FINGERNAILS were left intact across the final round of the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Women’s competition, with four one-sided results taking place. Of the four Round 18 matches, Nightcliff’s 57-point victory over Tiwi Bombers was the closest. The other three went up to 80, 114 and then a whopping 169 points the difference, in an average winning margin of 105 points across the contests.

The top five teams were already locked into finals regardless of result, with the only possibility being Tiwi somehow crushing Nightcliff by triple digits to try and recover a massive amount of percentage. Though the “mathematically possible” scenarios could have been thrown up by those so inclined, it all ended up being for nought as Nightcliff ran out 12.10 (82) to 3.7 (25) victors.

The 57-point win handed Nightcliff a percentage of 143.95 to head into the elimination final against Darwin Buffaloes, with Cassie McWilliam starring in the win. The AFLW Draft Combine invitee from last year slotted five of her team’s 12 majors, with Nightcliff keeping the Bombers goalless in the first half. Booting 3.0 to 0.3 in the first term, the Tigers struggled with inaccuracy in the second, managing the 2.5 to lead by an even 30 points by the main break.

Tiwi rallied in the third term by kicking three straight goals, but could only break even with the Tigers as the visitors managed the 3.1 themselves and extended the advantage out to 31 points at the final break. Putting an exclamation mark on the win, the Tigers slammed home 4.4 to 0.2 in the final stanza to finish off the Bombers by 57 points.

Along with McWilliam, Mickayla Ward starred in the win, while Christy Landwehr, Eliza Wear and Claire Weiss were also named among the best. The Bombers only managed the three goals, though Maria Rioli and Arthurina Moreen have enjoyed impressive seasons.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

PINT will head into the second week of finals a little rusty but well rested, having a Round 18 bye and the minor premiership bye as part of the first week of finals action. The Queen Ants will take on the winner of St Mary’s and Waratah, both of whom had huge wins on the weekend. The Saints trounced Wanderers by 80 points, 17.9 (111) to 5.1 (31), while Waratah showed no mercy to Palmerston Magpies, keeping them scoreless while piling on 25.19 (169) itself.

Kaitlyn Armstrong – who kicked a dozen goals just a couple of weeks ago – slotted another 11 goals to snatch the competition leading goalkicker award, while Billie Byers kicked three in the win. Along with the pair, Jemma Iacono was named best-on. On the other hand, Waratah had 11 individual goalkickers, headlined by Megan Hunt (five goals), while Lisa Miceli slotted four. Nikki Watts was named best on ground.

In the other match taking place for Round 18, Darwin Buffettes took no prisoners against Southern Districts, romping to a 19-goal win, 18.12 (120) to 1.0 (6). Emma Forsyth‘s last quarter goal saved the Crocs from going scoreless like the Magpies, but the likes of Johanna Gregory (four goals) and former AFLW listed players, Imahra Cameron and Machaelia Roberts (three apiece) proved to be too much firepower.