NTFL 2024-25 live stream: Watch Tiwi Bombers v St Mary’s men’s semi-final
St Mary’s have held off a fast-finishing Tiwi Bombers in a thrilling NTFL semi-final which had it all. Watch the full match REPLAY here.
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St Mary’s have been forced to find another gear late in the final quarter to repel a spirited Tiwi run of momentum in a knockout semi-final that had it all.
The Green Machine led for the entire encounter, but the Bombers have proven time and again in this fairytale season of theirs that they’re never to be counted out.
Just when it looked as if the Saints had the game tied up midway through third quarter ill-discipline and a spirited run from the Bombers struck.
Free kicks went the wrong way for Saints in the worst of positions and there to strike through were Anthony Munkara and Kim Kantilla to the roars of the Tiwi crowd.
However, the Dylan Landt-led St Mary’s found their resolve midway through the fourth despite the immense pressure laid on by the Bombers were able to rebuild the score.
The run and gun Tiwi style didn’t fade as the realisation of do or die set in, but Saints calmed things down for their own survival and saw the score out to a 10.7 (67) to 11.11 (77) win.
The previous three matches between the sides had been decided by less than 10 points, though the Bombers had momentum with the most recent win and their return to finals footy after five years.
It was one Saints early in the piece as Connor West and Joel Garner worked in tandem with their captain to win the midfield battles.
Their speed to the contest propelled the ball forward, but it was beyond the midfield where Saints weren’t quite as accurate.
Marlion Pickett, on his return from suspension, played the tagging role on Saints’ big man and season’s leading goal scorer Jackson Calder.
Add his threat to the clean handling and disruption work of Tanna Blackney-Noter, Braedon McLean and Ashton Hams and the Saints were under plenty of pressure when going forward.
It was the skipper and two time Nichols medal winner Landt who kicked the first major and he was everywhere with his deceptively quick pace and ability to impact the contest.
For the Bombers it was Michael Thompson and Nathaniel Cooper who made the best impressions blazing through the midfield, while Sam Darley was an important link option.
There was plenty of feeling in the match up with big knocks from Pickett on Kaelan Bradtke and West on Hams potentially to be discussed at the midweek tribunal.
Calder was able to get plenty of the ball as Landt and his midfield brigade aimed down the throat of the big forward, and though he achieved a healthy return of four he missed a few too.
A couple more goals from Bradtke and the skipper allowed the reigning premiers a strong lead post-half time, but it wasn’t one they maintained as Tiwi struck back.
Anthony Munkara got the crowd on their feet when he was able to pull out his motorcycle celebration, while William Munkara kicked true too as Tiwi clawed back around three quarter time.
Saints were forced to go up a gear themselves with Jack Landt and Kieran Parnell among those lifting, while Lachlan Flagg and Ryan Crisp showed themselves well in defence.
Jackson Broadbent gave the Bombers more to celebrate late in the piece proving big men can score too, but then the Green Machine slowed it down as they eyed a prelim final.
“It was a relief at the end, we always knew Tiwi would come back as they did it twice against us in the year and they’re full of exciting players who take the game on,” Dylan Landt said.
“Starting well is something we’ve been working on and bringing different ideas for, but it’s finals footy and it’s hard not to get up for it so there’s been an improvement the past couple of weeks.
“We knew Pickett would go to Calder, he did last time, and brings a huge boost to them, but Calder competed well, brought the ball to ground and got our smalls into the contest.
“The knockout route isn’t ideal but our confidence hasn’t dropped, we back ourselves and we’ve won four games in a row before so now it’s about the belief in the group, which is strong.
“This match probably wasn’t anyone’s best game, but everyone had their moments where they had a go, kicked an important goal or made a smother and that’s needed in finals footy.”
Score:
Bombers: 1.2 2.4 6.5 10.7 (67)
Saints: 3.4 5.7 8.10 11.11 (77)
Goals:
Bombers:
Anthony Munkara 3, William Munkara 2, Jackson Broadbent, Scott Bedford, Michael Thompson, Kim Kantilla, Stanley Tipiloura
Saints:
Jackson Calder 4, Dylan Landt 3, Kaelan Bradtke 2, Xavier Vallejo, Domonic Grant
Best:
Bombers:
Michael Thompson, Sam Darley, Anthony Munkara, William Munkara, Nathaniel Cooper
Saints:
Kieren Parnell, Dylan Landt, Connor West, Ryan Crisp, Domonic Grant
PREVIEW
There’s plenty of history between the Tiwi Bombers and St Mary’s, but this face-off will come down to who gets the better of the occasion in the knockout semi-final.
The NT News and KommunityTV will stream every moment of this clash from 4.15pm on Saturday.
Less than 10 points have separated these two sides in their past three matches pointing to what should be a thrilling send-off for one more NTFL side.
Tiwi had their day last time out, beating Saints by just six points both to mark their ability to handle their rival’s pressure game and true return to the upper echelons of Top End footy.
It’s been a long road back to finals footy for the Bombers but they’re there now and need to throw everything at this encounter to avoid going out in straight sets.
Tiwi weren’t on their A-game against Nightcliff in the qualifying final unable to assert themselves in the middle and missing two of their star recruits Marlion Pickett and Matthew Parker.
They will get Pickett back from suspension this week to aid a group of Bombers talent ready to shine including Anthony Munkara, Michael Thompson and Nathaniel Cooper.
Saints will want revenge for that defeat and have Dylan Landt back in prime ball-winning form after missing the pre-Christmas round.
The skipper was integral in his side’s earlier defeat of Tiwi, bringing them back from a 30-point deficit to triumph by a single score late in the piece.
His brother Jack Landt kicked five last week in the elimination final win over Waratah, a match that proved the old saying that Saints know how to play finals.
It showed a different kicking option for Saints alongside the season’s leading Jackson Calder, while Joel Garner and Josh Smithson both had strong games in the midfield.
The full match replay will be available at the conclusion of the game.
The NT News and AFL Northern Territory have come together in a partnership to live stream both the men’s and women’s Premier League games for this TIO NTFL season.
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Originally published as NTFL 2024-25 live stream: Watch Tiwi Bombers v St Mary’s men’s semi-final
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