Janet Baird & Steven Motlop To Captain Cazalys NTFL Teams

The Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) proudly supported by Cazalys Palmerston club is excited to announce the final teams ahead of their clash with the Central Australian Football League tomorrow, on Saturday April 5 at TIO Traeger Park. 

Both the Women’s and Men’s teams had their guernsey’s presented to each player on Thursday night by former NTFL representative players at the Michael Long Learning and Leadership centre.  

At the presentation, the captains and vice-captains were announced. Taking the role of captain for the Women’s side, fresh off a premiership from St Mary’s, Janet Baird. As a second time representative player, Janet provides AFLW experience and has played over 127 games in the NTFL. PINT’s Reni Hicks with 4 matches in the AFLW was named as vice-captain featuring 73 times in the NTFL and has appeared twice in the NTFL Representative Side. 

For the Men’s side, playing for the NTFL for the second time, former Geelong Cat and Port Power player Steven Motlop was awarded the captaincy. Motlop was named captain after his 41 goals in the 2024/25 TIO NTFL season, including a premiership. Nicknamed the ‘The Wiz’, Kieren Parnell has earnt the vice captaincy with 186 games for St Mary’s, this will be Parnell’s 2^nd appearance for the NTFL Buffaloes. 

Please see the final teams below. 

*Travelling with the team are replacement/ emergency players who will be named on match day as required.  

The Women’s match is scheduled to start at 3.00pm with the Men’s at 5.00pm, tickets are available for purchase from the gate on match day.  

For those who can’t make it to the games, both matches will be broadcast live and free to watch via AFLNTv YouTube.  

History: 

This exciting match will reignite a historic rivalry that dates all the way back to 1948, with nine thrilling inter-town games played between Darwin and Alice Springs from 1948 to 1984.   

Over the years, Darwin claimed victory in eight of these encounters, with the only loss coming in 1952. These games have always been a showcase of the Territory's finest footy talent, with many of our game’s greatest players stepping onto the field for this fierce contest.  

After extensive community feedback, we’re excited to bring this beloved tradition back to life with the inclusion of both Men’s and Women’s representative matches. It’s a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the skill, pride, and passion that both the NTFL and CAFL bring to the game.  

The CAFL vs NTFL rivalry has been rekindled in recent years through thrilling representative matchups. In 2023, the CAFL representative side narrowly lost to Waratah, with just five points separating the teams in a heart-pounding contest. The CAFL put up a fierce fight but couldn’t hold off a late surge from the Warriors. Despite the loss, CAFL Representative Abraham Ankers was awarded Best on Ground for his brilliant performance.  

Last year at TIO Traeger Park, the CAFL representatives faced off against St Mary’s in what turned out to be another captivating chapter in the rivalry. After a dominant first half, the CAFL side surged to a commanding 35-point lead. Despite a resilient effort from St Mary’s, including standout performances from Ethan Bush and Zac Robinson, the CAFL finished strong with an emphatic eight-goal blitz in the final quarter to secure a big victory. Kane Sevallos was named Best on Ground for his pivotal role in the match.