NORTHERN Territory’s top footballers will be slugging it out on-field over the next six months as the NTFL Premier League seasons kick off tomorrow night. Both the men’s and women’s grades – along with a number of other Divisions and of course junior competitions begin the 2023/24 season.

It is a unique season that instead runs over Spring and Summer instead of the more traditional Autumn and Winter. The NTFL often sees many footballers from across the nation flock to the Top End to compete and play on-field year-round rather than just a preseason.

The NTFL Men’s Premier League sees nine teams competing, with reigning premiers Waratah breaking its 23-year premiership drought last season to lift the trophy aloft. It was the Warriors’ 16th flag in club history, defeating Southern District in the decider.

St Mary’s is the most successful men’s team in the Top End, boasting 33 premierships, including one just two seasons ago. The Saints will hope to go one step better than their third placed finish in 2022/23. In a similar boat in Nightcliff who won a three-peat between 2019-21 and have been thereabouts since.

Darwin Buffaloes secured the last spot in finals last season, and are the second most successful NTFL side with 22 flags, but just one since 1990. PINT is in its second season after finishing sixth on debut, but have brought in AFL-experienced Steven Motlop to help catapult it into the post-season series.

Palmerston, Wanderers and Tiwi Bombers round out the final three, and though the Bombers struggled last season, they have brought in two Essendon retirees in Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Anthony Mukara.

Looking to the women’s competition, and PINT is gunning for its third flag in four seasons, returning as reigning premiers. Despite missing a few players who have departed the club, the Queen Ants will be thereabouts again, as will eight-time premier, Waratah. The Tahs’ won seven out of eight flags from 2012-19 but has not got past the grand final stage the last few years.

St Mary’s finished third last season and were the original successful side, winning five flags in the competition’s first six seasons from 2005-2009. The Saints will join Darwin Buffaloes as the danger teams after top four finishes. Buffaloes star Molly Althouse is the reigning two-time league best and fairest.

Nightcliff has some exiting youth coming through the program and will build the foundations for the future, while both the Tigers and sixth placed Tiwi Bombers are yet to win a flag in the competition. Tiwi is a new addition to the league and showed plenty last year.

Palmerston, Southern Districts and Wanderers complete the nine-team competition after finishing in seventh, eighth and nine respectively. The Magpies have some exciting youngsters at the club including top AFLW Draft prospect Tatyana Perry, and will be a dangerous team to face.