A SHOT after the siren that drifted left was the difference between premiership glory and agonising defeat, with St Mary’s able to bask in that glory by holding on in an unforgettable Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Women’s Premier Division Grand Final by just one point over Nightcliff.

The premiership victory marked the Saints’ first premiership since the 2009/2010 season after a fiercely contested battle with the Tigers that went down to the last kick of the game, denying Nightcliff a maiden NTFL Women’s title.

It was a dramatic win for the Saints, with the game being decided by the final kick after the siren. Nightcliff forward Lucy Northcott was awarded a high free kick, positioning her 25 metres out from goal in the dying seconds of the game. A goal would have seen the Tigers win by four points and claim the premiership, but after Northcott’s shot missed to the left, the game went the way of the Saints as they managed to hold on against a barrage of behinds from Nightcliff in the final quarter.

Finishing second on the ladder, St Mary’s entered the decider with an advantage, having earned a week off, while third-placed Nightcliff fought through an extra final. The Saints had been in formidable form, riding a 17-game unbeaten streak since Round 4 in late October, positioning them as strong favourites.

The match began with a tense, goalless first quarter, with Nightcliff holding a narrow one-point lead at the first break (3-2). The deadlock was broken early in the second term when leading goal scorer Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn slotted the first goal of the game in the second minute. However, the Tigers quickly responded, with Fleur Davies booting two unanswered goals to reclaim the lead.

It was all to play for in the fourth quarter after a goalless third saw the Saints’ lead extend to just one goal. The game was Nightcliff’s to win with the Saints giving away repeat inside 50s from turnovers. The Tigers were the only team to put points on the board in the final quarter, but despite their control, they failed to capitalise, scoring five straight behinds in a costly display of inaccuracy.

Gardiner-Dunn proved why she was named Rookie of The Year after another great performance in front of goal. She scored two unreturned goals at the end of the second quarter to get her team the lead going into the second half, a lead they clung onto for the remainder of the game.

Gardiner-Dunn for the Saints and Davies for the Tigers were their respective team’s only goal scorers for the game. While Caitlin Sargent remained goalless, her presence in the forward line proved crucial, contributing three behinds and several key plays.

Emily Forshaw had a standout performance for the Saints, playing a crucial role in their fourth-quarter defence of the goalposts. Ultimately, it was a thrilling contest that saw St Mary’s withstand immense pressure to claim an unforgettable premiership win.

ST MARY’S: 0.2 I 3.2 I 3.5 I 3.5 (23)
NIGHTCLIFF: 0.3 I 2.4 I 2.5 I 2.10 (22)

GOALS:
St Mary’s: S. Gardiner-Dunn 3
Nightcliff: F. Davies 2

BEST:
St Mary’s: S. Gardiner-Dunn, C. Sargent, E. Forshaw, N. von Bertouch, J. Baird
Nightcliff: M. Ward, F. Davies, B. Pratt, L. Northcott, G. Deller