IT is the last round of 2018, as fans will have to wait until January to get their Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Women’s fix. The round will kick off on Saturday with St Marys and Tracy Village going head to head. Both sides have suffered a form slump in the last month, meaning the Razorbacks and Saints are starving for a win. The Wanderers have been flying as of late but may hit a roadblock when they face the Buffettes in a twilight match. On Sunday, the Magpies will face the ultimate test when they play against the Warriors. Waratah is the reigning champion of this competition and has only dropped one game this season. The final game of the round will see Nightcliff take on the Queen Ants in an intriguing encounter. The Tigers won their first match last weekend due to a boost of recently signed talent. Pint will have to tread carefully this weekend, as the Tigers are starting to bare their teeth.

TRACY VILLAGE V ST MARYS

Round 11 –  Saturday December 15th, 10:30 am

TIO Stadium

These two clubs would be fuming over their poor displays last weekend. The Saints had their world turned upside-down as Nightcliff brought in some ringers to raise the stakes. St Marys forward, Natasha Dunn-Richards still kicked three despite the loss, yet she has not been as damaging in front of goal when compared to previous seasons. Danielle Ponter may not have had her best game against the Tigers, but she could easily bounce back this weekend. The Razorbacks seem to be relying on Kristy Irvine and it isn’t going well for them, as they continue to struggle on the scoreboard. Other leaders will look to stand up for the Razorbacks to break them out of their rut.

DARWIN BUFFETTES V WANDERERS

Round 11 – Saturday December 15th, 4:00 pm

Darwin youngster, Dominique Carbone played a fantastic game against the Southern Districts. Carbone, alongside Buffettes midfielders, Kylie Duggan and Jemma Iacono dug deep against the hungry Crocs in a tight game. In the end, it was Duggan who kicked the last goal in the final term to seal the win for Darwin. The Buffettes have got their momentum back since the bye, and this weekend, they will look to continue their fine form. However, the Eagles have won their last two matches and are looking good. The Wanderers have forsaken their poor efforts from earlier this season and have become a very competitive outfit. The Eagles have finally found a deadly combination up forward with Lee-Anne Allia and Northern Territory Under-18 representative, Arthurina Moreen. In the previous two weeks, this pair has bested their defenders with a heavy impact on the scoreboard. Darwin will be clear favourites in this game, but if the Eagles can sustain their game plan, they will give the Buffettes a fight.

WARATAH V PALMERSTON

Round 11 – Sunday December 16th, 12:00 pm 

Gardens Oval

Two top teams in the Darwin Buffettes and Southern Districts have gone down to Palmerston during the season. The Magpies face their biggest challenge yet this season when they take on the Warriors, a team they have not beaten this year. The Warriors may have lost only one game this year, but that just shows that any team can be beaten on the right day. Natasha Membrey will have her hands full in this game, as Waratah will know she is the biggest threat and could target her. The youth of the Magpies is another factor to consider. Northern Territory Under 18 representatives, Tabitha May and Janet Baird have spearheaded the youth in Palmerston, going above and beyond for their team each week. Waratah, on the other hand, is different case. The Warriors may have talented youth like Madeline Gault, but their team is built on experience. Lisa Roberts can play in defence or through the midfield, Lauren O’Shea has turned into the ultimate utility and Lisa Miceli is averaging a bag of goals each week. There is a reason why the Warriors are so successful, and only few can topple them. This Saturday, the Pies might just do that.

PINT V NIGHTCLIFF

Round 11 – Sunday December 16th, 2:00 pm

MCG

Now that Chloe Scheer has entered the fray, Nightcliff is looking like a different team.  Her four-goal haul against St Marys sparked new life into the Tigers, as Emily Wolsey kicked three goals of her own. The Queen Ants are another story, as they appear to have run out of legs. Pint’s early victories at the beginning of this season were well-fought wins, but lately, the team’s performance has been slack. Pint guns, Katie Streader, Madeline Keeble, and Samantha Barnett need to wring this team back into shape. Pint is still favoured to win this match but considering its recent form, the Tigers may surprise again.