THERE is another Davey boy in the Bombers’ midst, with Alijah the latest of Alwyn Snr’s sons to make his senior Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) debut. After twins Alwyn Jr and Jayden were drafted to Essendon last month, their younger sibling turned out for Palmerston on Saturday and even bagged a goal for his troubles.

Davey, who has also played in the NT’s Under 16 and Under 18 competitions this year, could not quite help his Magpies withstand Wanderers’ fourth quarter surge. It was an important game for Palmerston, who had recently been fined $10,000 and docked four premiership points for fly-in rule breaches in Rounds 8 and 9, subsequently moving down to fifth spot on the ladder.

The Magpies fought hard to sneak two points ahead at three quarter time, but were overrun by the Muk Muks’ four final term goals. Victorious by 18 points in the 9.8 (62) to 7.2 (44) result, Wanderers sits seventh on the Men’s Premier League ladder, but its finals push may fall foul to a lowly percentage of 77.78. Palmerston is slightly better placed, two points ahead in fifth spot.

Elsewhere, the Tiwi Bombers played out a tense draw with PINT. Sitting bottom of the table after 11 rounds, the Bombers travelled to PINT’s DMX Arena fortress and came away with two points in the 8.7 (55) apiece dead heat. They remain undefeated against the Greenants this season having beaten them in Round 5.

Lead by efforts from 200-gamer Michael Dunn (three goals), Brayden and Ben Rioli, and Harley Bennell, Tiwi could not quite hold on for its second win of the campaign. Though with leg speed and tackling pressure which troubled the sixth-placed Greenants, there are plenty of positives to take forward for the Bombers.

There was almost another dramatic result as Southern Districts held on to beat St Mary’s at Freds Pass, 14.11 (95) to 12.15 (87). The ladder leading Crocs were almost usurped by late goalkicking efforts by Saints spearhead Jackson Calder, but saw the final margin land on eight points via Ronald Fejo’s major after the siren.

Trailing the Crocs closely in second, Waratah nabbed an important win over the dwindling Nightcliff Tigers. Tahs forward Jayden Magro proved the hero in a low-scoring affair, booting four goals to boost his otherwise inaccurate side to a 7.15 (57) to 6.6 (42) victory. The Warriors sit just half a game behind Southern Districts, and will look to snatch top spot when they battle the Crocs on Saturday.

NTFL MPL ROUND 11 RESULTS:

PINT 1.3 | 4.4 | 5.5 | 8.7 (55)
Tiwi Bombers 2.3 | 3.5 | 7.6 | 8.7 (55)

S. Districts 2.3 | 7.7 | 11.11 | 14.11 (95)
St Mary’s 3.4 | 7.5 | 9.10 | 12.15 (87)

Waratah 2.6 | 3.8 | 6.11 | 7.15 (57)
Nightcliff 1.1 | 5.1 | 6.3 | 6.6 (42)

Wanderers 3.0 | 5.3 | 5.6 | 9.8 (62)
Palmerston 1.1 | 3.1 | 6.2 | 7.2 (44)

Bye: Darwin Buffaloes

NTFL MPL ROUND 12 FIXTURE:

Tiwi Bombers vs. Darwin Buffaloes | Saturday December 17, 2:30pm @ TIO Stadium

Waratah vs. Southern Districts | Saturday December 17, 4:00pm @ Gardens Oval

Nightcliff vs. Palmerston | Saturday December 17, 5:00pm @ TIO Stadium

St Mary’s vs. PINT | Saturday December 17, 7:30pm @ TIO Stadium

Bye: Wanderers