Goulburn Valley products return Top End success by securing Northern Territory Football League flag

By Liam Nash

Mar 17, 2025

Former Shepparton and Tatura star Matt Shannon won the Premier League men’s grand final with Southern Districts in Northern Territory Football League. Photo by steve Huntley

It might only be mid-March, but Goulburn Valley football products have already gripped their first bit of silverware for 2025.

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At the weekend, Southern Districts held on to hoist the Premier League men’s flag in Northern Territory Football League over St Mary’s — and locals were right in the thick of it on both sides of the ledger at TIO Stadium.

Former Shepparton and Tatura star Matt Shannon stood tall alongside Katamatite product Tom Clurey as the Crocs broke a seven-year premiership drought.

Shannon kicked a first-quarter bomb from afar to spear Districts to an eight-point advantage at the opening break, though St Mary’s — including Shepparton Swans defender Luke Davies — rallied to lead by three at the half.

However, Districts’ four-goal effort in the third quarter put enough distance between the sides heading into the final term where Shannon and Clurey would eventually clinch a 9.12 (66) to 8.3 (51) victory.

They weren’t the only players from the Goulburn Valley to nick a grand final win, either.

In the Premier League men’s reserves decider, Moama had a large contingent to play a hand in Banks’ 55-point thumping of a Pint contingent featuring Katamatite’s Daniel Parnell.

Magpies Callum Doyle, Liam Ritchie, Fraser Verhey, Zac Stovell and Khy Stovell — the latter of which signed for the club from Kyabram in the off-season — savoured the spoils following the Bulldogs’ 11.12 (78) to 3.5 (23) triumph.