ANOTHER weekend is approaching which means it is time for sides to begin preparing for another round of Northern Territory Football League Women’s (NTFLW) Premier League. Last round saw the cream rise to the top as the competition’s undefeated sides continued their streaks into another round, as they look to distance themselves from the remainder of the competition. This weekend will see these dominant clubs look to extend their leads even further, with the weekend headlined by a ripping matchup between last year’s champs and this year’s favourites.

Wanderers Premier Women vs. Southern Districts Premier Women

10:00am, Saturday 20 November

TIO Stadium

Southern Districts will be looking to keep their winning streak rolling as they take on the Wanderers on Saturday morning in what shapes as a must-win clash. The Districts passed the Wanderers in Round 7 with their second win of the season, so the Wanderers will be hoping they can bring the standings back to level pegging, but their opponents will be eager to keep in touch with the top half of the ladder.

The struggles of the Wanderers continued in Round 7, with their loss to the Darwin Buffaloes marking their fifth of the season from their six matches. Two weeks ago, this may have looked an easier matchup, but their opponents appear to have turned their season around, so Wanderers will have their work cut out for them. Only able to produce two late goals last week, it will be crucial that the side is able to boost their scoring output if they are to give themselves a chance in this matchup.

Southern Districts look to have turned their fortunes around recently, with two wins coming from their last two matches, and their Round 7 triumph over Tracy Village looked ominous for their upcoming opponents. A finals side last year, the Districts have shown in the past that they have the ability to defeat anyone in their path, and it is matches like these that are essential in securing a finals spot that seemed so unlikely a few weeks ago, but if anyone can do it from this position, it is this side.

Nightcliff Tigers Premier Women vs. PINT Premier Women

12:00pm, Saturday 20 November

TIO Stadium

The Tigers will be looking to fend off an upset when they take on last year’s premiership winners in PINT on Saturday afternoon. Nightcliff are in the midst of a remarkable season, having lost none of their first six games, which sees them sit atop the ladder. With Darwin hot on their tails, they must look to keep this streak going, but PINT will be looking to put a stop to it.

Nightcliff have been the league’s most dominant side so far this season, not dropping a single game and taking their opponents apart on a weekly basis. Their fast paced style of play delivers frequently puts other sides on the back foot and delivers plenty of avenues to scoring. They will be looking to maintain their position on top of the ladder, but the Buffaloes are just one win behind with an extra game up their sleeve, as the Tigers are yet to have their bye, so each result carries heavy significance.

PINT have delivered a mixed bag in their quest to claim consecutive flags, winning three of their five matches which sees them sit in fourth place. They don’t appear to be quite as dominant as their premiership winning campaign last season, but history tells us that this team is still capable of delivering a winning performance on any given week. This will be their toughest test to date as they take on the current minor premiers, but if they can find the form that served them so well last year, an upset could be brewing.

Tracy Village Premier Women vs. Darwin Buffaloes Premier Women

4:00pm, Saturday 20 November

Tracy Village Oval

In what looms as a one-sided affair, the Darwin Buffaloes will be looking to keep their unbeaten run going as they take on the struggling Tracy Village side on Saturday afternoon. The Buffaloes are gunning for top spot on the ladder, and are given the perfect opportunity to improve their chances, as they take on a Tracy Village side that is yet to win a match this season, but the beauty of sport is the ability to win any contest at any time, so don’t expect their opponents to simply roll over.

Tracy Village currently occupy last place on the ladder, with five losses coming from their five matches and remain the only side yet to claim a win in the 2021/22 season. Their struggles have come on both ends of the field, with the side unable to cap the scoring of their opponents, and also ineffective at creating their own offensive power. However, no side should be ruled out of any sporting contest, and miracles do happen, so perhaps the side has something up their sleeve that would shock the league.

The Darwin Buffaloes have not put a foot wrong thus far this season, and will be confident heading into their Round 8 clash against a weaker opponent. They tore apart the Wanderers last weekend, and showed the league they will take some stopping in the rounds to come. They have found themselves well and truly in the hunt for top spot on the ladder, but they cannot afford to drop matches such as this one, so expect them to be back to their best against Tracy Village.

Palmerston Magpies Premier Women vs. St Mary’s Premier Women

12:30pm, Sunday 21 November

TIO Stadium

The final match of the round will see St Mary’s continue their charge up the ladder as they take on the Magpies on Sunday afternoon. St Mary’s are chugging along quite nicely, sitting in third place on the ladder, but remain a step behind the Tigers and the Buffaloes in the top two spots. It is unlikely these sides will remain undefeated, so St Mary’s must continue to rack up as many wins as possible, starting with taking down the Magpies this weekend.

The Palmerston Magpies were held scoreless by the Tigers last weekend, and while it was a commendable effort to keep the ladder-leaders to just five goals for the match, it was evident their scoring needed improving. If they can repeat this defensive effort against St Mary’s and combine it with an increased scoring output, they may take the league by surprise with a shock win.

St Mary’s have built a strong season thus far, winning four of their six games and currently occupying one of the finals spots. They overcame a slump a few weeks ago and look to be back to their best. They are just one win behind the second placed Buffaloes, but also have played one more games. Each win holds significance in terms of ladder positioning, so they will be looking eager to claim a win over the Magpies.