Bagot teenager's impressive debutTEENAGE tyro Mitchell Taylor (pictured) certainly knows how to make an entrance.
The 19-year-old played his first game for NT Thunder in their match against Redland in Alice Springs at the weekend, and he marked his debut with a solid effort, and a booking from the umpires.
Taylor is a product of the NT Thunder's junior program, having graduated through its under-16s and -18s teams. He had played for Wanderers in the NTFL.
Taylor's pride in representing the Northern Territory and his people is evident.
"This means everything to me; I represent my family and community of Bagot," he said of playing for the Thunder in the Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL).
Thankfully for the Thunder, which suffered its first defeat on home soil in the game against the Bombers, Taylor's bump for which he was reported was viewed as 'low grade' and, with a clean record and an early guilty plea, he escaped suspension.
That was the good news.
The bad news was the Thunder's gripping three-point loss, 19.12 (126) to 19.9 (123), in one of the best games of the QAFL season, has somewhat loosened the Michael McLean-coached side's once-solid grip on the finals double-chance.
As it stands, the third-placed NT side and fourth-placed Redland share the same win-loss ratio -- 10-5 -- with 40 premiership points apiece and just percentage splitting the two. Both sides are one win behind second-placed Southport.
The Thunder's prospects of a top-two finish hinge on how they fare in the next fortnight. On Saturday, they play league leaders Morningside, which is coming off a massive 94-point win over Labarador, in their final home-and-away match on home soil, this time at Marrara Oval in Darwin. They then face Southport at Carrara Oval.
The Thunder's final home-and-away game before the finals is against lowly Aspley in Brisbane.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Last Modified on 04/08/2009 21:27