ST MARY’S has secured an early important victory by seeing off the threat of Nightcliff in a grand final rematch of the 2023/24 NTFL Men’s Premier League decider between the teams. As has come to be expected between these two sides, they put on a show under lights at TIO Stadium last Friday, with St Mary’s eventually kicking away to win by 21 points.

It was never easy going for the home side as the Saints got out to an 11-point lead by the main break, despite Nightcliff remained in the contest that to winning the disposal count by 12 and having more contested and uncontested possessions.

Once the Saints started to get the ball back on their terms on the outside, it was always going to be tough for the Tigers, as St Mary’s dominated the uncontested possession count – after losing the first half by 11 – to be plus-33 after the main break to get back on top.

It was not without a third quarter surge from Nightcliff to stay in touch at the last change, but St Mary’s kicked away with three of the four last quarter goals to win, 8.9 (57) to 4.12 (36). The greater accuracy certainly helped the Saints who despite losing the hitouts by 17, only lost the clearances by one for the match. They had 24 more uncontested marks and adopted a predominant kick-mark style to play tempo football and get over the line.

Dylan Landt had a day out with 34 disposals, four marks, six clearances, four tackles, four inside 50s and six rebound 50s to do it all, while working well in tandem with Kieren Parnell (19 disposals, six marks, five tackles and two inside 50s) who impressed the coaches. Jacob Long (27 disposals, four marks and 11 rebound 50s) racked up plenty of touches thanks to Nightcliff’s inaccuracy, while Jack Landt and Jackson Calder both begun their seasons with two majors apiece in Round 2.

Nightcliff skipper Brodie Filo (29 disposals, three marks, eight clearances, four inside 50s and eight rebound 50s) did all he could in defeat, while recruit Kye Declase (13 disposals, five marks – four contested – three tackles, six inside 50s and a goal) was lively in attack.

ST MARY’S 2.1 | 3.6 | 5.6 | 8.9 (57)
NIGHTCLIFF 1.3 | 1.7 | 3.9 | 4.12 (36)

GOALS:
St Mary’s: J. Calder 2, J. Landt 2, J. Musgrove 2, M. Musgrove, X. Vallejo
Nightcliff: K. Declase, B. Filo, K. Fitzgerald, H. Rock

BEST:
St Mary’s: K. Parnell, D. Landt, W. Robinson, N. Yarran, X. Vallejo
Nightcliff: K. Declase, Z. Derksen. H. Rock. B. Vile, J. Lanyon

AROUND THE GROUNDS

PINT produced a significant blow to Darwin Buffaloes, running out eight-goal winners in Round 1. The Ants kicked away in the second half to transform a 14-point half-time lead into a 48-point victory, 13.13 (91) to 6.7 (43).

Ex-Carlton wing Lochie O’Brien made his debut for the Ants,, racking up 32 disposals, 13 marks, eight inside 50s and four rebound 50s, running his opponents off their feat. Harry McKimmie (23 disposals, 11 marks, three tackles and five rebound 50s) and Bailey Frauenfelder (23 disposals, eight marks, four rebound 50s and a goal) were also prolific in the victory.

Christopher Nield did most of the scoring damage with five majors, while for Darwin, Tom Simpson stuffed the stats sheet with 31 disposals, 10 marks, four clearances, five tackles, nine inside 50s, four rebound 50s and one goal. Jackson Clark (23 disposals, nine marks and three inside 50s) also found plenty of the ball.

Meanwhile Tiwi Bombers made light work of Wanderers, storming to a 57-point victory to open their account in Round 1. The Bombers slammed home seven goals in the third term to build on the 16-point half-time lead and blow it out to 53 with a quarter to play. Though Wanderers stemmed in the bleeding in the last term, it was a case of too little, too late in the 19.9 (123) to 9.12 (66) result.

Brendan Kantilla was unstoppable in the win, ending the match with video game numbers of 29 disposals, nine marks, five clearances, six tackles, nine inside 50s, five goals and four score assists in an all-round performance up forward. Sam Darley (27 disposals, six marks, four tackles, four inside 50s and five rebound 50s) was also outstanding, while fresh off his retirement at Richmond, Marlion Pickett had 14 disposals, three marks, four clearances, three tackles and a goal.

Though a disappointing loss, Jaxon East brought his own ball to the game for Wanderers, racking up 41 disposals – 19 contested and 18 groundball gets – as well as 11 marks, eight clearances, three tackles, four inside 50s and five rebound 50s. Jack Sinclair (25 disposals, five marks, five clearances and nine inside 50s) was the other big ball-winner for the Wanderers.

In the last game of the round, Southern Districts defeated Waratah by 36 points thanks to a dominant fourth quarter. The Crocs lead by 17 points at half-time before the Tahs’ closed the gap to just eight with a quarter to play. Southern Districts got back on top and piled on four unanswered goals while keeping Waratah scoreless in the final term to win, 12.9 (81) to 7.3 (45).

Ex-AFL talent Jarrod Brander piled on half a dozen goals in the victory, collecting 16 disposals and six marks in the process. Jed Anderson (22 disposals, seven marks, six clearances and five inside 50s) was very good as well, while Jack Sexton had a game-high 24 disposals, as well as eight marks, three clearances and four inside 50s.

Maxwell Kelly (21 disposals, five marks, six clearances and nine tackles was the pick of the Waratah players, with Scott Carlin (18 disposals, four marks, three clearances, three tackles, five inside 50s and a goal also among the best in defeat.