NTFL 2024-25 live stream: Watch Southern Districts vs. Nightcliff Tigers in Round 15

Southern Districts have clasped one hand on the minor premiership after proving a cut above in their thrilling top two clash against Nightcliff. Watch the full match REPLAY.

Southern Districts have placed one hand on the minor premiership with a strong win against one of their major foes in Nightcliff.

The league’s two form sides both came in with the idea of getting a strong measure of each other in the lead up to finals.

However, a second quarter goal rush for the Crocs proved decisive as Steven Motlop and Jarrod Brander held court contributing to the 14.12 (86) to 10.8 (68) victory.

The win means Districts are just one win away from sealing the minor premiership with new second-place side Tiwi with a bye still to come in the remaining three rounds.

Nightcliff started well with usual disposal machine Brodie Filo getting through a mountain of work to prevent another blowout against the league leaders, as was the case in Round 9.

Jarrod Brander playing for Southern Districts in the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Patch Clapp / AFLNT Media

The Tigers had plenty of the run as they went down what would become the scoring end of the day getting quick goals out of second gamer Alexander Mountauban and the busy Zac Derksen.

A phenomenal Stanley Cox mark led to another Nightcliff mark, but the work rate of the Crocs midfield became increasingly apparent as the match wore on.

The league’s premier ruck Wyatt Ryan was awarded a free kick on the toll of half time and then rushed forward 50m to score the goal that kept his side in the picture.

It was however all Districts way in the second with Jed Anderson, Matthew Johnston and Will Sexton among those ensuring the ball came forward.

The Crocs were initially wasteful in front of goal with a stretch of behinds, but when Brander and Motlop offered themselves more the rush of majors came.

The former AFL players combined for seven goals, while Matt Shannon was his usual self a significant threat on both the carry and in front of the posts.

The Tigers found some parity in the second half with Cody Nyhuis among those committing to the contest, but Districts were better by that stage and another post siren goal kept the lead ticking.

Steven Motlop on the run for Southern Districts in the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Nightcliff were missing the likes of Brandan Parfitt and Lachlan Tardrew, who have been significant figures in the recent run of form and will be back should these sides meet in finals.

But when it mattered the home side did all they needed to ensure they would claim another win and place one hand on the minor premiership.

“They’ve been in a good patch of form and so have we so it was nice to come out on top of that one considering they started well and we took some time to adjust,” Brander said.

“We weren’t as accountable as we needed to be in the first needing to tighten up and not give away free kicks, but we had a really good second quarter and grinded it out from there.

“We have a good mix in our forward line as we build towards finals, this was only my second game in the past couple of months so it was good to be back to gel as we play more footy together.

“I loved my time here last year so I jumped at the chance to be a fly-in, we’re all good mates and we have a lot of good coaches around us, and home games at Districts are fantastic with all the fans.

“Now towards finals nothing changes for us, we can’t take our foot off the pedal just because we’re top, we’ve got some tough games to come and the boys are excited for them.”

Score:

Districts: 3.3 8.9 11.10 14.12 (96)

Nightcliff: 4.1 5.1 7.5 10.8 (68)

Goals:

Districts:

Steven Motlop 4, Jarrod Brander 3, Matt Shannon 2, Wyatt Ryan, Matt Dennis, Jonathon Ross, Thomas Clarke, Will Sexton

Nightcliff:

Brett Kennedy 3, Stanley Cox 2, Zackary Derksen 2, Cody Nyhuis, Alexander Montauban

Best:

Districts:

Jed Anderson, Matt Shannon, Will Sexton, Jarrod Brander, Matt Johnston

Nightcliff:

Brett Kennedy, Stanley Cox, Sean Hunter, Brodie Filo, Cody Nyhuis

PREVIEW

Last time these sides met Southern Districts were the runaway winners, but Nightcliff have only grown since then and will be a much tougher foe when they make the trip to Freds Pass.

The NT News and KommunityTV will stream every moment of this clash from 4pm on Saturday.

The Crocs have led the NTFL for the majority of the 2024-25 season and boast one of the best squads in the league on paper.

They showed that off in a crushing 14.12 (96) to 6.7 (43) defeat of Nightcliff in their own den back in Round 9, but that doesn’t mean they’re a certainty of winning this time around.

Districts had a significant scare against Waratah in their last game and would have used their bye week ensuring they don’t face the same this time out.

Jed Anderson for Southern Districts in the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Celina Whan / AFLNT Media

Jed Anderson and Matt Shannon are two of the league’s best while ruckman Wyatt Ryan has proven himself the standout big man of the competition.

The Crocs also boast three of the top four goal scorers in Will Farrer, Shannon and Steven Motlop, while Anderson also sits inside the top 10.

Nightcliff, meanwhile, only have one man in the top ten for scoring, Zackary Derksen, while Brett Kennedy and Boyd Bailey are in the top 20.

But goal scoring isn’t where the Tigers dominate, instead it’s their defensive prowess and ability to win the ball that often sees them finish on top.

The Tigers have been in imposing form since the break beating St Mary’s and PINT, with pre-break wins against Tiwi and Wanderers also dominant.

Those wins have come since the return of Geelong premiership player Brandan Parfitt and the midfield work of the likes of Lachlan Tardrew, Brodie Filo and Sean Hunter.

Brandan Parfitt playing for the Nightcliff Tigers in the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Celina Whan / AFLNT Media

Now they’ve got their biggest test since their resurgence.

A full match replay will be available at the end 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.

Originally published as NTFL 2024-25 live stream: Watch Southern Districts vs. Nightcliff Tigers in Round 15