THE week is near its conclusion, so preparations for the latest round of the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Men’s Premier League. The competition has reached Round 14 of the 2021/22 season, and while the top four looks all but certain at this stage, there are still five rounds to play, so things could change. This weekend sees plenty of intriguing matchups, including a massive clash between two of the competition’s top three sides that could have plenty of implications on the top half of the ladder moving forward.

Tiwi Bombers vs Wanderers

Saturday, January 15 @ 2pm
TIO Stadium

The first match of the round sees the Tiwi Bombers take on the Wanderers at TIO Stadium on Saturday afternoon to kick things off for the weekend.

The Bombers were forced to forfeit their Round 13 clash against St Mary’s due to border restrictions implemented by the Northern Territory government in response to a COVID outbreak. They will be eager to get back on the park this weekend, and will be even more keen on the opportunity to claim their first win of the season. They currently sit at the bottom of the standings with 11 losses from their first 11 matches, but an upset win over the Wanderers would be a season-defining moment.

The Wanderers appear to have locked themselves inside the top four after what has been an impressive season to date. They are four wins clear of the fifth-placed Southern Districts and with just five weeks to go, any chance of slipping down a spot seems unlikely. However, they will not be short of motivation as they look to boost their position inside the top four with finals approaching. They will be heavily favoured heading into this match given the standings, but these clashes are often described as ‘danger games’ so they will need to still bring their best.

Waratah vs Palmerston Magpies

Saturday, January 15 @ 4:00pm
TIO Stadium

In the second of a triple-header at this ground, the Palmerston Magpies will head to TIO Stadium to take on Waratah on Saturday afternoon.

Waratah has been one of the competition’s strongest performers throughout the first 13 rounds of the 2021/22 season. The Tahs’ have been extremely impressive in their quest for a premiership, winning nine of their 11 games which has seen them sit in second spot. They do have St Mary’s hot on their tail, trailing only by percentage heading into round 14, so Waratah will be not short of motivation to claim this win, as they look to set themselves up for a favourable matchup heading into finals time.

The Magpies have not produced the season they wanted in the first 13 rounds, winning just three of their first 12 outings and lacking a certain level of competitiveness in many of their outings. They face another tough task this weekend, and their work ahead of the ball will need to improve if they are to produce a winning score against a quality opposition.

Nightcliff Tigers vs St Mary’s

Saturday, January 15 @6:30pm
Nightcliff Oval

In what is shaping up to be the match of the round, the Nightcliff Tigers will play host to St Mary’s at Nightcliff Oval on Saturday night in a thrilling top-three clash that is sure to gain plenty of attention.

The Tigers have maintained their title as the premiership favourites after 13 rounds of action, producing a consistent level of high quality outings. They have lost just two of their first 12 matches and look the side to beat so far this season. They will be looking to further their premiership credentials this weekend, but they face another side performing well in St Mary’s. However, the Tigers have proved throughout the season that they can beat any of their peers on any given day, so they will be confident in their ability to rock up and get the job done.

St Mary’s have set themselves up for a postseason appearance in a few weeks time, thanks to some impressive play throughout the season. They have won nine games in their 2021/22 campaign which sees them sitting in third spot on the ladder. They face the toughest job in the league this week in taking on the Nightcliff Tigers, but will be looking to send a message to the rest of the competition by knocking off the premiership favourites on Saturday.

Southern Districts vs Darwin Buffaloes

Saturday, January 15 @ 6:30pm
TIO Stadium

The final match of the round will see the Southern Districts take on the Darwin Buffaloes on Saturday night in the third match of Saturday’s triple-header at TIO Stadium.

The Districts now face a tough battle in making the top four come season’s end, given they will need a serious number of results to go their way. However, the team will be looking to finish the season strong as they take on a beatable opponent. The side will also be encouraged by their performance against the ladder-leading Nightcliff Tigers in round 13, where the pushed the premiership fancies to the limit. If they can produce a performance of similar calibre this week, it will go a long way in securing their fifth win of the season.

The Buffaloes have been unable to put together a meaningful winning streak throughout their first 11 games of action, winning just three of these outings. They will still be looking to close out the season in some good form, and they get their first opportunity to do just that against the Districts this weekend. However, their defensive work will need to improve given they conceded 19 goals to Waratah last round, so if they can tidy that up, then they may well claim their fourth win of their 2021/22 campaign.