Former AFL player Brandan Parfitt was a standout performer in his highly-anticipated return for junior club Nightcliff at the weekend.
Parfitt gathered 31 disposals – 15 of which were contested – and had an equal game-high seven clearances in the Tigers' 17.14 (116) to 7.13 (55) win over the Tiwi Bombers at Gardens Oval on Saturday.
The former Geelong player also had team-high numbers in ground ball gets (13), tackles (five) and inside-50s (six) in his team's impressive 62-point win.
Nightcliff now sit third on the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) ladder with six wins from nine games, with the 26-year-old's inclusion strengthening an already formidable Nightcliff midfield group.
Parfitt's uncle Jonathan Peris – a 200-game veteran of the Tigers – told the NT News the ex-Cat added plenty of experience and leadership to the team.
"His (Parfitt's) leadership was big for us, he does a few things that prove he's just come back from a high level and the boys really listened to what he had to say out there," Peris said post-match.
"It was good to get the win after our shocking loss last week, and with some new players and my nephew Parfitt back in it was a good result."
Parfitt was delisted by Geelong after spending seven seasons at the elite level, culminating in 130 AFL games.
The 2022 premiership player has recently signed with West Australian Football League outfit Perth ahead of the upcoming season.
The tough midfielder was an outstanding junior player for the Tigers and is a former recipient of the NTFL's Rising Star.
During the 2014/15 season, the tough midfielder created history by becoming the youngest-ever winner of his club's best-and-fairest award when he claimed the honour as a 16-year-old.
The Tiwi Bombers also fielded plenty of AFL experience in Indigenous trio Marlion Pickett, Matthew Parker and Anthony Munkara.
Pickett – a dual AFL premiership player with Richmond – recorded 18 disposals and took nine marks, but was on the wrong side of the umpire's whistle, giving away eight free kicks.
Parker, who played 30 AFL games for Richmond and St Kilda between 2019 and 2022, played his second game for the Bombers.
The current WAFL star had 18 disposals to go along with a team-high five tackles and six inside-50s.
Munkara, who was listed at Essendon in 2023, finished the contest with eight disposals and two goals.
Former Greater Western Sydney and Western Bulldogs player Sam Darley and ex-West Coast forward Ashton Hams also lined up for the Bombers.
