Stanley Waistcoat Earns NTFL 2023-24 Round 4 Rising Star Nomination

A native of Tennant Creek, this player made his NTFL Premier League debut with Southern Districts and scored five goals in his first game, earning him the Round 5 Rising Star nomination. Look here for the list of candidates for 2023-'24.

Afive-goal Stanley Waistcoat, a native of Tennant Creek, was nominated for Round 4's Rising Star after making his NTFL Premier League debut with the Southern Districts.

The adolescent has captured the sights of coaches across the territory, whether for the Spitfires in the Barkly League, the Rovers in the CAFL or the Crocs in the NTFL.

His amazing talents and dangerous running have led to his selection in the NT's under-18s Coates Talent League, while he also spent time with South Fremantle in the WAFL in 2023.

After two strong performances in the reserves, he was promoted to the first team for the district's Premier League match against a tough PINT squad.

In the end, the young talent won by a score of 20.17 (137) to 4.4 (28), and they were a threat all day long on the offensive, continuously threatening to score goals. They ended the game with five majors and two scoring assists from their 12 possessions.

According to Districts coach Shannon Rusca, the young players performed admirably despite facing off against a formidable opponent.

"He's doing some great things in Darwin, starting in Division 1, where he caught the eye of selectors, who had no hesitation in putting him in against one of the comp's top teams," Rusca added.

He thrived there because he could use his amazing abilities to track down the ball and score goals.

"He was threatening all day; he was really clean below his feet and in the air; he reads the ball in flight pretty well and he judged a few over his head and took some contested marks, which was great.

It's been said that "Stanley is very good at training; he's very exciting and very bubbly and he brings in a lot of laughter to the group."

While in Adelaide for the National Indigenous and Multicultural Talent Program earlier this year, the kid made no secret of his desire to play AFL.

And it's an objective Rusca believes he has the talent and capacity to fulfill; it just comes down to how he applies himself.

"He's got the talent and the ability; for him, it comes down to the right time and the right place," Rusca added.

"He's got to put in the work to be at the level above NTFL; there's no doubt if he chooses that path he could entertain that."

Talented Bomber earns NTFL Round 3 Rising Star nod

A young player for the Tiwi Bombers, who was only in his second NTFL game, earned the Rising Star nomination for his work in the ruck that was vital in the team's dominating victory against Palmerston.

Karlson Kantilla had arguably the toughest opening game of any NTFL ruckman, going up against Southern Districts' Matt Dennis, the league's best in the middle.

Despite the physical gap, he dug in and came away with eight hitouts to his name on that occasion, putting himself up well as one to watch at center bounce.

And against Palmerston he returned his side's trust with results, winning the contest 19 times, while also proving himself a running menace by blasting out of center square.

He was a valuable contributor in the ruck and added 14 possessions, 5 clearances, 3 tackles, and 2 assists for goals to his impressive stat line.

Patrick Bowden, Kantilla's coach, praised him for never giving up no matter who he was rucking with.

"He's a young fella who held his own against Matthew Dennis in his first game of NTFL footy; he was outsized, but he never gave up," Bowden said.

He did a fantastic job again this past weekend, winning numerous contests around the football field thanks to his superior abilities and in-depth understanding of the game.

He's versatile, but he's been our ruckman so far this season: "He's done everything in the TIFL leading up to this season in ruck, so it's natural for him."

Meanwhile, Paula Pavic of the Saints has been nominated as a rising Star. Pavic has been outstanding for the Saints this season.

Another standout ruck, Pavic was instrumental in Round 3's victory over Southern Districts, which her team won 22.16 (148) to 0.0 (0).

A continuous thorn in opponent teams, whether jumping or battling the ball in the middle, Pavic is an active player and one who hasn't dropped in form once in the opening three rounds.

ROUND 2 - Seth Harris (St Mary’s) and Shanie Lami Lami (Tiwi)

After playing bravely in the NTFL's second round, an 18-year-old from Mornington Peninsula earned the Rising Star nomination.

Seth Harris joined St Mary's midway through the pre-season after making the drive up on his own in a car with no aircon, and has quickly solidified himself as a hard working club man.

After two-time Dennis Dunn winner Jackson Calder and Sam Fowler, he is the third person with ties to Mornington and the Green Machine.

And he very immediately excelled against defending premiers Waratah in Round 2 raking up 26 possessions, four clearances, four tackles and five inside 50s.

Coach Anthony Vallejo was thrilled with his display, saying the young player would be one to keep an eye on as the season goes on.

"He's a young kid who moved up by himself in a car with no aircon, so he's pretty committed," said Vallejo.

"The first thing we noticed was his fitness. We've got some really good runners in Dylan Landt and Kieren Parnell, but he was up there in front of those boys sometimes.

"He's a highly courageous kid and a hard runner; we've seen him through the middle and know he can play down back as well.

He's got a great head on his shoulders for someone so young, and he's equally adept with the ball in his left and right feet.

"He's integrated into club life; he never misses a practice; he's even shown up for Auskick sessions, and he's done some extra work around the club."

Meanwhile, Shanie Lami Lami from the Tiwi Bombers was chosen the Rising Star nomination for the Women's Premier League.

The rookie stood out in her team's season opener, a close victory over Southern Districts at the Croc's home. The youthful player contributed two goals and three behinds.

With the Bombers women striving for the NTFL women's playoffs for the first time, she will be a player to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

ROUND 1 - Dwayne Kerinaiua (Waratah) and Marika Carlton (Palmerston)

One promising young Waratah player scored four points in his debut with the team, making him a strong candidate for the Round 1 Rising Star award.

Dwayne Kerinaiua, then age 18, debuted in the premier league in the 2022–23 season, both for the Tiwi Bombers and the Waratah under-18s.

But in Round 1 he settled on playing top grade for the Tahs when his x-factor skill came to the fore in a four-goal effort.

He did a fantastic job filling in with Anthony Munkara, his friend and a former teammate at the Essendon Bombers, and Jayden Magro, a consistent goal threat.

Not only did his goal kicking impress coach Ryan Ayres, but so did his quickness on and off the ball and his tackle pressure in the lopsided victory over Southern Districts.

"He's an extremely exciting talent and a natural footballer like all the footballers from Tiwi are," Ayres added.

He has ties to the Tiwi community but has decided to play for us in the Waratah system, which is fantastic.

"He kicked four goals in a forward line that worked well together, but his tackle pressure was elite as well and he's got genuine leg speed."

Before joining the premier league club, Kerinaiua displayed his prowess in Waratah's under-18s win where he kicked all five of his side's goals.

"He's an absolute freak, they kicked five goals and he kicked all of them to get best on ground," Ayres remarked.

Then he played on our team and kicked a couple goals against the Central Australian representative team, so he's a promising young player overall.

He "has enough talent to challenge himself and push for bigger and better things" and "it's one thing playing for Waratah, but I think he's got enough talent to challenge himself and push for bigger and better things."

He isn't the only promising prospect to star in the match versus the Tahs, with Timothy Kerinaiua and Xavier Blitner also impressing.

Meanwhile, Marika Carlton won the women's emerging star proving why she was so highly praised coming through the junior grades with a three-goal showing against Wanderers.

Carlton has been one of the most anticipated juniors in the women's competition having earned the best and fairest title in both the under-16s and under-18s competitions last year.

The Palmerston youngster won best-on-ground accolades in both of his team's premiership victories, making him the first contender for the 2023-24 Rising Star award.