A GAP between the top five and bottom five has formed at the halfway mark of the NTFL Men’s Premier Division season. Southern Districts and St Mary’s have capped off nine rounds of action with 7-1 records – including a bye apiece – six points clear of third placed Waratah. Tiwi Bombers and Nightcliff are the other two sides in premiership contention, with 5-3 win-loss efforts to-date.

Southern Districts is coming off a commanding 53-point thrashing of last year’s runners-up Nightcliff last Friday night, where the Crocs kicked eight goals to two in the first half to set up the victory. In that match, AFL experienced forward Steven Motlop slotted four goals in a best on ground effort, while Jye Bolton was dangerous as ever.

The Crocs’ only loss came at the hands of reigning premiers St Mary’s the week before coming off a bye, but have convincingly put away the league battlers with wins of 151 and 171 the fortnight prior to that over Darwin and Palmerston.

Nightcliff always remains a contender, but has not quite been as convincing this year as the Tigers’ run to the grand final and premiership years gone past, suffering competitive losses to the Saints and Bombers before last week’s disappointing defeat.

St Mary’s brilliant season rolled on with a 16-goal shellacking of the Buffaloes at TIO Stadium in Round 9. Jackson Calder (six goals) and Jaden McGrath (five) both had days out, while the Landt brothers, Dylan and Jack each kicked a couple and were productive throughout the match. Buffaloes skipper Jarrod Stokes kicked three of Darwin’s four goals in a hard-working effort.

St Mary’s only loss came at the hands of Waratah in Round 4, going down by 11 points at Gardens Oval. The reigning premiers have had a few close calls such as a one-point win over Tiwi Bombers in Round 6, and an eight-point victory over the Crocs two weeks later.

In shocking conditions, Tiwi Bombers only played a half in a win over Palmerston Magpies, leading 8.7 (55) to 3.5 (23) last weekend, with Kurt Dunn and Michael Thompson leading the way, and Kim Kantilla booting three goals. The Bombers were en route to a big win, before the match was called off due to the AFL’s extreme weather policy with heavy ran and thunderstorms.

The Bombers announced themselves as a contender following a gritty two-goal win over Nightcliff in Round 5, but suffered back-to-back defeats to fellow top five contenders St Mary’s and Waratah the following two weeks. They face the Tigers and Saints the next two weeks prior to Christmas which will act as a litmus test for the red and black.

Waratah also picked up another win to remain in third, defeating Wanderers by eight points at TIO Stadium. Mitchell Jorgensen kicked three majors and Liam O’Dea had two, while Bailey Scott and Tanner Lovell were among the ‘Tahs’ best. The only team to defeat St Mary’s this season, Waratah sits third after the Round 8 match against Darwin was called off due to a serious injury in the VFLW match prior. However the side very much remains a contender.

Of the remaining four teams, Wanderers has separated itself from the battlers with three wins from eight matches, with PINT managing two, Palmerston the one and Darwin winless, with that draw against Waratah so far the sole points collected this season.

Round 10 gets underway tomorrow night with Wanderers playing host to St Mary’s, before a triple treat of matches across the Territory on Saturday. Tiwi Bombers takes on Nightcliff in the match of the round, Southern Districts clashes with Darwin and Palmerston meets PINT, while Waratah has the bye.