AN INCREDIBLE dozen goals to former AFL forward Steven Motlop has resulted in Wanderers having a massive 90-point win over Tiwi Bombers in their Round 16 match at Gardens Oval. The Wanderers have not had the best season thus far in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Men’s Premier League, but picked up their fifth win of the season to leapfrog Palmerston Magpies outside the bottom two. The 23.17 (155) to 10.5 (65) scoreline ultimately showed the gulf between the bottom two teams.

It was a one-man show however, with Motlop bagging a dozen majors in a ridiculous performance in the Top End. From the get-go it was clear the game looked to be a one-sided affair as Wanders piled on seven goals from 12 scoring shots to lead by 41 points at the first break. The Bombers actually won the second term to cut the deficit to 32 points at the main break, but an eight goals to three third team ultimately snuffed out any chance of a comeback.

Now leading 17.10 (112) to 7.5 (47) at the last change, Wanderers kicked six goals to three in the last term to put an exclamation mark on the win. Falling marginally short of the triple-digit victory, that could be attributed to the inaccuracy of the Eagles, kicking 6.7 in the last stanza, compared to the far more accurate Bombers who booted 3.0 Aside from the second term – where Tiwi kicked 3.5 – the Bombers booted 7.0 across the other three quarters, making the margin far better than what it could have bene had they not kicked straight in the 90-point loss.

Motlop was a clear best on ground with his 12 goals, while Edward Simpson booted three, and Marlon Motlop finished with two goals. Along with Jerome Motlop (one), the Motlops kicked 15 of the Eagles’ 23 goals. Aside from Motlop, Shane Thorne, Thomas Boyes and Brodie Newman were named among the best, with Beau O’Connell unsurprisingly also impressive in the win. For Tiwi, Jason Burke, Dion Munkara and John Tipiloura all kicked multiple goals, while former AFL player Harley Bennell also hit the scoreboard.

Though a one-sided result, it was not the largest margin of the weekend, with premiership contender St Mary’s storming to a 120-point demolition of Palmerston Magpies. Jack Landt slammed home six goals as Jackson Calder (four), Dylan Landt (four) and Sam Fowler (three) all filled their boots for the Saints in a 20.16 (136) to 2.4 (16) victory.

Comparatively, Nightcliff’s 70-point victory over Darwin Buffaloes seemed close, with the win showing an incredible gulf between fourth and fifth, helping the Tigers build a 32 per cent gap of the Buffs. The Tigers had 33 scoring shots to 18, running out 19.14 (128) to 8.10 (58) winners, as John Butcher and Sam Overall combined for 13 goals and were among the best with usual suspects, Brodie Filo, Jackson Bowen and Nathan Brown.

The closest match of the round was ladder leaders Southern Districts’ 34-point victory over PINT. The Green Ants sit in sixth on the ladder and are still well in contention for finals, especially thanks to Darwin’s capitulation. But in the clash against the premiership favourites, it was the Crocs who emerged victorious, coming away 9.15 (69) to 5.5 (35) winners. Dylan Barry and Jack Sexon both booted two goals for the Crocs with Luke Smith named best-on, while Brayden Taylor starred for PINT.