ROUND 5 of the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Women’s Premier League saw a familiar theme across the board with inaccuracy and big blowouts the main takeaway from the round. Pint continued their unbeaten run while Southern Districts notched up their first win of the season with a convincing performance against the struggling Wanderers.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 2.5 | 6.8 | 6.10 | 8.17 (65)
WANDERERS 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 2.2 (14)

The Southern Districts notched up their first win of the season, flexing their muscles against the lowly Wanderers who struggled to get going against the silky Crocs outfit. Inaccuracy was a key concern for the Crocs despite walking away with a 51-point win, registering a whopping 17 behinds. They could have extended their winning margin had they been more accurate in front of the big sticks but their ability to limit the Wanderers to one goal in each half enabled them to dictate the flow of the game and maintain control to secure their maiden 2020 win.

The goal scoring was shared between Kaitlyn Armstrong and Jazzmin Forwood for the Wanderers with both players walking away with a goal apiece. It was a difficult game for the side but the work of Morgan Johnston was once again key, notching up her third week straight in the bests for her efforts across the ground. Much like Johnston, Tishara Davern was back in the bests credit to her work rate across the ground while Ivana Schober was also recognised for her performance. Lateesha Jeffery notched up a milestone of 150 games, however at the time of publishing no goal scorers or bests had been released for Southern Districts.

PINT 1.4 | 2.9 | 4.13 | 6.14 (50)
NIGHTCLIFF 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 2.4 (16)

Pint kept their undefeated record intact, with the ladder leaders proving why they are a force to be reckoned with making light work of the fourth placed Nightcliff. The home side led from start to finish but much like Southern Districts struggled with inaccuracy finishing with 14 behinds. Pint’s overall ability to shut down Nightcliff’s ball movement and attacking forays allowed them to run out comfortable winners, keeping their opponents goalless for the first three quarters.

Pint had their fair share of multiple goalkickers with Erin Lavis and Amy Chittick nailing two majors apiece to keep the scoreboard ticking over with the latter also making her way into the bests thanks to her contribution across the ground. They were not alone as Kristen Smits and Ellen-Kristine Markussen also managed a goal each to keep Pint well and truly ahead of the Tigers. Other key contributors were Cassie Henderson who once again was named among the best while in her second game for the season Jacinta Reid also made her presence felt for the victors. For Nightcliff, the goals came through Gracie Reid and Mickayla Ward with the duo the only two able to effectively hit the scoreboard. Hannah Turnbull and Andi Moliere tried gallantly for Nightcliff but simply could not do enough to stem the bleeding and apply scoreboard pressure to get the “W”.

TRACY VILLAGE 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 (0)
DARWIN BUFFETTES 2.4 | 8.8 | 11.11 | 16.17 (113)

It was a complete demolition job by the Darwin Buffettes, running out 113-point victors after keeping bottom of the table Tracy Village scoreless. The Buffettes had everything on their terms from the opening bounce and while they would be happy with the thrashing would be slightly disappointed they were not more accurate to really romp it home, recording 17 behinds. It was one way traffic throughout the game as Tracy Village struggled to find answers for the Buffettes who simply did not let up, attacking hard and stopping their opposition in their tracks.

Zoe Anderson was a menace inside 50 for the Buffettes slotting majors with great ease to add to her growing tally of goals with five on Saturday. Teammate Katelyn Hazlett also chimed in with two majors of her own as did Kylie Duggan, Delsey Ah Wang and Talia Corrie showcasing the array of options they had inside 50. Clessae Destage and Melinda Taylor also managed a goal apiece as players popped up from everywhere to hit the scoreboard in their victory. Dominique Carbone was electric for the Buffettes and while Johanna Dodsworth did not hit the scoreboard this week, she was still a solid contributor across the ground. Despite the big loss Zhoe Clarke backed up her efforts from last week with another strong performance while Melina Pohl, Tanya Eagle and Kahla Dumbris were all named in the best for Tracy Village.

ST MARY’S 3.3 | 5.6 | 5.9 | 5.11 (41)
PALMERSTON MAGPIES 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 (2)

Continuing the theme of one-sided affairs, St Mary’s notched up their fourth win, dominating the seventh placed Magpies at every possible turn. It was an impressive effort from the Saints who managed to keep Palmerston to a mere two points for the entire game credit to their defensive pressure and individual ability to keep the ball rolling forward and attack the scoreboard. There is no denying that St Mary’s had their opportunities to inflict more pain finishing with an inaccurate 5.11 on the scoreboard, an area they will hope to tidy up, but overall the game was played on their terms.

The mantle of multiple goalscorer fell to Danielle Ponter with the 20-year-old booting two majors for St Mary’s in their win and also earning a spot in their bests. Tesharna Maher slotted a goal while Jasmine Anderson continued her recent hot form in front of the big sticks with a major to make it three consecutive weeks where she has hit the scoreboard. Michaela Long also bobbed up for a goal to get her side over the line. Ashlea Melnikas plied her trade across the ground as did Annabelle Shannon and Isabella Shannon in their first game of the season. A familiar face in Iesha Ronberg stood up for the Magpies in the loss while Vanessa Mounsey and Kiara White worked in overdrive. Laquoiya Motlap was also named in the bests in her first outing.