AN UNFORGETTABLE 171-point thrashing saw Southern Districts completely dismantle Palmerston Magpies in Round 6 of the NTFL Men’s Premier League over the weekend. The Crocs piled on 44 scoring shots to eight and brought up the first ton by half time before going on with it to win, 32.12 (204) to 5.3 (33) at Norbuilt Oval.

It was one-way traffic from the start and the Crocs showed little mercy, piling on 10 goals to two in the first term, and by the main break had added a further seven without the Magpies dinting their own total. With a 98-point margin at half-time, a 200-plus point victory was on the cards, and with a quarter to play the Crocs had added a further seven goals to the tally to surpass the 150 mark.

Not willing to take the foot off the pedal, Southern Districts capped off the four-quarter performance with eight goals, though two majors to the Magpies in the final term ensured the deficit remained well below 200 points.

Instead, it stood at 171 points with the Crocs going eight points clear on top of the table as the sole undefeated side, while Palmerston’s percentage took a beating and dropped below Wanderers to be one place off the winless Darwin Buffaloes.

Eight Crocs kicked multiple goals, as Matt Shannon (six), Will Farrer (five) and Beau Schwarze (five) all filling their boots, as did Josiah Farrer and Jack Sexton who slotted four apiece. Along with the major goalkickers, Jed Anderson and Mitchell Bidmade also impressed in the huge victory.

For Palmerston, it was a dirty evening but Michael Bezzene still managed two goals, while Deacon Summerville and ex-Falcon Tom Gillett were named in the black and white’s best. The work does not get any easier for Palmerston next week when the Magpies take on second placed St Mary’s back at Cazaly’s Arena, while Southern Districts has the bye.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 10.5 | 17.8 | 24.11 | 32.12 (204)
PALMERSTON MAGPIES 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 5.3 (33)

GOALS:
Southern Districts: M. Shannon 6, W. Farrer 5, B. Schwarze 5, J. Farrer 4, J. Sexton 4, J. Anderson 3, M. Bidmade 2, J. Ross 2, E. Saville
Palmerston Magpies: M. Bezzene 2, B. Agnew, D. Summerville, O. Whalan

BEST:
Southern Districts: M. Shannon, B. Schwarze, J. Anderson, M. Bidmade, J. Farrer
Palmerston Magpies: D. Summerville, T. Gillett, M. Bezzene, C. Nyko. T. Young

It was a different story in the women’s match with the Magpies providing too strong for Southern Districts across the four quarters. Palmerston lead by 13 points at quarter time and added a goal more than its opponents per quarter to lead by 27 at the last change. Finishing off strongly, the Magpies booted three goals to nil in the final term to win. 9.4 (58) to 2.2 (14).

Young talent Taelah Smith booted four goals in the victory, with ex-Port talent Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap and Natasha Medbury both kicking two majors. Recently announced AFLW Academy member Marika Carlton also played in the win, while WAFLW tall Ella Ward and fellow state league representatives Tabitha May and Aisha Thomas were impressive.

For the Crocs, ex-Bombers VFLW player Bella Clarke and Allies representative Eva Harris kicked the goals, with Alicia Myers and Maddi Shaw both standing tall in the win. Ex-AFLW Academy forward Kyanne Campbell also played her third game of the year.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

St Mary’s completed the double in both the men’s and women’s competitions, with a one-point thriller the case for the former, while notching up a nine-point victory in the latter. Incredibly in the men’s match, the Saints trailed by 17 points at the final change before booting the only three goals of the last quarter to win, 11.8 (74) to 9.19 (73). In the women’s match, an inspired two-goal effort from bottom-ager Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn helped steer the Saints to the victory.

Nightcliff also picked up both sets of four points in wins over Wanderers, crushing its opponent by 83 points in the men’s match, and 89 points in the women’s contest. Ex-Collingwood VFL captain Lachlan Tardrew was best on ground for the Tigers in the win, while in the women’s, Tshinta Kendall – who kicked the match-winner the week before – finished as one of three players with a trio of goals.

The Waratah-PINT match went opposite ways between the men’s and women’s matches with the former getting the chocolates by 31 points in the men’s contest, while reigning premiers PINT proved too good for the ‘Tahs in the women’s clash. The Queen Ants had to grind out a low-scoring win with Zoe McWhinney the standout, while Daniel O’Dwyer was voted best on in Waratah’s victory.