level and provided a calm head on the way forward, making great decisions as Team Spears looked to increasingly feed him the ball. Doing much of his work facing forward, Barnard played a quarterback role of sorts as he spread the play out every which way and grew in confidence with each completed pass.

#24 Aaron McWilliams (St Mary’s)
Defender/Midfielder | 175cm | 21/08/2008

McWilliams co-captained Team Spears alongside Barnard and showed why he was entrusted with such responsibility. The St Mary’s product plugged every possible gap to help his side absorb the early pressure, cutting off plenty of kicks with sound reading of the play. McWilliams would then look to utilise his foot skills on the rebound and brought the play forward alongside his fellow skipper. He then earned a run in midfield but looked far more authoritative behind the ball.

#28 Zac Withers (Waratah)
Midfielder | 10/05/2008

While many others chopped and changed through midfield, Withers was a relative mainstay. One of the NTFL’s Rising Star favourites, he made clearance winning look easy by reading the taps and prising the ball cleanly. Withers’ size meant he often drew a crowd but that did little to stop him dishing the ball out effectively. He also showed a handy knack for ripping the ball off opponents in tackles. The Waratah talent rested forward late in the piece and seemed to suffer from some cramp.

Others: Among a busy midfield mix, Riley Seden-Kurnoth showcased his class with several outstanding left-foot passes. He helped turn the game during term two with his work through the middle. Max Mason also gave his all throughout the day and was rewarded with two final quarter goals, while Jaren Sambo looked lively with his fast feet and goal sense. Juraiya Calma-Long was another dangerous player in the forward half with his spurts of run and creativity.