A very reliable
back man Shane Ponter was born on the 27/11/1973. He played his 200th and last NTFL game in the
first semi final against Nightcliff in season 2001/02
Shane was a
member of the 1986 and 1987 NT Teal Cup and 1986 NT primary and secondary schoolboy’s representative teams and played
a total of 58 U/18’s and U/16’s for St Marys He also kicked 71 goals in his junior career
In his laconic way Shane often
tells a story in relation to when Sue was having Dannielle. For some reason he says Sue and the doctors decided to have
Dannielle on a Saturday, the child was induced in the morning but did not raise its head until about 2.30pm. After the
child was born I sat with Sue for 30 minutes and then said I'm off to play footy as the game was on at 4.00pm. Sue was not too happy and said I should stay with her, my remark was
that all she is going to do is sleep and I left for the game. On arrival at the game all the people who knew Sue was having
a child stated that it must have been a girl if “Ponta” had come
to play footy. This was correct and they were right if it had been a boy he would not have played.
He was a regular
player for fourteen years until he retired in 2001/02 season under his good mate and best man Damien Hale. A fearless competitor,
who gave his all every time he played Shane was a member of seven St Marys Premierships
1989/90, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1993/94, 1994/95, 1995/96 and 1996/97
He has been
awarded player life membership of Saint Marys and player life member of the N.T.F.L. in 2001/02
He now lives in Darwin happily with his partner Sue. They have 5 children Jade, Shannon, Rachel, Dannielle and Brooke
