NTFL 2024-25 live stream: Watch PINT v Nightcliff Tigers women’s prelim final
The PINT dynasty has been toppled after the Nightcliff Tigers advanced to the NTFL women’s grand final thanks to an inspired display. Watch the full match REPLAY here.
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The Nightcliff women have knocked out reigning premiers PINT to earn their place in just their second ever NTFL women’s grand final.
PINT have been the benchmark side in the past four seasons winning three flags and were again among the favourites winning this season’s minor premiership.
They’ve had the wood over the Tigers across that period, but a Nightcliff side inspired by the occasion of the day took the lead early on to win 7.2 (44) to 4.2 (26) and condemn the Queenants to a straight sets exit.
The Tigers took the game on almost immediately, charging out of the centre before Tshinta Kendall darted through for an unclaimed ball to kick the first goal in the first minute.
GWS Giant Fleur Davies took the battle right to two-time best and fairest winner Jasmyn Hewett in the ruck battle and that allowed the Tigers a foothold in the contest.
Nightcliff brought pace to the game with Sally Evans running off half back while Georgia Johnson and Gabrielle Deller got plenty of possessions.
But still the influence of Hewett and skipper Reni Hicks that has been so important for the Queenants in recent seasons was apparent.
They clawed their way into the contest and led by quarter time after Rhiley Huppatz nailed a goal late in the piece.
Lucy Northcott was one of the stars of the contest with three goals for the day and was particularly crucial in the second quarter.
She nailed her first with a strong mark and then won her second after a strong tackle on a defender who was pinged for holding the ball giving her a second soon after.
Hannah Turnbull and Sophie Hatzismalis down back were incredibly reliable and strangled many a PINT push forward and limited the impact of usual goal scoring ace Steph Lawrence.
PINT came back in the final quarter doubling their score and threatened to rip the win away just as Nightcliff looked settled to play St Mary’s next week.
But the Tigers held their composure and regathered themselves with a late flurry of goals to maintain their lead over PINT when they threatened.
Northcott got her third while Gracie Roy and Natasha File also scored to cancel out efforts from Tayla Hill and Cate Laurie.
“There’s so much relief after that one, all season we’ve been working towards this because we know this is where we need to be,” Turnbull said.
“We had a lot of things such as our second halves that we’ve been working on, but we got the job done and we’re just so happy.
“It came down to composure, being calm and embracing the pressure. We’ve crumbled under pressure in the past but we’ve gone back to the track and worked hard on how we handle it.
“They’ve been the pinnacle of the women’s NTFL for the past few years so we had to respect that, but also believe in ourselves that we had just as much talent to take it to them.
“The atmosphere of finals and our Div 2 side winning has really put the fire in our bellies and not just us but the whole women’s program, we’re all one squad and we play for each other.”
Score:
PINT: 1.1 1.1 2.1 4.2 (26)
Tigers: 1.0 4.1 4.2 7.2 (42)
Goals:
PINT:
Tayla Hill, Cate Laurie, Rhiley Huppatz, Steph Lawrence
Tigers:
Lucy Northcott 3, Tshinta Kendall, Natasha Tile, Cassie McWilliam, Gracie Roy
Best:
PINT:
Jasmyn Hewett, Meg McGuiness, Reni Hicks, Eilish Grundon, Zoe McWhinney
Tigers:
Lucy Northcott, Hannah Turnbull, Gabrielle Deller, Sally Evans, Georgia Johnson
PREVIEW
PINT have been the benchmark side in the women’s NTFL with three of the past four premierships, but Nightcliff have a chance to deny them a spot in the grand final.
The NT News and KommunityTV will stream every moment of this clash from 4.30pm on Saturday.
The Queenants’ dominance still makes them the big threat, despite back-to-back losses to St Mary’s, and they will be desperate to avoid a straight sets finals exit.
However, now is the chance for Nightcliff, who have only played in one previous grand final in the 2021-22 season, to take their chance and beat a side they haven’t in recent history.
PINT finished the season as minor premiers and – after a week out of action – weren’t able to match the pace of St Mary’s across the ground in an unusual defeat they won’t want to repeat.
Jasmyn Hewett was among the best on ground whether in the ruck or moving the ball forward and well and truly proved why she’s a two-time best and fairest medal winner.
The likes of Zoe McWhinney, Stella Ajani and Reni Hicks have all had stellar seasons of their own and will prove a threat in the midfield.
Though the side will be tuning up their accuracy in front of goal with struggles in that area of late, but with the likes of Casey Morris and Steph Lawrence proven there they can bounce back.
For the Tigers they soundly beat Palmerston in their knockout semi-final and earned themselves a shot at getting into just their second grand final.
They’ve not beaten PINT yet this season and that gap will be a mental challenge as much as a physical one, but they have the pieces to see it out.
Gabrielle Deller and Sally Evans have both been in elite form in the past few weeks, while Hannah Garland was a standout against the Magpies.
Fleur Davies is a ruck with AFLW experience and should prove a handful for Hewett, while Cassie McWilliam and Mickayla Ward always need a watchful eye up front.
The winner of this one will play St Mary’s, who are currently on a 16-game winning streak, in the grand final.
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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