THE FINAL Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Women’s Premier League regular season round for 2020/21 was run and done over the weekend, with all eyes now turning to finals. Minor premier, Pint rounded out a flawless home-and-away campaign after thumping St Mary’s, while Southern Districts topped Darwin in the other battle between finals-bound teams. Elsewhere, Waratah bested Nightcliff and Wanderers finished its season on a high by knocking off Tracy Village once again.

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SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 1.1 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 6.6 (42)
DARWIN BUFFETTES 1.0 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 5.5 (35)

GOALS:

Districts: G. Mulvahil 3, R. Hewitt, M. Nankervis, K. Toy
Darwin: N/A

BEST:

Districts: R. Busch, D. Lee-Feeney, G. Mulvahil, M. Nankervis, K. Toy
Darwin: N/A

Southern Districts bounced back onto the winners list on finals eve with an important seven-point win over fellow postseason-bound side, Darwin on Saturday. The Crocs led at every break but almost had the result turned on its head in the final term as Darwin surged ahead. Two late goals to Rhania Hewitt and Malory Nankervis saw Districts home though, 6.6 (42) to the Buffs’ 5.5 (35).

Rhiannon Busch was named best afield in the winning side ahead of D’Kota Lee-Feeney, while young gun Grace Mulvahil was dangerous up forward with a game-high three goals. Darwin stalwart Machaelia Roberts celebrated her 150th Premier League outing and was among the Buffettes’ best players alongside midfielder/forward Dominique Carbone and Michelle Ellis. Darwin takes on St Mary’s in this week’s qualifying final, while Districts faces Nightcliff in an elimination bout.

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WARATAH 1.0 | 2.0 | 4.2 | 6.2 (38)
NIGHTCLIFF 1.0 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 3.3 (21)

GOALS:

Waratah: L. Miceli 3, I. Rapson-Staropoli, T. O’Hehir, M. Hunter
Nightcliff: M. Ward, K. Hill-Carter, K. Irvine

BEST:

Waratah: N/A
Nightcliff: A. Moliere, M. Ward, S. Hatzismalis, E. Morrison, O. Hatzismalis, K. Hill-Carter

Waratah landed a parting blow on the finals-bound Nightcliff to end its season, winning by 17 points but missing finals for the first time in Warriors history. The two teams were all-square at quarter time, but Tahs led at every other break and kicked away with four goals to two in the second half to salute 6.2 (38) to Nightcliff’s 3.3 (21).

Lisa Miceli led the scoring with three majors in the red and white, seeing her top the competition’s goalkicking charts with 37 majors. An even team performance saw the Warriors overcome their higher-ranked opponents having crucially fallen short in similar fixtures this season. Andi Moliere was named the Tigers’ best ahead of goalkicker Mickayla Ward as they look to carry good from into their elimination final bout with Southern Districts.

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WANDERERS (64)
TRACY VILLAGE (10)

GOALS:

Wanderers: N/A
Tracy Village: R. Myatt

BEST:

Wanderers: N/A
Tracy Village: B. Trappett, R. Myatt, T. Collings, Z. Clarke, K. Marschall, I. Hughes

Wanderers finished its season on a high, trumping Tracy Village by 54 points on the road on Saturday to make it three wins in 2020/21. On the other hand, Tracy Village has gone winless throughout its campaign but was able to find a positive by snaring a major score for the first time in three matches. In the end, the Razorbacks still did not have enough to withstand the Muk Muks, who won their second game on the trot, 64 to 10.

Sophia Mauboy booted three goals in the winning effort, while Tishara Davern was again among Wanderers’ best players. Rhiarna Myatt claimed Tracy Village’s sole goal of the game and was also among her side’s most impactful players, beaten out only by Brianna Trappett in the loss. With no finals on the cards for either sides, they will regroup and look to fire next season.

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ST MARY’S 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 (12)
PINT 3.4 | 4.9 | 9.15 | 12.18 (90)

GOALS:

St Mary’s: M. Long, A. Coombes
Pint: J. Baumer 3, C. Fabris 3, H. Grubb 2, G. Cusack, J. Reid, J. Hewett, C. Henderson

BEST:

St Mary’s: J. Anderson, T. De Araujo, E. Forshaw, S. Peris, N. Long, S. Stevens
Pint: G. Cusack, K. Streader, R. Hicks, C. Morris, A. Chittick

Pint capped off a flawless home-and-away campaign by comprehensively beating the third-ranked St Mary’s by 78 points on Saturday night. The Queenants broke away early and never looked back, leading at every break and piling on eight goals in a one-sided second half. They also kept St Mary’s scoreless in the second and fourth terms, setting up the dominant 12.18 (90) to 2.0 (12) final scoreline.

Claudia Fabris and Jessie Baumer each booted three goals to lead Pint’s charge, while the likes of Gemma Cusack and Katie Streader hit their stride beautifully on the eve of finals. Alana Coombes and Michaela Long were St Mary’s only goalkickers, with Jasmine Anderson unsurprisingly at the forefront once again. While the Saints take on Darwin in this week’s qualifying final, Pint will enjoy a week off after taking out the minor premiership.

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Image Credit: Felicity Elliott/AFLNT Media