NT rep sides beat Essendon VFL and VFLW teams in impressive outings

The NTFL Buffaloes men and women showed their skills in wet conditions at TIO Stadium to come out on top against the visiting Essendon Bombers. Check out all the photos.

Nathaniel Chambers

6 min read

January 25, 2024 - 3:46PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

Ryan Nyhuis and Jasmyn Hewett have been named captains for the 2024 NTFL sides to play Essendon. Picture: Patch Clapp / AFLNT Media

Northern Territory

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The NTFL Buffaloes have maintained their unbeaten run against the Essendon Bombers in an impressive display of NT footy in wet conditions.

Starring performances from the likes of former AFL player Jed Anderson and Nick Yarran allowed the NTFL Buffaloes to keep their undefeated run since rep footy’s return in 2020 alive.

And though they faced an early fight from their Essendon VFL foes, the conditions worked in the NT’s favour to draw out a 11.7 (73) to 5.11 (41) victory.

Essendon burst out of the blocks dominating the early possessions and hit the scoreboard almost instantly as they peppered the posts.

The early pressure they brought meant the Buffaloes couldn’t find a way out of their defensive end, despite the best efforts of captain Ryan Nyhuis and Matthew Mazzini.

And eventually the visiting team broke through off the boot of Zach Sinnott to get the opening major, putting the home team on notice.

Jed Anderson starred for the NTFL Buffaloes' mens side against the Essendon Bombers. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The NT came to life from there as Arnold Kirby showed his form in the ruck, alongside PINT’s Connor McDonald, while Scott Carlin and Nate Paredes dominated the clearances.

Buffaloes’ Nick Yarran was the instigator in every attacking move and played a key role in a Matt Ryan goal, as well as several early majors from the league’s leading goal scorer Jayden Magro.

However, Essendon kept it close and despite inaccuracies were able to stay level with Lachlan Monteath using his height to dominate the marking contest.

Tiwi x-factor man Kim Kantilla showed his famous skills bursting into the fifty to fire off a blistering goal for Essendon, as part of his NTFL club’s connection with the southern team.

The NT team took control in the second quarter as the rain poured down and a quick fire Magro goal gave them a strong lead.

Former AFL player and current Districts star Jed Anderson came to the fore from there and dominated possession in what would become a best on ground showing.

Jayden Magro kicked three goals for the NTFL Buffaloes' against the Essendon Bombers. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

His pressure and intensity at the contest allowed the Buffaloes to break the game open, and with two quick goals from club mate Beau Schwarze they surged in front.

Essendon went goalless from there until the fourth quarter in which the NTFL took their foot off the gas, bringing the visitors back into the contest.

Oskar Smarrt showed some footy smarts handballing and staying on his feet to draw one back, while Jack Peris, playing his first game in the red and black, was lively late too in conditions he knows well.

Tiwi youngster Karlson Kantilla was also busy late and active on the offence, but ran into heavy pressure.

The NTFL Buffaloes' mens side beat the Essendon Bombers. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

But for every point they clawed back the NTFL levelled, with the tackle-happy Brodie Carroll and Seth Harris busy, while Anderson was still at the centre of everything.

“These games give you goose bumps, it’s a great feeling to come out here and put on the NT jumper, I really appreciate coming out and playing with the boys,” Anderson said.

“I haven’t done this since 2012, it’s unbelievable to come out here and play in front of family and friends and represent the place I’m from.

“For the boys to show up as we did and play an NT brand of footy was great, we came together really quick and we loved showcasing our skills and learning from each other.

“It was pretty tough conditions, we adapted pretty quick, won the contested footy and used it well along the outside which was massive for us.”

Score:

NTFL: 4.1 8.2 9.6 11.7 (73)

Essendon: 3.3 3.8 3.8 5.11 (41)

Goals:

NTFL:

Jayden Magro 3

Beau Schwarze 3

Matt Ryan 2

Scott Carlin

Nick Yarran

Brodie Carroll

Essendon:

Kim Kantilla

Zach Sinnott

Lachlan Monteath

Oskar Smarrt

Amin Naim

Best:

NTFL:

Jed Anderson

Nick Yarran

Nate Paredes

Brodie Carroll

Jayden Magro

Essendon:

Lachlan Monteath

Kim Kantilla

Xavier O’Neill

Luca Alessio

Oskar Smarrt

WOMEN’S

The NTFL women held on to the narrowest of leads to overcome an Essendon VFLW side that never let up the pressure in the 2024 representative fixture.

The NT women were eager to get back on the winners’ list after being run down by Claremont in last year’s fixture.

And though the scoring was low in the wet conditions the Jasmyn Hewett-led side survived winning the day 2.5 (17) to 1.4 (10).

The NTFL Buffaloes burst out of the blocks showing their aptness to playing in the wet and humid conditions, which their Essendon foes weren’t used to.

They came with the speed and intensity of a side in the middle of their season and it wasn’t long until Palmerston young gun Marika Carlton sent the ball inboard to find Steph Lawrence.

And just as she has all season, the competition’s leading goal scorer and PINT spearhead sent the ball flying through the middle of the sticks.

Captain Hewett was everywhere getting the tap downs in the ruck, hitting the contests and sending the ball forward to set up chances.

Essendon were quick to respond striking back quickly off the boot of Jamie-Lee Morrow, while captain Eloise Chaston was busy across midfield.

The NTFL Buffaloes' women side beat the Essendon Bombers. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

However, it was the NT that went into quarter time ahead when two-time best and fairest Molly Althouse and Hewett worked in tandem to supply star player and umpire Emma Stark with a goal.

In those conditions it was hard to get the better of the acclimatised NTFL players, and the likes of Reni Hicks, Jo Miller and Gabrielle Deller were constants on the ball.

And with no more goals scored after quarter time possession became paramount, and defensive efforts under pressure even more important.

Tiwi’s Freda Puruntatameri, playing for Essendon, was a rock in defence for the Victorian side whether taking the intercept mark or disrupting, and proved herself a real thorn in the NT’s side.

Karly McNeice, Scarlett Orritt and Grace Dicker also had their moments for the visitors, while Maria Rioli showed a moment or two of her usual skills.

Ruby O’Dwyer as the NTFL Buffaloes' women side beat the Essendon Bombers. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Jemma Iacono, from St Mary’s, was prolific for the NTFL down back and saved more than a few chances of her own alongside Emma Forsyth and Emily Forshaw.

And under pressure, particularly late on, the NTFL survived, and for her efforts not only in captaincy, but also around the ground former AFLW player Hewett was named best on.

“It’s amazing, you only get one opportunity at this every year, it means the world to us all and I’m so happy we got the win,” she said.

“I was buggered by the end. They kept the pressure really high and they fought us to the very end, and it makes the win that little bit more special knowing we had to do it tough.

“There’s a lot of young talent coming through the Territory at the moment and so many of them are playing at this level for the first time.

“A lot of us are from different clubs, we love getting around each other and doing this, it’s a great way to form new friendships.”