ROUND 17 of the Northern Territory Football League Women’s (NTFLW) marked another mixed bag of results with two blowout games and a tight battle between one and two on the ladder. There were plenty of stellar individual performances in front of goal with two players finishing the round with seven and eight goals respectively.

PALMERSTON MAGPIES 5.4 | 11.7 | 17.11 | 21.16 (142)
ST MARYS 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 (0)

GOALS:

Magpies: F. Puruntatameri 8, A. Moreen 3, J. Brock 3, N. Medbury 3, M. Brown 2, L. Motlap, T. May.
St Mary’s: N/A.

BESTS:

Magpies: F. Puruntatameri, J. Brock, B. Joran, T. May, B. Byers, J. Baird
St Mary’s: N/A

The Palmerston Magpies were in complete control from the get-go and kept their foot on the throat throughout all four quarters, ultimately pummelling the lowly Saints. The Magpies were simply unstoppable beating St Mary’s at every contest and most importantly capitalising on their opportunities despite kicking 16 behinds. Their physical pressure was intense, blocking the Saints’ every opportunity to push forward and using their attacking play to run rampant and continuously pepper the goals. Freda Puruntatameri was in a league of her own inside forward 50 for the Magpies, finding the big sticks with ease to walk away with an eight-goal haul and take her season tally to 24 goals, while Arthurina Moreen showcased her goal sense in bagging three majors. Moreen was not alone with Jessie Brock and Natasha Medbury also nailing three goals apiece to rub insult into wounds. St Mary’s failed to register a single point such was the Magpies’ pressure and hunt on the footy. Tabitha May and Janet Baird were prominent across the board for the Magpies consistently finding the pill and using it to full effect while St Mary’s duo Rachel Ponter and Sharna Edwards were consistent despite the thumping.

NIGHTCLIFF 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 (4)
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 1.5 | 3.7 | 6.9 | 7.10 (52)

GOALS:

Nightcliff: N/A/
Southern Districts: E. Miller 2, B. Clarke 2, T. Holtze, G. Mulvahil, A. Lewis.

BESTS:

Nightcliff: L. de Hommel, E. Wolsey, K. Hill-Carter
Southern Districts: L. Jeffrey, M. Nankervis, B. Clarke, T. Holtze, R. Busch

The clash between fourth and fifth did not live up to the hype with the Southern Districts making light work of Nightcliff and rendering them goalless. Although it was a slow start for Districts they steadily built into the game but were plagued by inaccuracy, recording more points than goals (7.10). But that did not seem to deter the outcome with the Districts running out quite comfortably against Nightcliff who simply could not get going. Nightcliff did not manage a score in the opening term credit to Southern Districts’ extreme pressure which they applied throughout the match. Ebony Miller led from the front once again for Southern Districts finding the big sticks and converting, finishing with two goals to her name while Bella Clarke also troubled the scorers with two majors to her name. Grace Mulvahil returned to the goal kickers list in her sides’ win while Tahlia Holtze also nailed a goal in what was a complete performance by Districts. Although they struggled to get on the scoreboard, the trio of Laura De Hommel, Emma-Lou Wolsey and Kirra Hill-Carter worked tirelessly to add some respectability to the outcome of the game.

WANDERERS 6.5 | 10.8 | 14.12 | 20.18 (138)
TRACY VILLAGE 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.1 (7)

GOALS:

Wanderers: T. Davern 7, J. Chevalier 3, P. Koulakis 2, I. Schober, A. Lee, K. De Satge.
Tracy Village: N/A.

BESTS:

Wanderers: S. Mauboy, T. Davern, S. De Satge, D. Peckham, P. Koulakis
Tracy Village: N/A

Wanderers trounced the out of-form Tracy Village with a whopping 131-point victory. The Eagles got off to a flying start piling on six goals in the opening term – the equal highest of the game – showcasing their ability to turn and just go bang. Tracy Village struggled to find any synergy across the field credit to Wanderers’ pressure and strength around the coal face to win the ball and bomb it forward. Tishara Davern was in blistering form with the 19-year-old lighting it up in front of goal with seven majors. Davern gobbled up anything that came her way inside forward 50 while Jaylene Chevalier made her presence felt with three goals and Pierre-Angelique Koulakis also hit the scoreboard with two majors of her own. Keyona De Satge and Sophie Mauboy showed their worth being named in the bests for their efforts for Wanderers. In what has been a trying season for Tracy Village Lisa-Maree Toner and Zhoe Clarke notched up their 16^th game of the season to highlight their durability, reliability and consistency.

DARWIN BUFFETTES 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 3.4 (22)
WARATAH 1.1 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 4.6 (30)

GOALS:

Darwin Buffettes: T. Hart-Aluni 2, J. Iacono.
Waratah: M. Yarran 2, M. Hunter, L. O”Shea.

BESTS:

Darwin Buffettes: B. Stokes, M. Turner, D. Carbone, J. Iacono, T. Hart-Aluni
Waratah: L. Roberts, S. Nalder, G. Cusack, M. Gault, P. Cox

The top of the table clash brought plenty of excitement with only eight points separating the teams at the final siren. Waratah drew on every bit of class and composure in the dying stages of the game to prevail and really stamp their authority on the competition heading into finals. The Buffettes struggled to get on the board early, going scoreless in the first quarter but a fourth quarter comeback almost gifted them that all-elusive win against the top of the table Waratah. Youngster Tayla Hart-Aluni led the way in attack for the Buffettes slotting two timely goals to keep her side in the hunt while Jemma Iacono also played her role in the attacking 50 with a major. Dominique Carbone continues to get better as time goes on for the ‘Tahs while Meredith Turner was named in the best for the second time in three weeks highlighting her hot form. Despite their best efforts the Warriors seemed to have all the answers with Madison Yarran doing damage on the scoreboard with two goals, while Lauren O’Shea and Monet Hunter also chipped in to get their side over the line. Sue Nalder backed up her strong performance from last week with another solid outing while Pippa Cox made her presence felt for Waratah.

BYE: Pint