FRIDAY night action provides a couple of blockbuster games in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) as the Men’s Premier and Women’s Premier Division 2024/25 seasons kick off. The double-header between St Mary’s and Nightcliff at TIO Stadium tonight includes a grand final rematch in the men’s, and a preliminary final rematch in the women’s.

In both contests St Mary’s eliminated Nightcliff, winning an incredible 34th Men’s Premier Division flag, while going on to reach the Women’s Premier Division Grand Final only to go down to powerhouses PINT a week later. We take a look at both clashes ahead of tonight’s Round 1 action.

Women’s Premier:

ST MARY’S vs. NIGHTCLIFF
Friday, October 4 @ 6pm
TIO Stadium

The battle between second and third in last year’s competition is set to be another beauty with the Saints and Tigers boasting some huge names to begin the season. Ex-Bomber and VFLW Pie Caitlin Sargent has been named as a newcomer for the Saints, while Paula Pavic returns after a successful year with St Mary’s in 2023/24.

The side looms as one that will be able to produce plenty of goals as Billie Byers returns, while the likes of Ciaralii Parnell and ex-Bushranger Bonnie McKean are some rising talents. Speaking of young guns, watch for Danika McDonald and Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn as a couple of names to remember for next year, while former Gippsland Power skipper Ahlee Penry will also lineup for the Saints.

Looking at the Tigers list, there is plenty of experience there headlined by Mickayla Ward and Jasmine Ware. Both have stints across the country, while Ware’s Swan Districts teammate and midfielder/forward Hope Ugle-Hayward should be a huge inclusion to the side.

Similarly, Nightcliff will still have the services of athletic tall Cassie McWilliam, while the likes of Sally Evans and Christy Landwehr bring QAFL Women’s experience to the team. As a whole, the Tigers have enough about them to challenge the Saints and really bring the heat.

Overall, St Mary’s looks to have more firepower on paper, but some of the Nightcliff inclusions and returning players will make it a tight game so should be a brilliant first-up clash to open the new season.

ROUND 1 FIXTURE:

Saturday, October 5

Tiwi Bombers vs. Wanderers @ TIO Stadium, 10am
PINT vs. Darwin Buffaloes @ TIO Stadium, 12:00pm
Waratah vs. Southern Districts @ TIO Stadium Oval 2, 4:30pm

Men’s Premier:

ST MARY’S vs. NIGHTCLIFF
Friday, October 4 @ 8pm
TIO Stadium

In the men’s competition, both sides will look to a host of senior players as well as some fresh faces in what will be the highly anticipated grand final rematch. St Mary’s captain Dylan Landt will lead from the front in the middle and he has the talent of Xavier Vallejo and Nick Yarran around him.

Up forward, brother Jack Landt will accompany Jackson Calder once again, while Jacob Long looms as another threat in the forward half. Defensively the Saints are also well stocked with Kieren Parnell a constant ball-winner who will provide plenty of transitional running.

For the Tigers, Brodie Filo leads the side out and has been named at full-forward for a change, having also spent the 2024 season down in the Ovens and Murray League for Wangaratta Rovers. Alex Paech coming off a wing will be another name to remember, having crossed from Palmerston over the off-season.

Kye Declase has the first ruck duties, with the Tigers midfield including Zackary Derksen, Jacob Dempsey and Stanley Cox, none of whom played in last year’s grand final. Derksen played for Wilston Grange this year as well as five games for Brisbane Lions VFL, while Dempsey has graduated out of the Under 18s program and Cox played 12 games for the senior Tigers last season.

ROUND 1 FIXTURE:

Saturday, October 5

Tiwi Bombers vs. Wanderers @ TIO Stadium, 2pm
PINT vs. Darwin Buffaloes @ TIO Stadium, 4:30pm
Waratah vs. Southern Districts @ TIO Stadium, 7pm