IN this week’s Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Men’s Premier League, all four Round 8 matches take place at TIO Stadium. The NTFL Men’s Round 8 preview features a couple of teams who missed out the past two weeks and will be raring to go, whilst others look to assert themselves on the competition.

TIWI BOMBERS vs. WARATAH
Saturday, November 20 @ 2:00pm
TIO Stadium

IN the first of three games on Saturday at TIO Stadium, the winless Tiwi Bombers will hope to put a forgettable first half-dozen games behind them in order to topple second placed Waratah. The Tahs’ were unable to get out on the field last week due to being washed out against St Mary’s, though given the Saints’ form it may not have been the worst result. In saying that, it meant Nightcliff went outright top, and Wanderers moved within two points. Put simply this is a must-win for Waratah, and they should do so, with the Bombers coming off another 13-goal-plus loss last weekend.

WANDERERS vs. SOUTHERN DISTRICTS
Saturday, November 20 @ 4:30pm
TIO Stadium

Somehow despite being Round 8 and only the seventh round of playable games, these two teams will oppose each other for the third time this season. They played out a thriller at this very ground back in Round 1, with Wanderers getting up by 11 points, before the Eagles backed it up with a more comprehensive 61-point shellacking at Norbuilt Oval in Round 5. It suggests they will be again favourites in this game, having strung together three consecutive wins after back-to-back losses, though they have all come against bottom four sides. Southern Districts’ only two wins have come against last placed Tiwi Bombers, and their draw against Darwin Buffaloes, putting the Crocs in a similar position.

DARWIN BUFFALOES vs. NIGHTCLIFF TIGERS
Saturday, November 20 @ 7:00pm
TIO Stadium

Reigning premiers Nightcliff keep setting the benchmark for the competition, with a superior ladder position, and a five-game winning streak. Since losing in the opening round to St Mary’s, the Tigers have produced outstanding efforts to move to 5-1 on the table, and outright top spot. The week’s bye last round helped, with Waratah and the Saints forced to share the points, whilst the Tigers took full advantage against Palmerston. In the pair’s only prior clash this season, Nightcliff got up by 39 points here at TIO Stadium. Additionally, in the complete reverse of Nightcliff’s season, Darwin has not gained full points since Round 1, and with a draw in Round 2, the Buffs are 0-4 since then, including a 49-point loss to Wanderers last weekend.

PALMERSTON MAGPIES vs. ST MARY’S
Sunday, November 21 @ 4:30pm
TIO Stadium

In the standalone Sunday game – though still at TIO Stadium, bottom three side Palmerston Magpies will be hoping to cause a boilover against premiership contender St Mary’s. Since back-to-back wins over bottom two sides Tiwi Bombers and Darwin Buffaloes did enough to ensure the black and whites were sixth on the ladder, Palmerston has sunk to three consecutive losses. Palmerston came up against three of the top four sides, losing to St Mary’s by 23 points, and Nightcliff (34). If the Magpies can bring the same intensity against the Saints this weekend, they could make it an even closer contest. St Mary’s has a challenge of its own, having not played since that tight win over Palmerston on Saturday, October 31. The Saints may be a little rusty. In saying that, expect them to find their form pretty quick in the match and cause some headaches for the Magpies.