DARWIN Buffaloes secured their 2022/23 Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Men’s Premier League finals spot after a commanding 12-goal thrashing of Wanderers in the penultimate round on Saturday. The Buffaloes needed a victory to ensure a place in the post-season series, with PINT sitting just two points behind the Buffaloes heading into Darwin’s match with the eighth placed Eagles.

Though from season form it looked like the game would be largely one-sided, neither team took its chances early, as Wanderers lead by a point with a 1.5 to 1.4 scoreline at quarter time. The Buffaloes started to tick over the scoreboard in the second term but slotting 4.2 to 1.4 and making more of their chances in front of goal. By the main break, the lead had extended out to 15 points, and it would only grow from there.

Though Wanderers again kicked a goal in the third and fourth quarters, the defence fell apart as Darwin slammed home 10 goals from 21 scoring shots in the second half. Only managing the five goals to half-time, the Buffaloes kicked four and six in the last two quarters respectively, storming away to a 72-point win. The margin could have been even greater had the winners kicked straighter in the first and fourth terms, but the same could be said of the Wanderers who squandered first half opportunities on the way to a scoreline of 2.9.

Liam Holt-Fitz slotted four goals in his 100th NTFL game, with Daniel Stafford (three) and Thomas Baulch (two) also hitting the scoreboard for the winners. They were far from the only ones though, as the Buffaloes had nine individual goalkickers including ex-AFL talent Matt Campbell, and captain Jarrod Stokes. Missing most of their team in the clash due to Marlon Motlop‘s wedding, the Wanderers gave it a crack but could not sustain it for four quarters. Ryan McMurray and Shane Thorne were among the goalkickers.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

St Mary’s put its top three fate in its own hands with a one-point nail-biting win over second placed Waratah to be four points and almost eight per cent clear of fourth placed Nightcliff. Gaining the double chance if they can hold onto the position, the Saints could also overtake Waratah if the teams have contrasting results in the final round following the 12.9 (81) to 12.8 (80) result. Despite seven goals from Waratah’s Darcy Hope, it would not be enough as Jackson Calder and Dylan Landt both slotted three each in the win.

In another finals-defining clash, Nightcliff ended PINT’s post-season hopes with an eight-point victory, 9.6 (60) to 7.10 (52). The Tigers trailed by two points at the last change, but stepped up when it counted, booting 3.2 to 1.4 in the final term. Jay Moody slotted four goals with Daniel Jackson (two) and Jack Hammond among the best for the winners. Alex Harvey and Matt Ryan both nailed three majors each.

Though neither team was capable of making finals, Palmerston Magpies picked up another win against the wooden spoon-bound Tiwi Bombers. The Magpies surprisingly trailed at quarter time, but wrestled back momentum for the second quarter and kicked away after that. Restricting the Bombers to just 1.3 in the second half, the home team booted 7.8 to run away with the 12.12 (84) to 6.4 (40) victory.