IT WAS the perfect contrast of jubilation and devastation. A redemption story and heartbreak déjà vu. Somehow, the 2025/26 NTFL Women’s Premier League Grand Final had it all. For PINT, it was the ultimate sequel to a frustrating finals series 12 months earlier, where the minor premiers had been bundled out in straight sets and watched on as St Mary’s lifted the premiership trophy. However for the previously unbeaten Tigers, their perfect 2025/26 season turned to disaster when for the second time in as many years, went down by less than a kick on grand final day.

As the Top End season came to a close, there was no more fitting decider than a two-point thriller between two of the best Women’s Premier League sides in recent history. Nightcliff was a strong favourite, having bulldozed its way through to the last match of the year without so much as a blemish, while for PINT, it was all about righting the wrongs of 2024/25, when in Nightcliff’s position, went out in straight sets.

Having toppled St Mary’s – one of the sides that beat them 12 months ago – in the preliminary final after going down to the Saints in the qualifying final, PINT completed its full circle redemption with a 2.3 (15) to 2.1 (13) victory against Nightcliff to taste premiership glory for the fourth time. The Tigers, having reached three of the past five grand finals, would have to settle for the fact they had come so close, but fallen three points short of being two-time premiers the last two seasons.

Despite the end result, it looked early like Nightcliff would go one better than the year before, when Laura Roy struck truly in the opening term. The Morningside midfielder was coming off a grand final defeat in the QAFLW and was determined to make up for that, with a second goal in the second term to give the Tigers a 12-point lead.

There was plenty of time to play though, and PINT worked back into it with experienced ruck Jasmyn Hewett taking control in the middle. She would prove a handful for the Tigers to try and contain, and eventually her work got PINT back on track with Casey Morris setting up Rhiley Huppatz to cut the half-time deficit back to a single straight kick.

Nightcliff was not going to give up without a fight, as the likes of Kierra Zerafa, Gabby Deller and Roy all continued to push to keep the Tigers on top. However a 50m penalty to Hewett was all it took for PINT to hit the front during the premiership quarter, albeit by a single point. Another change to the dangerous Kenidee McNamara with just five seconds remaining in the quarter gave the Queen Ants a two-point advantage and set up for a thrilling final stanza.

The tight contest lead to an incredibly dour final term with PINT able to repel the Nightcliff attacks and the likes of Reni Hicks and Renee Tierney got on top in the contest. They, along with McNamara and Jorja Eldridge were among the winning side’s best with Hewett, who was deservedly named best afield in the victory.

Roy was clearly a standout for Nightcliff with her two majors in a low-scoring contest, while Zerefa and Deller were also impressive throughout the contest. Sally Evans and Chloe Koadagoda fought throughout the match for the yellow and black.

The result put a full stop on the season with many players now returning to their various state league or local clubs to play through the traditional season, while for PINT, it was the Queen Ants’ fourth flag, all of which have come in the past six seasons. Nightcliff remains one of only two sides – with Wanderers – who has not tasted premiership glory, but with back-to-back grand final appearances, the Tigers appear as close as ever to that success.

NIGHTCLIFF 1.0 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 (13)
PINT 0.0 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 2.3 (15)

GOALS:
Nightcliff: L. Roy 2
PINT: R. Huppatz, J. Hewett

BEST:
Nightcliff: L. Roy, K. Zerafa, G. Deller, C. Koadagoda, S. Evans
PINT: J. Hewett, R. Tierney. K. McNamara, R. Hicks, J. Eldridge