A SUPER Saturday is planned for Round 2 of the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Men’s and Women’s Premier Leagues as sides begin to play on their home decks more so than at TIO Stadium. We take a look at the matches and what to expect from the contests, with St Mary’s having the bye in both grades.

MEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE:

Southern Districts vs. Wanderers
Saturday, October 12 @ Norbuilt Oval, 4pm

Opening up the round in the first game outside TIO Stadium, Southern Districts will be expected to go 2-0 in the season against a Wanderers side that really struggled against Tiwi Bombers in Round 1. The Crocs had no such problems, kicking away from Waratah under lights last Saturday night, and are strong favourites to pile on more pain to the Eagles.

The host of experienced players such as Jarrod Brander (coming off a six-goal haul), Jed Anderson and Beau Schwarze should be too much for the visitors, though Jaxon East suffered leather poisoning last week.

Waratah vs. Palmerston
Saturday, October 12 @ TIO Stadium, 4:30pm

Palmerston had to wait an extra week to kick off its 2024/25 NTFL season and the Magpies enter the year with a first-up match against Waratah. The red and white struggled to go with the Crocs for four quarters and will be looking for a better showing here, with Palmerston the real unknown coming into the season.

Crafty former Jets forward Matthew Payne has been named in midfield for the Magpies, while the Tahs’ have ex-Rebel Scott Carlin who is a consistent performer and has been for a number of seasons now.

Nightcliff vs. Darwin Buffaloes
Saturday, October 12 @ Nightcliff Oval, 6pm

Two sides coming off respective losses in Round 1 will be looking to put their best foot forward in Round 2. Nightcliff will be the favourites for the match, after going down to St Mary’s in a grand final rematch. Inaccuracy really hurt the Tigers who faded in the second half after having the game on their terms through the first half, and will be expected to bounce back. Darwin has some qualities players, but an eight-goal loss to PINT last week was a tough initiation to the 2024/25 season.

Skipper Brodie Filo and Zackary Derksen will be key players for the yellow and black, as they look to get the bounce-back win in front of home fans. Buffaloes skipper Jarrod Stokes is one who will provide constant performance, while Tom Simpson had a ridiculous effort in defeat last week.

PINT vs. Tiwi Bombers
Saturday, October 12 @ TIO Stadium, 7pm

Wrapping up the round under lights at TIO Stadium, two Round 1 winners face off in what is the anticipated match of the round. PINT easily put aside Darwin Buffaloes last week with a 48-point thrashing, while Tiwi Bombers went even better albeit against what is expected to be a weaker Wanders outfit, winning by 57 points.

PINT’s defender including Harry McKimmie and Bailey Frauenfelder were among the best for the Ants, as Christopher Nield had a day out up forward. The Bombers will need to keep close tabs on him, though with Anthony Munkara and Kim Kantilla up forward – as well as ex-AFL premiership Tiger Marlion Pickett in the middle – they have plenty of firepower themselves for PINT to worry about.

WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE:

Waratah vs. Palmerston
Saturday, October 12 @ TIO Stadium, 12:30pm

Palmerston will make its long-awaited return for the 2024/25 NTFL Women’s season after having to wait an extra week to get stuck into it. Minus AFLW Draft prospect and last year’s co-captain Tatyana Perry, the Magpies have one of the most intriguing prospects for next year in tenacious speedster Marika Carlton. They will also look to the likes of ex-Port player Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap, while Erica Rowe and Aisha Thomas have come up from Central District in the SANFLW.

Waratah will hope to provide some more scoring prowess in the match after going down to Southern Districts by nine points in Round 1. The Tahs’ make a return to TIO Stadium in Round 2, with Ruby O’Dwyer a key player, while captain Brittany Daly will look to lead from the front.

Southern Districts vs. Wanderers
Saturday, October 12 @ Norbuilt Oval, 2pm

Two sides who had very opposite results in Round 1 head to Norbuilt Oval, with the Crocs eyeing off a 2-0 start to the season following their nine-point victory over Waratah last round. Wanderers on the other hand went down to Tiwi Bombers by 129 points and were shortchanged in terms of numbers, in what looms as a potentially long season for them.

Southern Districts have some quality players on their list including Allies representatives over the past two seasons Eva Harris and Rhania Hewitt while Maddi Shaw is a huge inclusion for the Crocs. Wanderers will have the experience of SANFLW ruck Jasmin Fejo, but again have only named the 16 players making it tough on rotations.

PINT vs. Tiwi Bombers
Saturday, October 12 @ TIO Stadium, 2:30pm

All eyes will be on this match in the first of two cracker contests to complete the Super Saturday. Reigning premiers PINT looked strong early against Darwin in Round 1, but did look vulnerable at times before holding on for a five-point win. Tiwi Bombers obliterated Wanderers, but now they go to the opposite end of the ladder and will get a true litmus test against the Queen Ants.

PINT will always control the ruck with Jasmyn Hewett a class above in the competition. With Reni Hicks and Steph Lawrence other experienced players, there is no doubt the Queen Ants mean business this year as they eye off another flag. The forward craft of Arthurina Moreen, Freda Puruntatameri and Maria Rioli will be a strength of the Bombers, while Glenelg premiership skipper Ellie Kellock is a ridiculously strong inclusion for the season.

Nightcliff vs. Darwin Buffaloes
Saturday, October 12 @ Nightcliff Oval, 4pm

Both these teams were involved in tight contests last round, but on opposite sides of the win-loss ledger. Nightcliff overcame St Mary’s in an inaccurate game of football on Friday night, getting up by 12 points. Meanwhile Darwin almost caused a boilover against PINT at the same TIO Stadium venue the next day, only to fall short of finishing the job.

Lucy Northcott and Cassie McWilliam are hard forwards to match up on for different reasons while Sally Evans and Jasmine Ware are experienced campaigners across state leagues. The Buffaloes have Dominique Carbone again who will be among the top league best and fairest chances, while Tayla Hart-Aluni and Glenelg representative Anju Goninon will also cause a few headaches for the Tigers.