A TOP of the table clash between Waratah and Nightcliff highlights a huge round of action, as plenty of in-form players go head-to-head in Round 6 of the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Men’s Premier League action. Meanwhile an ex-AFL goalsneak and premiership Cat will face off in the final match of the round.

TIWI BOMBERS vs. WANDERERS
Saturday, November 6 @ 1:30pm
Wurrumiyanga Oval

Opening up the round in the early Saturday game is the winless Tiwi Bombers – still searching for their first win since the 2019/20 season – playing host to the fourth placed Wanderers, having won three of their first five games. Jarred Erlandson is a key player for the Wanderers, averaging 20.2 disposals, 4.0 marks, 4.6 clearances and 2.8 tackles in his five games, looming as one to stop for the Bombers. Warwick Williams and Beau O’Connell are others who have stepped up this season, whilst Eddie Simpson is leading the club goalkicking with 10 majors this season. Kim Kantilla is leading all-comers when focusing in on goals, snagging 16 majors so far, while Anthony Munkara has eight. From defence, Nicholas Hooker is a player who can use it well and will be looked upon to drive them forward.

WARATAH vs. NIGHTCLIFF
Saturday, November 6 @ 4:00pm
TIO Stadium

In the match of the round, the top two sides do battle in an enormous clash repeating their head-to-head from Round 2. In that contest, reigning premiers Nightcliff got up over Waratah, but neither team has dropped a game since, with the Tigers marginally ahead on percentage, and just behind St Mary’s on percentage, but both are clear after St Mary’s was docked four points after fielding two additional fly-in players last season. Waratah will need to find a way to contain the Nightcliff midfield, with bigman Wade Derksen (11 hitouts, 4.2 clearances) leading the way, whilst Shaun Wilson, Sam Harper and Thomas North are all busy extraction talents. Robert Turnbull and Thomas Cree have been prolific for the Tahs’, whilst Jayden Magro (15 goals) is second overall in the league. Daniel Bowles has been unstoppable in defence with more than eight rebound 50s a game, but also more than a scoring assist a match, while Daniel O’Dwyer and Jake Bowd have had similar success for Waratah.

ST MARY’S vs. DARWIN
Saturday, November 6 @ 6:30pm
TIO Stadium

St Mary’s bounced back from its first loss of the season with an impressive win last round, and now come up against a Darwin side that has struggled to make too many inroads this season. Sitting in seventh overall, the Buffs have won one, and drawn another, but they both came against the other bottom three sides. The Saints on the other hand would be on top of the table, had it not being for the indiscretion of last season. The mouth-watering clash on everyone’s lips could be who has more of an influence out of Darwin’s Jarrod Stokes or St Mary’s Nathaniel Paredes. The stats are almost even, with Stokes being more of the outside talent, and Paredes on the inside, though both lead their team’s clearances (at more than four per match), as well as have hit the scoreboard (five and eight goals respectively), with Paredes more influential forward of centre, and Stokes able to get back and be a relieving player in the back 50. Matthew Wilkinson and Jacob Long have been the superior defenders from these sides, with the St Mary’s duo averaging 4.2 per game. Up forward, Hassan Ahmat-Watkins and Jackson Calder have both booted 13 goals, albeit from just three games.

PALMERSTON MAGPIES vs. SOUTHERN DISTRICTS
Sunday, November 7 @ 4:00pm
Cazaly’s Arena

Rounding out the weekend, the sole Sunday clash features two sides fairly even this season, with Southern Districts boasting a strong percentage of 96.75, despite only collecting six of a possible 20 points. Their percentage is far better than Palmerston’s 80.05 per cent after some heavy losses, though the Magpies have still won the two games to be outright fifth and within striking distance of the top four. A win to the Crocs will see Southern Districts leapfrog the Magpies on the table at the conclusion of Round 6. The massive news out of this game will be the debut of ex-Carlton and Adelaide small forward Eddie Betts, who will face off against ex-Cat Harry Taylor, adding extra intrigue to the contest. Jonathan Ross (13 goals in five games) and Daniel Stafford (11 in three) have been the leading goalkickers for Southern Districts and Palmerston respectively. Michael Bowden has been silky in his outside run from half-back, averaging 23.8 disposals, 4.6 marks and 8.4 rebound 50s this season. Aaron Davey came in last week and had a similar influence, racking up 28 disposals – 25 kicks at 80 per cent efficiency – as well as seven marks and eight rebound 50s. The inside brigade at the Magpies seems solid, lead by Eric Guthrie (18.8 disposals, 5.2 clearances), whilst Conor Bowden and Dean Staunton are crucial players for the Crocs.

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Picture credit: Glenn Campbell