TIGERS ROAR
Out of the wilderness: Nightcliff break 54-year premiership drought
”Hopefully we’ll be playing the club song on the trumpet”
THERE ain’t no grand final day like an NTFL grand final day, especially when the Tigers break a 54-year drought.
Ex-AFL legends watched on in the stands as the stars of tomorrow flashed across a professional-class playing surface at TIO stadium.
At 33-degrees it’s scorching hot, but storm clouds in the distance pour out a rainbow during the Division 1 grand final between Banks and Nightcliff.
There’s kids racing around the grandstands – ducking and weaving barefoot through busy thoroughfares and thin aisles – learning, in tight confines, how to dodge their way out of traffic for some day in the future.
Clubmen and women smash beer cans together after their team kicks a goal, as bars and canteens do a busy trade in the background.
The action on the field is fast: as a brand of footy, it’s hard to beat the Territory’s.
With the Tigers up for three grand finals on the day, including a chance to end their 54year NTFL premiership drought, Nightcliff president Jeff Borella was “apprehensive and anxious”.
Nightcliff talisman Bennie Lew Fat, a member of the Tigers’ last premiership side from 1964, was in a happy mood after attending the AFLNT Life Members Luncheon at the Michael Long Centre.
Lew Fat said he was, as al- ways, loving grand final day at Marrara as he peered across the pristine playing surface.
“We have such great sporting facilities in the NT, and all in the one place which is very rare,” he said.
“The government really needs to be commended on their ongoing commitment to sport in the Territory.”
Decked out in yellow and black afros, brothers (and former Nightcliff players) Robin and Adrien Kidney represented the heart and soul of the Tigers’ cheer squad at the airport end of the ground.
“We’ve all been waiting for a long time, and we’re hoping tonight it’s the Tigers’ night,” Robin said.
With their trumpets handy, the brothers said they would be blowing some notes on the brass to rev up their boys and barb the opposition
“It’s a big day for the club and hopefully we can bring a bit of atmosphere,” Robin said.
“Hopefully we’ll be playing the club song on the trumpet, a few gimmicks to put the other side off, start some chants and add a bit of a carnival feeling to the evening.”