THE mid-season break is among us after 11 rounds of Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Men’s Premier League action, as the top five sides sitting pretty with a 10-point gap to those out of finals spots. There were two great comebacks and a couple of blowouts in a mixed weekend, with plenty of highlights as per usual.

TIWI BOMBERS 4.3 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 9.11 (65)
WANDERERS 2.2 | 4.7 | 8.12 | 8.13 (61)

GOALS:

Tiwi: D. Munkara 2, R. Tungatalum 2, A. Wonaeamirri 2, M. Kantilla, J. Simon, J. Monigatti
Wanderers: C. Haley 3, R. Fejo 2, L. Patrick, M. White, B. O’Connell

BEST:

Tiwi: J. Monigatti, D. Kruse, H. Puruntatameri, J. Puruntatameri, N. Riddle, P. Heenan
Wanderers: D. Thompson, B. O’Connell, C. Haley, M. Motlop, E. Colley

Tiwi pulled off a monumental comeback in a game of momentum swings to move 10 points clear of weekend opponent, Wanderers with a four-point win. The young Eagles side fell away once again at the crucial moment, falling short in the 9.11 (65) to 8.13 (61) result with both sides proving inaccurate.

The Bombers were ahead at two of the four breaks with the sides drawing level at half time, but that did not tell the true story of the game, with Wanderers looking good for the four points after adding 4.5 to nil in a dominant third quarter. But a goalless term of their own to follow up brought all the hard work undone as Tiwi again managed a great escape to end the year. It was a case of the usual suspects pulling through for both sides, as the likes of Dray Thompson and Beau O’Connell contributed for the Muk Muks, while Charlie Haley had his best game for the year with three goals. A slightly subdued Tiwi scoring effort was led by Dion Munkara, Ross Tungatalum, and Austin Wonaeamirri‘s two majors apiece, but Jack Mongiatti, David Kruse, and Nick Riddle were recognised as the best Bombers.

After a real eight-pointer in terms of filling out the top five, Tiwi find themselves well clear with a 10-point gap in fifth to the sliding Eagles as the ladder starts to take shape. The Bombers will look to resume their season in style when they face Palmerston next month, while Wanderers takes on St Mary’s in the new year with the break coming at an ideal time.

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DARWIN BUFFALOES 4.1 | 6.3 | 6.6 | 6.9 (45)
ST MARY’S 0.4 | 4.4 | 6.6 | 8.11 (59)

GOALS:

Darwin: D. Stafford 3, M. Campbell 2, K. Campbell
St Mary’s: L. Larson 3, A. Parry, R. Jordon, J. Waite, S. Rioli, R. Miller

BEST:

Darwin: D. Stafford, T. Eldridge, K. Maroney, I. Seden-Kurnoth, B. Stokes
St Mary’s: J. Geary, T. Davies, R. Jordon, J. Salmon, S. Edwards, A. Long

An incredible second half turnaround helped see St Mary’s trump fellow finals hopeful Darwin in the round’s other tight contest. The Saints’ top-end class proved too much for the Buffs over time, carrying the winners to an 8.11 (59) to 6.9 (45) win.

The Buffs looked on early, with four goals in the opening term, all while keeping their opponents without a major until after the first break. But the Saints moved within striking distance at half time and would draw level heading into the last turn, completing a lockout second half to move ahead by the eventual 15-point margin. Leroy Larson bagged his second three-goal haul for the season at the ideal time to lead the Saints inside 50, but it was the efforts of Jackson Geary, Thomas Davies, and Shaun Edwards further afield which made all the difference once again. Darwin’s defence did well to keep Jarrad Waite and Jackson Calder to one goal between them, while their own big forward, Daniel Stafford booted three of his own and coach Matt Campbell added two. Kevin Maroney and Bradley Stokes were also back among the best in a tight losing effort.

The crucial win sees St Mary’s end the year in second, now two games clear of Darwin but the same distance away from Nightcliff in first. The going will be just as tough for the Buffs in the new year as they face Southern Districts straight off the bat, while St Mary’s has a dangerous Wanderers to content with come January.

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WARATAH 2.2 | 5.4 | 6.6 | 7.9 (51)
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 2.2 | 6.5 | 10.7 | 16.9 (105)

GOALS:

Waratah: H. Kerinaiua 2, D. Simpson, K. Kantilla, A. Raikiwasa, D. Collis, R. Bulluss
Southern Districts: W. Farrer 4, L. Stanbrook 3, J. Garlett 2, B. Rusca 2, D. Barry, J. Farrer, R. Tambling, D. Corbett, D. Staunton

BEST:

Waratah: N/A
Southern Districts: D. Staunton, T. Holman, C. McAdam, R. Tambling, B. Rusca, M. Barlow

A stacked Southern Districts side lived up to the billing with an impressive second half romping of Waratah at Gardens Oval. The Crocs simply had too much firepower for their bottom three opponent, kicking away to the 16.9 (105) to 7.9 (51) result.

The Warriors were gallant for a good half of the game, sharing the spoils to quarter time and falling just one goal short heading into the main break. But the floodgates began to open after that as Southern Districts turned it on going both ways, piling on ten goals while keeping the Warriors to just two in a one-sided end to the contest. Will Farrer continued his ominous goalkicking form with another bag of four goals – besting his season average of three per game. He was backed well by Luke Stanbrook (three goals) and Jeff Garlett (two), with Garlett’s ex-AFL Crocs teammates Richard Tambling and Michael Barlow featuring among the best. Henry Kerinaiua was again prominent inside 50 for the losing side, with fellow goalsneak Kim Kantilla finding the goals and former Bendigo Pioneer Laine Fitzgerald proving a welcome addition.

Southern Districts is ten points off the top but safe in the finals zone, with a clash against Darwin after the break one which will have real implications on the finals race. Speaking of, finals is a quest which is slowly slipping away from Waratah, with a big effort needed in the new year if the Warriors are to recover the three-game deficit to fifth – starting with Nightcliff in January.

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NIGHTCLIFF 4.2 | 9.5 | 11.11 | 13.13 (91)
PALMERSTON MAGPIES 1.0 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.4 (16)

GOALS:

Nightcliff: T. Melville 6, L. Holt-Fitz 2, P. Wills 2, R. Mu, C. Ilett, Z. Brain
Palmerston: N/A

BEST:

Nightcliff: B. Filo, M. McGregor, C. Ilett, L. Holt-Fitz, P. Wills, Z. Brain
Palmerston: N/A

The gap from first to last proved vast as Nightcliff trounced Palmerston to the tune of 75 points to see out the round and year of football. With the result beyond reasonable doubt as early as at half time, the Tigers made a statement in the 13.13 (91) to 2.4 (16) result.

Nightcliff opened its account steadily with four goals to one in the first term, but soon overwhelmed the Magpies with another five goals to enter the main break 46 points to the good. The mix of tight defensive efforts and overpowering attack proved the story of the day, with Palmerston running out of answers quickly. Trent Melville was back to his best with six goals as the main avenue up forward, aided once again by Liam Holt-Fitz, while Brodie Filo was named best afield for his efforts. It was a tough day out for the Magpies with just two goals kicked and no points on the board heading into the new year, but spurts of competitive action should put them in good stead for an improved second half of the season.

Tiwi is first up for Palmerston as the Magpies look to start afresh in 2020, with a tight contest in the reverse fixture something to find confidence in. The Tigers will restart against another bottom three opponent in Waratah, with a near-flawless start to the season making them the clear best team thus far.