THE FINALS race is heating up in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Women’s Premier League, with a headline fixture seeing two contenders lock horns to kick off Round 14. Darwin plays host to Southern Districts in the first of four matches slated for what is set to be a super Saturday of footy.
>> SCROLL for the full fixture & ladder
MATCH OF THE ROUND
Darwin Buffaloes (5th) vs. Southern Districts (4th)
Saturday January 10, 9:30am @ TIO Stadium
Both Darwin and Southern Districts will be keen to bounce back onto the winners list after both going down to top two sides fresh out of the Christmas break. They boast even 5-5 records and know a win will strengthen their finals chances with only four more rounds left to play after this weekend.
The two sides went to battle earlier in the season, with Southern Districts coming from behind to win by 14 points. The Buffettes will look a much different side though, with stand-in captain Molly Althouse the only player from her side’s best six on that day to be named for Saturday’s return clash.
Usual skipper Bianca Stokes is out along with star duo Dominique Carbone and Amelia Peck. Their absences will leave much of the scoring responsibilities up to the likes of Althouse and Ebony Abbott-McCormack. Meanwhile, the Crocs aren’t so short on their usual firepower.
Youngster Eva Harris is third in the league’s goalkicking tally and booted two majors last time out against the Buffs. Crocs captain Isabella Boyd was best on ground in that match and will hope to impress again alongside the experience of Maddi Shaw, and youthful exuberance of Taelah Smith.
Prediction: Crocs by 20
TEAMS:
Darwin Buffaloes
2. Tanisha Garling
5. Leese Marklos
6. Jamelia Martins
7. Amy Ward
8. Jenara Grant
9. Keanne Hart-Aluni
12. Alexandra Sliwinski
15. Delsey Campbell
16. Claire Corbett
17. Julianna Kerinaiua
18. Anju Goninon
19. Shakana Rankine
20. Kaitlin Wills
23. Sophia Mauboy
25. India Barker
26. Saraya Mauboy-Hudson
27. Molly Althouse
30. Ebony Abbott-McCormack
31. Makayla Noble-Webster
32. Kathleen Nicklin
33. Liz Watkins
4. Jenaya Yarran (emg)
Southern Districts
1. Isabella Boyd
4. Taelah Smith
5. Bella McLean
6. Cate Twaddle
7. Erin Luchetti
8. Charlie Neal
11. Madeline Tait
12. Ava Willoughby
16. Emma Forsyth
17. Alana Mulvahil
18. Eva Harris
19. Scarlett Young
20. Lillie Rothe
24. Alessia Smythe
26. Kate Grady
28. Jenna Gee
29. Maddi Shaw
30. Grace Whittaker
31. Rebel Brooker
33. Megan Craufurd
34. Lauren Coghill
2. Bella Clarke (emg)
9. Taylah Easton (emg)
23. Sarah Carbone (emg)
AROUND THE GROUNDS
Rival clubs can breathe a sigh of relief with undefeated ladder-leader Nightcliff having the bye. Fellow contenders PINT and St Mary’s will hope to boost their percentage with bouts against bottom-half sides in Tiwi and Wanderers respectively. Although, the sixth-place Muk Muks will be keen to keep their finals hopes alive. Elsewhere, Palmerston and Waratah meet in a battle between seventh and eighth, with the Magpies fresh off a resounding win – their third of the season.
ROUND 14 FIXTURE
Darwin Buffaloes (5th) vs. Southern Districts (4th)
Saturday January 10, 9:30am @ TIO Stadium
Palmerston Magpies (7th) vs. Waratah (8th)
Saturday January 10, 11:30am @ TIO Stadium
PINT (2nd) vs. Tiwi Bombers (9th)
Saturday January 10, 3:30pm @ DXC Arena
Wanderers (6th) vs. St Mary’s (3rd)
Saturday January 10, 4:00pm @ TIO Stadium Oval 2
Bye: Nightcliff Tigers
NTFL WPL LADDER
1. Nightcliff Tigers | 11-0 | 298.25% | 46 points
2. PINT | 8-3 | 261.67% | 34 points
3. St Mary’s | 8-2 | 253.96% | 34 points
4. Southern Districts | 5-5 | 98.17% | 22 points
5. Darwin Buffettes | 5-5 | 91.02% | 22 points
6. Wanderers | 4-7 | 41.55% | 18 points
7. Palmerston Magpies | 3-7 | 85.56% | 14 points
8. Waratah | 3-7 | 61.23% | 14 points
9. Tiwi Bombers | 1-10 | 53.69% | 4 points
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THE FINALS race is heating up in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Women’s Premier League, with a headline fixture seeing two contenders lock horns to kick off Round 14. Darwin plays host to Southern Districts in the first of four matches slated for what is set to be a super Saturday of footy. >> […]
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