Champs boost to Top End prospects

TWO veteran AFL recruiters believe the new AFL Under-18 Championships structure will give Northern Territory kids a greater chance of reaching the big time.

An Allies team made up of the best prospects from the NT, Queensland, NSW/ACT and Tasmania will face off with Division One states in June and July after this month’s Division Two carnival.

Geelong recruiting manager Stephen Wells and West Coast counterpart Rohan O’Brien watched the Territory beat Tasmania by 69 points in Darwin on Friday night and were suitably impressed.

“There’s a lot of talk about Queensland and NSW — and they’ve got some fairly strong groups — but watching tonight, this Territory group looks as if it’s a bit stronger than maybe the last couple of years,” O’Brien said on Friday.

“There’s not anything specific about trying to get more (draft) numbers out of (the NT), but the continuity of the TAC Cup, then the Div Two champs and the Allies will potentially help the boys.”

Wells has drafted some of the cream of the Territory’s talent in recent times, including Mat Stokes, Nathan Djerrkura and current Cats Steven Motlop and Nakia Cockatoo.

“AFL clubs now have fantastic development programs for players, no matter where they come from,” Wells said.

“I know Steven Motlop and Nakia Cockatoo, who are on our list now, along with Mathew Stokes, who played in premierships with us, have fitted in really well.”

Brandan Parfitt, who is playing for SANFL club North Adelaide, is the Territory’s leading draft hope this year and a potential first-rounder.

The 17-year-old midfielder was best afield against Tassie.

Ruckman Tony Olango, bottom-age AFL Academy member Domonic Grant, Ben Long — nephew of Essendon great Michael — Pat Taban and Ezekiel Frank are among the other candidates.

Richmond’s Daniel Rioli, Essendon livewire Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Fremantle rookie Ryan Nyhuis joined AFL lists last year.