AN INCREDIBLE performance from St Mary’s turned the tables on the reigning back-to-back premiers PINT in the semi-final for the Saints to become the first side through to the NTFL Women’s Premier League Grand Final.

In the third grand final rematch between the sides for the 2024/25 season, St Mary’s shook off some early cobwebs to build a 13-point lead by half-time before kicking away with two of the last three goals of the game to win by 25 points at TIO Stadium.

After PINT won the first grand final rematch by just three points back in Round 3, St Mary’s turned it around in the penultimate round with a 20-point triumph to give the Queen Ants plenty to think about ahead of the post-season series. After vanquishing Nightcliff last week, St Mary’s showed it was up for the flag tilt, winning in a low-scoring, inaccurate 5.13 (43) to 2.6 (18) result.

Despite the experience of PINT’s midfield – which included former league best and fairest winner Jasmyn Hewett (14 disposals, 31 hitouts, five clearances and three inside 50s) and recently delisted Swan Paige Sheppard (18 disposals, four clearances, four tackles and three inside 50s) getting the job done on the inside, St Mary’s was able to turn the ball over through tackling pressure and begin to apply scoreboard pressure.

Like PINT, St Mary’s had its share of AFLW-experienced players with ex-Saint Nadia Von Bertouch and ex-Bomber Caitlin Sargent among the Saints’ five individual goalkickers. Keyshia Matenga continued her form from the QAFL Women’s, racking up a team-high 15 disposals, as well as four marks, four tackles and four inside 50s in the win.

St Mary’s laid 12 more tackles – including 10 more tackles inside 50 – with plus-nine forward 50 entries and 16 more marks. Top-age draft prospect Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn recorded 14 disposals and seven inside 50s among a couple of behinds, while another ex-AFLW talent Janet Baird provided class out of defence on her way to 13 disposals and five rebound 50s.

Sheppard’s 18 disposals was a game-high, with Hewett and another experienced NT talent in Reni Hicks (14 disposals, four tackles and three inside 50s) also among the top ball-winners. Eilish Grundon did her best out of defence with double-digit rebound 50s, but it would prove to be in vain as the usual high-scoring side could not apply much scoreboard pressure and finished with just two majors from eight scoring shots.

St Mary’s moves on to the grand final in a fortnight on March 15, where it will await the winner of PINT and Nightcliff from the preliminary final on Saturday.

PINT 0.2 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 2.6 (18)
ST MARY’S 1.4 | 3.7 | 3.11 | 5.13 (43)

GOALS:
PINT: R. Huppatz, C. Morris
St Mary’s: N. Anderson, E. Forshaw, L. Hill, C. Sargent, N. von Bertouch

BEST:
PINT: J. Hewett, P. Sheppard, R. Hicks, E. Grundon, C. Morris
St Mary’s: J. Baird, S. Gardiner-Dunn, K. Matenga, B. Byers, C. Sargent

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Nightcliff rained on Palmerston’s parade in the do-or-die semi-final to utilise its double chance and set up a preliminary final showdown with PINT. The Magpies came in off a high after their big win over Tiwi Bombers last week, but were no match for the rampaging Tigers who bounced back from a loss to St Mary’s to win by 50 points in the earlier game, 10.10 (70) to 3.2 (20).

From the get-go it was clear the Tigers were the better side, keeping the Magpies to just one goal throughout the first three quarters as they booted six majors from 14 scoring shots. Despite boasting a 36-point lead at the final change, Nightcliff did not rest on its laurels as the match opened up in the last, kicking four goals to two to claim the big victory.

Tshinta Kendall and Mickayla Ward both kicked a couple of goals in the big win, with Gabby Deller a standout, amassing a game-high 24 disposals, as well as five clearances, seven tackles, two inside 50s, two rebound 50s and a goal. GWS Giants-listed ruck Fleur Davies also stood up in the big moments with 17 disposals, seven marks, 11 hitouts and a goal in the win.

Central District-tied Aisha Thomas helped herself to a team-high 14 disposals for the Magpies, also accumulating two marks, two clearances, two tackles and three rebound 50s in defeat. Ella Ward and top-age excitement machine Marika Carlton tried hard, but were ultimately comfortably beaten by the better side on the day.

PRELIMINARY FINALS

Saturday, March 8
PINT vs. Nightcliff @ TIO Stadium, 4:30pm

GRAND FINAL

Saturday, March 15
St Mary’s vs. Winner of Preliminary Final @ TIO Stadium, 4:15pm