THE RACE to finals rages on in the NTFL Men’s Premier League tonight, as PINT and St Mary’s kick off Round 15. The clash between second and third comes before the January long weekend bye, with both teams stacked at the selection table. We preview that match before taking a look around the grounds.

>> SCROLL for the full fixture & ladder

MATCH OF THE ROUND

PINT (2nd) vs. St Mary’s (3rd)
Friday January 16, 8:00pm @ TIO Stadium

Having relinquished first place to Southern Districts in the new year, PINT can not only snatch it back with a win, but also just about confirm a top two finish. The Greenants steadied last week by defeating Tiwi and have brought in serious reinforcements to take on the Green Machine.

Former Adelaide Crows forward James Rowe and ruckman Connor McDonald headline a strong list of imports, along with Williamstown VFL product Jack Brown. Young gun Hugo Timms is also back in the side as PINT looks to reinforce its status as a genuine premiership contender.

Elsewhere, the Greenants have been served well by Archie Stevens this season. The Carlton VFL export racked up 38 disposals in his return game last week. Noah Spiteri will be another to watch after his four majors in Round 14 put him second on the league’s goalkicking list with 25.

On the other side of the ledger, St Mary’s has been humming after the break. The Saints boast five quality wins in the row, including over Southern Districts and Nightcliff, with their last three coming by an average margin of 89 points. They have poured on 20 goals in both games after the new year.

Brisbane VFL pair Charlie Offermans and Curtis McCarthy are among the inclusions set to only make St Mary’s better. Captain Dylan Landt has been in utterly ridiculous form, teaming up with the likes of Connor West and Nate Paredes. Meanwhile, Luke Patterson is fresh off a five-goal haul.

PINT won the first leg between these two sides back in Round 5, saluting by 12 points. But the Saints have begun to peak at the right time, bringing ominous form and plenty of headline acts into the backend of the season. The form guide suggests they’ll get this one back, but it won’t be easy.

Prediction: Saints by 15

TEAMS:

PINT

B: 5. T. Schott (vc) – 3.  J. Trewin – 11. E. Chalmers
HB: 18. C. McDonald – 17. M. Short – 13. H. Maher
C: 41. T. Schwarzenberg – 29. J. Bear – 28. H. Timms
HF: 27. J. Barry – 22. C. Wilson (vc) – 43. B. Frauenfelder
F: 33. J. Rowe – 32. J. Griffin – 8. A. Stevens
FOL: 39. J. Brown – 46. N. Spiteri – 30. S. Bates

INT: 14. B. Ryan (c), 20. B. Gedye, 37. A. Fuller, 42. J. Moloney

St Mary’s

B: 1. J. Long – 15. R. Crisp – 17. J. Smithson
HB: 37. L. Flagg – 28. C. McCarthy – 27. N. Paredes
C: 3. T. Dewsbury – 8. J. Landt – 2. E. Amery
HF: 23. X. Vallejo – 26. B. Rioli – 18. C. Offermans
F: 11. N. Yarran – 14. L. Patterson – 44. J. Braunthal
FOL: 19. T. Faulkner – 4. C. West – 9. D. Landt (c)

INT: 21. L. Davies, 22. M. Musgrove, 33. Z. Robinson, 35. D. Grant 

AROUND THE GROUNDS

With second and third doing battle, fourth-placed Nightcliff will hope to cash in and sneak closer to the top two when it faces cellar dweller Palmerston. The best result for the Tigers is a St Mary’s win to bridge the gap to PINT, and for a percentage-booster against the improving Magpies.

In the race for fifth spot, current holder Waratah meets Wanderers with eyes on keeping the likes of Tiwi and Darwin at bay. They latter pair are set to thrown down at Tracy Village Oval with eyes on keeping their seasons alive and putting pressure on the Tahs, who boast a six-point buffer.

Ladder leaders Southern Districts will put their feet up with a bye round before attacking the run home. The Crocs could relinquish top spot to PINT this weekend, but have the opportunity to reclaim it in Round 16 as the Greenants complete their final bye.

ROUND 15 FIXTURE

PINT (2nd) vs. St Mary’s (3rd)
Friday January 16, 8:00pm @ TIO Stadium

Tiwi Bombers (6th) vs. Darwin Buffaloes (7th)
Saturday January 17, 2:00pm @ Tracy Village Oval

Palmerston Magpies (9th) vs. Nightcliff Tigers (4th)
Saturday January 17, 6:00pm @ Cazalys Arena

Waratah (5th) vs. Wanderers (8th)
Saturday January 17, 6:30pm @ Gardens Oval

Bye: Southern Districts

NTFL MPL LADDER

1. Southern Districts | 10-2 | 158.0% | 42 points
2. PINT | 9-2-1 | 139.7% | 40 points
3. St Mary’s | 8-3 | 182.0% | 34 points
4. Nightcliff Tigers | 7-3-1 | 129.4% | 32 points
5. Waratah | 6-5 | 114.0% | 26 points
—
6. Tiwi Bombers | 5-8 | 93.3% | 20 points
7. Darwin Buffaloes | 3-8 | 61.3% | 14 points
8. Wanderers | 2-10 | 47.8% | 10 points
9. Palmerston Magpies | 1-10 | 57.4% | 6 points