Sport

Goulburn Valley exports taste success in NTFL grand finals

By Liam Nash

Mar 17, 2024

Born to win: 2023 Lancaster premiership star Luke Davies won the 2024 NTFL premier men’s grand final with St Mary’s on Saturday night. Photo by Aydin Payne

Some of Goulburn Valley’s finest football exports are winning and grinning in the wake of the Northern Territory Football League grand finals series.

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A host of stars from the region tasted Top End success on Saturday, though none of the tales were as storied as Luke Davies’.

Davies, who signed for Shepparton Swans in the off-season, captured the NTFL premier men’s flag with St Mary’s as the side held on for a gritty 5.14 (44) to 3.13 (31) victory over Nightcliff at TIO Stadium.

The former Lancaster key defender cannot stay away from success after securing the 2023 Kyabram District League premiership with the Wombats as they trumped Nagambie in September.

Davies was joined by 2023 Murray Football League premiership player Owen Conway (Mulwala) on the park for St Mary’s, with the pair among some sublimely-talented footballers to don the yellow and green on the night.

The former Tongala duo of Cam Illett and Ryan Nyhuis were on the losing side of the ledger with Nightcliff, as was ex-Shepparton United star Brodie Filo.

Goulburn Valley also laid claim to a victorious name featured in the premier women’s final.

Drink to that: Nathalia’s Reni Hicks won the premiership with Pint on Saturday. Photo by Aydin Payne

Nathalia’s Reni Hicks played a crucial role in Pint’s narrow five-point beating of St Mary’s in the earlier fixture, edging the contest 4.3 (27) to 3.4 (22).

Saturday’s triumph means back-to-back Top End premierships for the 25-year-old following Pint’s 40-point grand final win in 2023, with the North Melbourne VFLW player classed as one of Pint’s best.

Hicks has grown into one of Pint’s — and the NTFL’s — most consistent, named in her side’s best more than any other player in the competition with 12 from 16 appearances.

She also won the Northern Country Women’s League senior women’s flag with Nathalia in 2022.