Essendon’s VFL and VFLW teams will take on the best of the Northern Territory Football League on Wednesday, January 24 at Darwin’s TIO Stadium.
The double-header will see the Bombers’ VFLW side take on the NTFL Buffaloes representative women’s team from 7:30pm AEDT, before the Bombers’ VFL team clashes with the best of the NTFL’s men’s competition from 9:15pm AEDT.
It will be the fourth time Essendon’s VFL side has played against the NTFL Buffaloes and the first time the VFLW team has been involved in the clash.
New recruits Jackson Hately, Xavier O’Neill, Jack Peris and Jared Eckersley have all been named to play for the Essendon’s VFL side in Blake Caracella’s first game at the helm.
Hately (Adelaide Crows), O’Neill (West Coast Eagles) and Peris (St Kilda) joined the Bombers’ VFL program in the off-season following time at AFL level, while Eckersley is a graduate of the Gold Coast Suns Academy who was a member of the Suns’ VFL premiership team last September.
Essendon’s VFLW line-up includes nine players who featured in last year’s preliminary final team, including Grace Dicker and Eloise Chaston who finished second and fourth respectively in the club’s best and fairest award.
Although no AFL and AFLW-listed players will be available for the two matches, Essendon co-captains Steph Cain and Bonnie Toogood will step in to coach the VFLW team.
A selection of Tiwi Islands talent has been selected to represent Essendon across both matches.
The club has a longstanding connection to the Tiwi Islands, with the area being a part of its Next Generation Academy (NGA) zone since 2017.
Essendon CEO Craig Vozzo said the club was excited to provide opportunities for emerging players as part of the showcase matches.
“The Tiwi Islands holds a special place at Essendon, and we are thrilled to be heading north to take on both the men’s and women’s Northern Territory Football League representative sides in Darwin,” Vozzo said.
“This is an excellent opportunity to further enhance our connection to our Next Generation Academy Zone, the Tiwi Bombers and the wider Northern Territory.
“It will be an excellent showcase of football, and we look forward to taking on the best talent from the Northern Territory.”
HOW TO WATCH: Please click here to watch a live stream of both matches.
SQUADS: Continue below to view Essendon’s VFL and VFLW teams for the showcase matches against the NTFL representative teams.
NTFL Buffaloes Women's vs Essendon VFL
TIO Stadium, Darwin
Wednesday, January 24 at 7:30pm AEDT
NTFL
1. Marika Carlton
2. Emma Stark
3. Tatyana Perry
4. Steph Lawrence
5. Jemma Iacono (vc)
6. Jasmyn Hewett (c)
7. Maighan Fogas
8. Christy Landwehr
9. Mickayla Ward
12. Billie Byers
13. Emma Forsyth
14. Carly Remmos
15. Emily Forshaw
16. Reni Hicks
17. Madeleine Jeans
18. Janet Baird
19. Cassie McWilliam
21. Kate Atkins
26. Molly Althouse
28. Jonita Kingsley
30. Ruby O’Dwyer
31. Gabby Deller
40. Jo Miller
32. Brittany Daly (em)
38. Georgia Johnson (em)
39. Stella Ajani (em)
Essendon
1. Maddison Ford
6. Ruby Mahony
8. Eloise Chaston
9. Jaimee-Lee Morrow
12. Chloe Prpic
13. Olivia Manfre
16. Jayda Richardson
18. Kyla Tracey
19. Ashlea Melnikas
20. Scarlett Orritt
23. Madison Gray
28. Amy Cariss-Brett
31. Maddison Shaw
35. Danielle Marshall
44. Grace Dicker
45. Tia Davidge
46. Krystal Russell
50. Karly McNiece
Kimberly Cunningham (Tiwi)
Glorianna Luta (Tiwi)
Jamie Lee Puautjimi (Tiwi)
Frede Puruntatameri (Tiwi)
Maria Rioli (Tiwi)
NTFL Buffaloes Men's vs Essendon VFL
TIO Stadium, Darwin
Wednesday, January 24 at 9:15pm AEDT
NTFL
1. Scott Carlin
2. Nick Yarran
3. Brodie Carroll
4. Darcy Chirgwin
5. Kieren Parnell
6. Ryan Nyhuis (c)
7. Brodie Filo
8. Lucas Edmonds
9. Jed Anderson
11. Connor McDonald
14. Wyatt Ryan (em)
15. Jay Moody
16. Jayden Magro
17. Braedon McLean (vc)
18. Beau Schwarze
19. Matt Ryan
20. Nate Paredes (vc)
21. Jack O’Sullivan
27. Sam Darley
28. Seth Harris
29. Tex Korewha
30. Matthew Mazzini
33. Adrian Scott
36. Arnold Kirby
41. Cooper Dahms
39. Jaxon East (em)
42. Stanley Waistcoat (em)
Essendon
42. Brendan Kantilla (Tiwi)
43. Kim Kantilla (Tiwi)
45. Zach Sinnott
47. Xavier O'Neill
50. Luca Alessio
51. Campbell Gray
52. Jake Sutton
53. Jack Peris
55. James Auld
57. Charlie Bolmat
58. Jermarl Daly
60. Will Hoare
61. Jack Jedwab
66. Karlson Kantilla (Tiwi)
67. Jared Eckersley
68. Ryan Eyre
69. Lachlan Monteath
71. Matthew Foley
73. Ayui Making
75. Oskar Smartt
76. Jackson Hately
78. Tom Toma
79. Tom Stapleton
80. Kane Loftus
81. Solomon McKay
82. Ricky Monti
83. Amin Naim
