THE Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Women’s Premier League top five is set after Round 17 was completed on Saturday, with a couple of meaningful finals previews taking place. The undefeated Pint now just needs one more win to complete a perfect home-and-away campaign, while Nightcliff edged Southern Districts in a sighter for their likely elimination final clash. Elsewhere, Waratah feasted on the lowly Tracy Village and Wanderers picked up just its second win of the season. That, and more in our weekend wrap.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 2.0 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 5.1 (31)
NIGHTCLIFF 2.2 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 5.13 (43)

GOALS:

Districts: G. Mulvahil 3, E. Taylor, R. Hewitt
Nightcliff: K. Hill-Carter 2, E. Morrison, M. Ward, K. Irvine

BEST:

Districts: M. Nankervis, R. Busch, G. Mulvahil, R. Hewitt, E. Taylor
Nightcliff: E. Morrison, E. Casey, G. Kennedy, O. Hatzismalis, A. Moliere

Nightcliff gained an early mental edge over Southern Districts at Norbuilt Oval on Saturday afternoon, edging their soon-to-be elimination final opponents by 12 points in a tense contest. The Tigers secured their finals berth late, with their greater wealth of opportunities eventually taking toll in the 5.13 (43) to 5.1 (31) result. 18 scoring shots to six in Nightcliff’s favour did not entirely tell in the final score, with the victors’ inaccuracy helping Districts get back into the game – eventually to no avail.

Young gun Grace Mulvahil booted a game-high three goals to again lead the Crocs’ attack, with Nightcliff’s Kirra Hill-Carter the game’s only other multiple goalkicker (two). Fellow goal getter Eliza Morrison was named best afield in front of Emily Casey, while Malory Nankervis was among Nightcliff’s leaders. Before they meet again in the postseason, the Tigers take on Waratah next week, while Southern Districts is set to face off against Darwin.

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PALMERSTON 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.5 (5)
WANDERERS 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 3.5 (23)

GOALS:

Palmerston: Nil.
Wanderers: R. Fecht 2, K. Armstrong

BEST:

Palmerston: J. Guthridge, I. Ronberg, B. Byers, D. Dalton, J. Huddleston, T. Norris
Wanderers: N/A

Wanderers won out in a battle between the competition’s second and third-bottom sides on Saturday afternoon, defeating Palmerston by 18 points at Cazalys Arena. Both sides went goalless in the opening term and it proved a sign of things to come for the Magpies, who went without a major throughout the game. The Muk Muks were able to find the big sticks in terms two and four, running out 3.5 (23) to 0.5 (5) victors in just their second win of the season.

Rhiannon Fecht slotted two of Wanderers’ three goals in an important performance, outscoring the Magpies off her own boot along with fellow goalkicker Kaitlyn Armstrong. Palmerston was not without contributors though, as Jo Guthridge, Billie Byers, and Iesha Ronberg all again featured among the bests. The Magpies’ campaign is now over given their Round 18 bye, while Wanderers will fancy another win when it takes on Tracy Village to see out the season.

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TRACY VILLAGE 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 (0)
WARATAH 3.2 | 8.5 | 13.7 | 16.12 (108)

GOALS:

Tracy Village: Nil.
Waratah: B. Martin 4, L. Miceli 4, T. O’Hehir 3, L. O’Shea 2, S. Goldbach-Eggert, J. Baltais, G. Johnson

BEST:

Tracy Village: Z. Clarke, S. Wilson, K. Battel, L. Ferrier, E. Irving, C. Cross
Waratah: N/A

Waratah showed no mercy in dismantling Tracy Village by 108 points away from home on Saturday, but it was not enough to secure a finals berth. This will be the first season in Tahs’ history that they miss finals, but they gave it their all in a penultimate scrap which they dominated from the get-go. Eight goals spread evenly across either half made for a resounding 16.12 (108) scoreline, all while keeping Tracy Village scoreless.

Lisa Miceli and Breanna Martin snared four goals apiece in the romp, with Tarryn O’Hehir (three) and Lauren O’Shea (two) the other multiple goalkickers in an impressive list of seven individual scorers for Waratah. Zhoe Clarke was again undeniable as Tracy Village’s best player, as the likes of Sarah Wilson and Kaitlin Battel also contributed well. Waratah is set to face Nightcliff in the final round, while Tracy Village takes on fellow bottom three side, Wanderers in search of its first win for 2020/21.

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DARWIN 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 2.3 (15)
PINT 0.2 | 0.3 | 3.3 | 3.6 (24)

GOALS:

Darwin: N/A
Pint: G. Cusack, C. Morris, J. Hewett

BEST:

Darwin: N/A
Pint: R. Pryer, E. Hetherington , H. Grubb, R. Hicks, K. Smits

Pint came up trumps in an epic top-of-the-table encounter with Darwin on Saturday night, securing its 15th win of the season by nine points at TIO Stadium. The result means Pint is just one win away from completing a flawless home-and-away campaign as minor premier. After falling behind with a goalless first half, the Queenants fought back strongly with three goals in the premiership quarter to set up the tense 3.6 (24) to 2.3 (15) victory.

Rebecca Pryer and Erin Hetherington proved Pint’s key contributors across the four quarters, as Gemma Cusack, Casey Morris and Jasmyn Hewett found the three crucial third term goals which made all the difference. Kiera Kurnoth was among Darwin’s best players through midfield, with the Buffettes now forced to regroup and re-fire ahead of finals time. Pint faces another finals-like test in St Mary’s before another week’s rest, while Darwin takes on Southern Districts in the final round.

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Image Credit: Tymunna Clement/AFLNT Media