SAINTS STAR HAVING A TOP TIME MIXING IT WITH BOYHOOD IDOLS
HAVING already faced Steven Motlop, and with a clash against Gary Ablett Jr and Travis Varcoe looming, Harry Ling says it’s “kind of cool” playing against those he idolised growing up.
Ling, a two-time GFL premiership winner with St Mary’s, has joined the club’s namesake in the Northern Territory Football League after moving to the Top End to live and work as a teachers aide for the 2022-23 season.
While St Mary’s doesn’t have any ex-AFL players, former stars are scattered throughout the other eight clubs.
Ablett Jr is set to be the biggest name when he makes a one-off appearance for Palmerston Magpies against St Mary’s on November 18, a player Ling watched growing up as a Geelong fan.
“I played Stevie Motlop the other weekend … I think we played Boyd Woodcock who was on Port Adelaide’s list,” Ling said.
“Gary Ablett’s game’s soon, so I’ll hopefully get to play in that game … that’ll be good, maybe Eddie Betts, I’m not sure if he’ll be playing.
“Travis Varcoe, just all these ex-Geelong players (that) you kind of grew up watching them, it’s going to be kind of cool to play against them.”
The move north to play in the NTFL is one Ling had contemplated for a while.
“I was umming and ahing about going in Covid when our season got cancelled but then I guess nothing really fell into place,” he said.
“Marty Christensen who’s at St Mary’s (Geelong), he played a few seasons up here and I just got on to him and he knows the coach and we just got in contact.
“It’s been really awesome, absolutely loving it. Super different to (the) GFL in terms of the heat and just how the game’s played.
“(I’m) really enjoying it and would recommend it to anyone if they wanted to play in the summer.”
Ling expects to stay for the entire season.
“I’m planning on being there for the whole summer and then, I guess, the plan is to come back and play St Mary’s Geelong at the moment,” he said.
“It’s just such good fun and you’re meeting people from all around the country … there’s always something to do, heaps of outdoor activities and places to visit and stuff like that.”