PALMERSTON Magpies have stormed into the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Women’s Premier Division semi-finals with a dominant 43-point victory over Tiwi Bombers at TIO Stadium. The Magpies made use of the breeze in the second and fourth terms to kick nine of their 10 goals in a 10.7 (67) to 3.6 (24) victory.

Leading at each break, the Magpies kicked the only goal of the first quarter, then piled on four goals to one, stretching the margin out to 26 points at the main break. While the third term was tight one again, the Bombers could not take full advantage, only kicking three behinds to the Magpies’ one.

With a semi-finals spot on the line and elimination the dreaded result for the loser, Palmerston took no chances in the fourth quarter, putting the foot down and slamming home five goals to two as the game really opened up and the black and whites kicked away to a seven-goal victory.

Playing up forward, over-age prospect Tatyana Perry once again showed she was a class above, kicking a game-high four goals in the win from 10 disposals and five marks. She was not the only teenage star though, as National Academy member Marika Carlton produced a best on ground performance.

The top-age Carlton – who is Northern Territory’s leading AFLW Draft prospect in 2025 – picked up 29 disposals, eight marks, six clearances, two tackles, eight inside 50s and kicked a goal to take control throughout the match. She worked well with ruck Ellie Ward (19 disposals, 19 hitouts), while Kate Grady was enormous in defence, picking up an equal game-high 11 rebound 50s.

Another young gun in Jorja Davey also kicked a couple of goals to help steer the Magpies into the semis as Palmerston dominated the stats sheet. The fourth placed side notched up 58 more disposals, won the uncontested possession count by 57, recorded 24 more marks and 31 more handball receives as they covered the ground well and transitioned it brilliantly.

Tiwi had the better of the clearance battle with four more than the Magpies, and unsurprisingly laid more tackles considering the disposal differential. The Bombers had three individual goalkickers in the loss, with defender Hayley Finning best-on for her side with 20 touches and 11 rebound 50s. Maria Rioli (17 disposals, two marks, four clearances and six inside 50s) also tried hard for the red and black. Glenelg ruck Shay’Lee Dayman also impressed with 11 hitouts and 11 tackles from her seven touches.

PALMERSTON MAGPIES 1.2 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 10.7 (67)
TIWI BOMBERS 0.2 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 3.6 (24)

GOALS:
Palmerston Magpies: T. Perry 4, J. Davey 2, C. Niesner 2, M. Carlton, S. James
Tiwi Bombers: J. Puautjimi, F. Puruntatameri, J. Tipungwuti

BEST:
Palmerston Magpies: M. Carlton, T. Perry, E. Ward, K. Brady, J. Davey
Tiwi Bombers: H. Finning, S. Dayman, M. Rioli, J. Cunningham, J. Nannup

Saints ascend to Tiger challenge

ST MARY’S moved one win away from a grand final with a come-from-behind victory over Nightcliff in the qualifying final. The Saints started slowly to trail by 13 points at quarter time, but kicked four unanswered goals to turn it into a 14-point lead by the final break. Though inaccurate in the last quarter, St Mary’s had done enough to post the 5.9 (39) to 4.2 (26) win.

Nightcliff raced out of the blocks to quickly kick three goals to one and open up a handy quarter time lead. The Tigers had a plus-22 in disposals, were winning it both inside and outside, and also going harder at ground level (plus-11 ground ball gets). However, that all turned in the next quarter as the Saints stepped up.

St Mary’s booted four goals over the next two quarters, with 19 more inside 50s and six more clearances to take control from the source and build the handy lead. The Tigers got back on track for hte fourth term with similar numbers to the only quarters, but despite having more of the ball, could not transition it from defence to attack, with turnovers proving costly.

The Saints went inside 50 an additional 10 more times compared to the Tigers, and while it generated five scoring shots to one, all were behinds compared to Nightcliff’s one straight kick. Buying time was all the Saints had to do for the last quarter though, and by dominating possession and forward half advantage, ran out clear 13-point winners.

Grace Senior was the Saints’ multiple goalkicker as top-age draft prospect Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn also hit the scoreboard with Nakeesha Miniter and Caitlin Sargent. Gardiner-Dunn finished the match with five disposals, three tackles and four inside 50s as well, with only Billie Byers (16 disposals, eight clearances) having more touches. Paula Pavic and ex-AFLW talent Janet Baird also starred.

Nightcliff’s Gabby Deller had a match-high 22 disposals, as well as three marks, six tackles and five rebound 50s, while Sophie Hatzismalis and Christy Landwehr were both influential in defence. AFLW-listed ruck Fleur Davies notched up 17 hitouts and four tackles from 10 touches and four marks in the loss. Sally Evans and Georgia Johnson were also among the Tigers’ best.

St Mary’s will go on to face PINT for a spot in the grand final, while Nightcliff now faces a do-or-die semi-final against Palmerston Magpies.

ST MARY’S 1.1 | 2.3 | 5.4 | 5.9 (39)
NIGHTCLIFF 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 4.2 (20)

GOALS:
St Mary’s: G. Senior 2, S. Gardiner-Dunn, N. Miniter, C. Sargent
Nightcliff: M. Ward 2 L. Rabbitt, C. McWilliam

BEST:
St Mary’s: B. Byers, P. Pavic, J. Baird, N. Miniter, G. Senior
Nightcliff: G. Deller, C. Landwehr, F. Davies, S. Evans. G. Johnson