THE NTFL’S prime movers dined out during the final home-and-away weekend, headlined by some top ex-AFL talent. Minor premiers Southern Districts boasted the most prevalent ball winners in Round 18, with the likes of Quinton Narkle, Steven Motlop, and Jed Anderson dominating the Crocs’ win over Tiwi.

>> ROUND WRAP: Tigers secure finals double chance

Narkle led all comers with 36 disposals on Saturday as the Crocs secured top spot. Matthew Johnston wasn’t far behind with 34, while Motlop led the league for kicks (25) and marks (nine). Anderson also chimed in with a high of four goals, and ruckman Wyatt Ryan‘s 43 hitouts provided ample service.

Plenty of St Mary’s stars cashed in during their side’s one-sided defeat of Palmerston. Skipper Dylan Landt attacked by foot with 23 kicks and 11 inside 50s, while Jackson Braunthal and Josh Smithson racked up 31 touches apiece. Braunthal also troubled the scorers with three goals.

Elsewhere, players rolled up their sleeves in the battle for third place, with the highest tackle numbers produced exclusively by PINT and Nightcliff players. Mitchell Trewhella laid a whopping 13 for the victorious Tigers, as PINT’s Jack Brown (10) also hit double-digits in the 18-point loss.

In the same game, Greenants ruck Connor McDonald imposed himself at the contest to win 11 clearances. He sent the ball inside forward 50 eight times but was narrowly beaten in the hitout count by Nightcliff’s Mac Johnston, who got his hand to the ball first 26 times to McDonald’s 24.

Waratah gun Cody Szust had a day out as his side punched its finals ticket. The midfielder amassed 35 disposals, six clearances and nine inside 50s in the Warriors’ 117-point win over Darwin. Teammates Riley Matricardi and Clay Shadforth did the scoreboard damage with three goals each.

ROUND 18 STATS LEADERS

DISPOSALS:

Quinton Narkle (Southern Districts) – 36
Cody Szust (Waratah) – 35
Matthew Johnston (Southern Districts) – 34
Jackson Braunthal (St Mary’s) – 31
Josh Smithson (St Mary’s) – 31

KICKS:

Steven Motlop (Southern Districts) – 25
Dylan Landt (St Mary’s) – 23
Matthew Johnston (Southern Districts) – 22
Cody Szust (Waratah) – 21
Tashaun Wright (Darwin) – 18

HANDBALLS:

Quinton Narkle (Southern Districts) – 20
Riley Boyle (Palmerston) – 18
Jackson Braunthal (St Mary’s) – 18
Josh Smithson (St Mary’s) – 15
Cody Szust (Waratah) – 14

MARKS:

Steven Motlop (Southern Districts) – 9
Ashton Hams (Tiwi) – 8
Matthew Johnston (Southern Districts) – 8
Braedon McLean (Tiwi) – 8
9 players – 7

TACKLES:

Mitchell Trewhella (Nightcliff) – 13
Jack Brown (PINT) – 10
Riley Baldi (Nightcliff) – 8
Jonathan Lanyon (Nightcliff) – 8
Archie Stevens (PINT) – 8

CLEARANCES:

Connor McDonald (PINT) – 11
Matthew Johnston (Southern Districts) – 9
Brodie Filo (Nightcliff) – 7
Dylan Landt (St Mary’s) – 6
Josh Smithson (St Mary’s) – 6
Cody Szust (Waratah) – 6
Tashaun Wright (Darwin) – 6

INSIDE 50s:

Dylan Landt (St Mary’s) – 11
Matthew Johnston (Southern Districts) – 10
Cody Szust (Waratah) – 9
Connor McDonald (PINT) – 8
Clay Shadforth (Waratah) – 8

REBOUND 50s:

Dylan Wise (Palmerston) – 9
Bradley Stokes (Darwin) – 8
Jacob Moloney (PINT) – 7
Macaulay Glover (Nightcliff) – 6
Billy Henderson (Nightcliff) – 6

GOALS:

Jed Anderson (Southern Districts) – 4
Jackson Braunthal (St Mary’s) – 3
Riley Matricardi (Waratah) – 3
Clay Shadforth (Waratah) – 3
13 players – 2

HITOUTS:

Wyatt Ryan (Southern Districts) – 43
Mac Johnston (Nightcliff) – 26
Arnold Kirby (Waratah) – 24
Connor McDonald (PINT) – 24
Thomas Faulkner (St Mary’s) – 21