ST MARY’S dream of a ridiculous 35th Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Men’s Premier Division flag remains alive after defeating Waratah in the elimination final over the weekend. The fifth placed Saints will have to do it the hard way if they are to extend their lead in the competition’s premiership race, but got past the first hurdle with a 15.10 (100) to 8.6 (54) win at TIO Stadium on Saturday.

In a tight tussle for the first quarter, the Saints edged ahead by the skin of their teeth thanks to a 3.5 to 3.3 quarter time lead. Though Waratah had finished higher on the ladder, it was clear the momentum swung to St Mary’s by the second term as the Saints piled on four goals to one and extended the lead out to a healthy 19-point lead at the main break.

Waratah had its chances in the third by booting an accurate 3.0, but once against St Mary’s had the answers, kicking four goals and extending the lead out to 26 points to all but secure the win. Once the result was clear early in the fourth, the Saints piled on the majors to blow the final margin out to 46 points and celebrate a strong win.

Skipper Dylan Landt was a standout in the victory kicking two goals, named best on ground alongside brother Jack (five), while Connor West (two) and Joel Garner also impressed in the victory. Dominant goalkicking machine Jackson Calder had a hand in a couple, with Josh Smithson (two) the other multiple goalkicker in the win.

For Waratah, Joel Hillis kicked two goals, while Nick Hoare and Toby Hutt were among the better players on the losing side. It marked a disappointing end to the year for the red and whites, which made it three consecutive finals losses since lifting the 2022/23 premiership.

WARATAH 3.3 | 4.4 | 7.4 | 8.6 (54)
ST MARY’S 3.5 | 7.5 | 11.6 | 15.10 (100)

GOALS:
Waratah: J. Hillis 2, A. Govers, M. Jorgensen, A. Kirby, L. O’Dea, B. Scott, C. Shadforth
St Mary’s: J. Landt 5, J. Calder 2, D. Landt 2, J. Smithson 2, C. West 2, T. Dewsbury, C. Harris

BEST:
Waratah: N. Hoare, T. Hutt, D. Collis, B. Scott, J. Bambury
St Mary’s: D. Landt, J. Landt, C. West, T. Dewsbury, J. Garner

Tigers overcome wild weather, Bombers to set date with Crocs

NIGHTCLIFF has advanced through to the semi-finals with a dominant 73-point shellacking of Tiwi Bombers in some of the worst conditions possible. Despite lightning delaying play by an hour and torrential rain on and off throughout the match, the Tigers managed to step up in the second half and pile on 11 goals to two to win 14.12 (96) to 3.5 (23).

The lightning delay and worst of the weather saw just three behinds kicked in the first quarter, and by the main break, a total of 4.7 had been put on the scoreboard. It was not until after half-time that the Tigers started to roar, booting six goals to two in the premiership quarter to open up a 40-point lead, then continued with the foot firmly down to pile on the only six goals of the final term and blow the game wide open.

Fergus Greene (five goals) and Stanley Cox (four) combined for nine majors on the day, being the true headaches for the Bombers’ defence. Midfielder Lachlan Tardrew was also a star all around the ground as Nightcliff put a tumultuous week surrounding the fly-in breach hearings behind it with a statement second half. Jack Monigatti tried hard in defeat for the red and black, but the Bombers could not find easy avenues to goal all night be it the weather or the Tigers defence.

The win meant Nightcliff now advanced through to a semi-final against Southern Districts for the first spot in the 2024/25 NTFL Men’s Premier Division Grand Final. Tiwi is not out of the running either, with the Bombers to take on St Mary’s for either a second crack at Nightcliff, or the ladder-leading Crocs in the preliminary final should they get past the Saints.

NIGHTCLIFF 0.2 | 3.4 | 9.8 | 14.12 (96)
TIWI BOMBERS 0.1 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 3.5 (23)

GOALS:
Nightcliff: F. Greene 5, S. Cox 4, B. Launer 2, B. Filo, A. Scott, L. Tardrew
Tiwi: N. Cooper, K. Kantilla, M. Thompson

BEST:
Nightcliff: L. Tardrew, S. Cox, N. Brown, T. Boyd, F. Greene
Tiwi: J. Monigatti, M. Thompson, S. Darley, K. Dunn, T. Phillips