Pinktails U18 - Michael Long Cup - Darwin

The U18 Pinktails Squad flew to Darwin on the 14th December 2017 to play 3 games in the Michael Long Cup.

U18 Pinktails make presents felt in the Top End



The U18 Pinktails Team travelled to Darwin for the first time to pitch their talents against the Territories best in the Michael Long Cup, a competition designed to flush out our junior talent from across the region. Our squad of 23 representatives only had a limited time to prepare and with some of the girls taking up footy for the first time, it was an achievement just to take a team to Darwin let alone be as competitive as our girls were.

The girls had four games to get through over Friday and Saturday in typically Top End hot and muggy conditions, first up being AFLNT U18 competition leaders Darwin Buffaloes. Over the two days the girls played exceptionally well, improving individually and extremely well as a team under the guidance of coaches Sheralee Taylor-Smith, Rob Clarke and Ian McAdam.

The girls gave their all and impressed selectors so much that the entire Pinktails team were selected in the U18 NT Thunder Women’s Academy Squad, from which an NT team will be picked to play in the U18 National Academy Series games held in May.

Manager of Talent and Pathways, Wally Galleo said “The squad was made up of promising young players from all over the Territory”.

Galleo also quoted “This year more Pinktails players from Alice Springs were selected than ever before, which not only proves there is exceptional depth down here but having the bigger squad also provides our Central Australian coaches with a good base to ready players in the Redtails/ Pinktails Academy for the various talent and diversity programs. The NTFL and CAFL clubs along with AFLNT remote staff have done a great job in developing their players. While we have strong representation from Alice Springs, Darwin, Katherine and Tiwi Islands, we will continue to work with the other regions to ensure their players have the same opportunities to represent the Territory.”

Results of the games were: 

Game 1 - Pinktails 6-1-7 were defeated by Darwin Buffalos 9-7-61

Best on Ground: Jordan Kindness, Moesha Mc Cormack, Jorja Weily, Madison Davis Tahere, Shoneeka Abbott, Shaquille Swan.


Game 2 - Pinktails 10-12-72 defeated Katherine 0-0-0

Best on Ground: Shoneeka Abbott, Shaquille Swan, Moesha Mc Cormack, Matisse Hunter, Janaya Kopp, Charlotte Birch.


Game 3 - Pinktails 0-5-5 were defeated by Tiwi 5-1-31

Best on Ground: Jorja Weily, Monet Hunter, Jordan Kindness, Shoneeka Abbott, Doreena Hansen, Matisse Hunter