The Great Western Lions are building a formidable line-up as they head toward the 2021 season after signing another two Northern Territory footballers to join the squad.
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The reigning Mininera and District Football League premiers have added gun backman Jason Puruntatameri, from the Tiwi Bombers, and speedy forward-midfielder Ryan McMurray from St Mary's.
The signings come off the back of the club announcing the signing of 'exciting' winger Daniel Clee Jnr on Monday January 18.
But club favourite, Bradley Palipuaminni has become unavailable for the season, opening the door for the club to sign Jason Puruntatameri.
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Great Western senior assistant coach Matt Delzotto said Puruntatameri will add strength and a touch of creativity off half-back for the Lions.
"He is a pretty class act and he is very highly-rated in the Northern Territory Football League," he said.
"He is an amazing one-on-one defender, but he is also really good at creating play off the half-back line, so he is pretty much the whole package in terms of a defender.
"He generally plays in defence and that is where he will play for us.
"He is quick, really good one on one and there's not too much he can't do which is really handy."
The 27 year-old has played in the NTFL for the last 10 years and in 2018 was named the NT Footballer of the year after featuring in the Tiwi Bombers best players 15 times in 19 games.
The strong backman has also spent this current season playing alongside the Lions' captain Nigel Sibson and Great Western 2020 recruit and assistant coach, Damon Folkes, at the Tiwi Bombers.
The Lions have also added a dangerous small forward-midfielder Ryan McMurray, who is good friends with previously announced recruit Daniel Clee Jnr.
Mr Delzotto said while the club has recruited strongly from the NTFL, it will be a different challenge in 2021.
"In 2019 we had the three boys come down from the Tiwi Bombers, so there will be a little bit of a different dynamic because we have got a couple of forwards and one defender," he said.
"But we are really confident with the group we have got.
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"With Ryan Folkes and Damon Folkes, they haven't actually been able to get out there yet, so it will be great to see what they can do as well because they were key recruits at the end of 2019, going into 2020.
"So all that will add to the excitement heading into this season."
Mr Delzotto said the club was setting itself for a strong tilt at the 2021 premiership after returning to training on Thursday January 21.
"The break in 2020 has made everyone hungry again after the success of 2019, so it was good to have a lot of our core group back on the track," he said.
"And it was just great to have everyone together and see everyone back at the club, the netballers were back training as well so it was good to have a normal feeling.
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