FINALS action is about to kick off in the Top End, with a couple of intriguing clashes for NTFL Women’s Premier League fans on Saturday. As part of a double-header at TIO Stadium – and three consecutive Premier League matches between men’s and women’s at the venue – four of the five post-season sides will take to the field.

Southern Districts (4th) vs. Darwin Buffettes (5th)
Saturday, February 21 @ 2:15pm
TIO Stadium

Southern Districts finished a comfortable fourth, four points clear of its opponent in the first final, but still eight points adrift to the top three sides, and a double-chance. The Crocs finished the year strong with three consecutive victories, but all were at home, and all were against non-finalists. The last time the Crocs lost was back on January 10 which was the second week back after the Christmas and New Years break, but that result was a five-point defeat to Darwin at TIO Stadium.

That contest was a topsy-turvy one with both sides exchanging leads at each break, until a four goals to two final term resulted in the Buffs getting over the top of the Crocs, 8.4 (52) to 7.5 (47). Jenara Grant booted three goals for the women in blue, while Liz Watkins slotted two. Youngsters Taelah Smith and Eva Harris were among the more impressive players in defeat.

That win was a fortunate one for the Buffs given it would ultimately secure them fifth spot down the road. The following week, Darwin suffered a shock 15-point loss to wooden spooners Tiwi Bombers – just the Bombers’ second win for the season – before going down in a scoreless 106-point defeat to St Mary’s and 27-point loss to PINT. Fortunately a big enough buffer against a chasing Palmerston Magpies outfit was enough that a dour 1.6 (12) to 1.0 (6) victory in Round 18 against Waratah confirmed the Buffs’ spot in the finals.

Earlier in the season, it was Southern Districts that came away with the win over Darwin, defeating the home side by 14 points at Cazalys Arena way back on October 19. Harris was again a standout up forward with a couple of goals alongside Norwood star Steph Simmonds, while Isabella Boyd was named best-on. Molly Althouse and Dominique Carbone stood tall for the home team, while Carbone’s Magpies’ VFLW teammate Amelia Peck booted two goals.

Given the recent form, it is hard to look past Southern Districts in the match. The Buffs did get the better of the Crocs in their most recent encounter, but have crawled towards the line and only just scraped into finals. The Districts can be hot and cold at times, but have been more consistent this season. Boasting a number of talented young players, they will be going up against an experienced Crocs outfit, but Darwin has the team on paper to advance beyond the first week if it finds its best.

St Mary’s vs. PINT
Saturday, February 21 @ 4:30pm
TIO Stadium

Powerhouse sides St Mary’s and PINT will meet yet again as both teams look to upstage the unbeaten Nightcliff. The reigning premier Saints are in a great spot to challenge the Tigers as they did last year to win the grand final by a thrilling one-point margin, while the Queen Ants are hoping they can write the wrongs of last season when they bowed out at the preliminary final stage in straight sets.

The Saints earned second spot on the ladder, and the sides first met back in Round 5 when St Mary’s got up, 4.9 (33) to 3.6 (24) in a thriller. That was the fourth win of five on the trot to start the season – before the Saints ran into a red-hot Nightcliff in Round 7 – and it was a tough defeat with just seven goals kicked for the entire match. Steph Lawrence was a rare scorer for PINT, while Perth co-captain Isabella Shannon starred for St Mary’s.

St Mary’s also won the return bout which was held at TIO Stadium on January 16 as part of Round 15 action. In that clash, the Saints won 7.8 (50) to 3.3 (21), booting six goals to two after quarter time to storm to a comfortable 29-point win.

The likes of Billie Byers and Poppy Schaap got in on the act, while ex-AFLW talents such as Shannon and Wallis Randell were named amongst the best. For PINT, Lawrence was once again one of only three goalkickers with Jasmyn Hewett and Renee Tierney. St Mary’s Lexie Cagney and PINT’s Breaze James were named their respective teams’ best.

St Mary’s had strung half a dozen wins together heading into the final round, before a shock one-point loss to Palmerston closed out the home and away season. It was very much a dead rubber for the second placed side, but the inaccuracy – 3.13 to 5.2 – will be an area to focus on ahead of the qualifying final.

PINT unluckily copped Nightcliff in the last round and went down by eight points, but had the perfect lead-up to finals with three of the other top five sides in the last month. They did go down to the top two teams and had a bye in that time, while rolling Darwin by 27 points. Prior to that, the Queen Ants picked up wins over Southern Districts (nine points) and Tiwi Bombers (61).

If last week was an aberration for the Saints, then St Mary’s is the team to pick here. The Saints have looked better throughout the year, and while inaccuracy will be a concern given the Round 18 contest, their best is proven, and there is much more on the line now. A grand final rematch of the year before is what awaits if they get up, while PINT will be hoping to have a shot at the grand final if it can be a case of third time lucky for the Queen Ants.