2025-26 NTFL live stream: Watch Darwin Buffaloes v Southern Districts in Round 3
NTFL heavyweights Southern Districts keep their unbeaten streak alive after putting an end to Darwin Buffaloes’ hot start to the season. Watch the replay below.
NTFL powerhouse Southern Districts showed their dominance, defeating an in-form Darwin Buffaloes.
The two sides were unbeaten heading into the match that marked Buff’s stalwarts Bradley Stokes 150th game.
But it was the reigning premiers Crocs who came out on top in a match that began at a blistering pace with a 18.13 (121) to 6.6 (42) victory.
The clash, marking Bradley Stokes’ 150th game, began at a blistering pace and never slowed.
Districts struck early—Ashley Johnson opened with a classy goal from the touchline before Dylan Barry launched a booming 50-metre major straight from the restart.
With Matty Dennis rock-solid in defence and the Crocs slicing through the middle, Darwin struggled to keep up.
Jarrod Stokes gave the Buffaloes a spark with their first, but Quinton Narkle hit back immediately, and Jed Anderson’s crunching tackle typified the Crocs’ ferocity.
Thomas Clarke added a late grubber before Dennis slotted one after the siren to give the Crocs a commanding quarter-time buffer.
Darwin showed fight as Tom Kilpatrick jagged one from a scrap and followed up soon after, but Southern Districts were relentless.
Narkle and Anderson dominated through the middle, Johnson’s aerial presence troubled defenders, and the Crocs’ precision inside 50 was unmatched.
Despite brief resistance from Stokes and Flynn Spark, the Crocs powered to a 10.5 (65) to 4.2 (26) halftime lead.
After the break, Dennis led from the front again, punishing the Buffs on turnover.
Kilpatrick lifted, but inaccuracy and fatigue cost Darwin dearly.
Ryan and Dennis rotated seamlessly up forward and in the middle, while Will Farrer capped the Crocs’ onslaught with a spectacular 360-spin goal to push them past the century mark.
When the final siren rang out, the only negative to come out of the clash for the reigning premiers was that of a dislocated shoulder to William Rowlands who left the game at the halftime mark in a sling.
After the match, club icon Mattew Dennis said the performance was up to par for the Crocs’ high standards.
“We have a wealth of ex-AFL talent but it’s great that we don’t just solely rely on them to drag us through games,” he said.
“We went well today because all the boys were pretty selfless and played their roles.
“For a combined all round effort, we are going really strong.”
A veteran in the group, Dennis said he is going to be playing as a fly-in this season and that with his age, his role has also morphed into a utility of sorts for the season ahead.
“I wasn’t sure if I was going to come back again this year, but I still had that itch,” Dennis said.
“I’m going to give it everything this year and that’ll be in a more second fiddle role to Ryan who has been holding down the ruck.
“Up forward, at the back or in the middle, wherever I’m needed I’ll be.”
The big-man was without his trademark Mason Cox goggles for the clash, something he said might make a comeback if the time is right.
“I had another eye injury down south (fractured eye-socket), I’m a bit temperamental about wearing them now,” he confessed.
“Also, with the heat, half the time the things just fog up and you can’t see anything.
“I’ve got to wear them when I can, but it might be a while before you see them again.”
SCORE
Districts: 5.2 10.5 15.7 18.13 (121)
Darwin: 1.1 4.2 5.6 6.6 (42)
GOALS
Districts: Quinton Narkle 3, Dylan Barry 2, Will Farrer 2, Ashley Johnson 2, Beau Schwarze 2, Jed Anderson, Tomas Boustead, Jalen Clarke, Thomas Clarke, Matthew Dennis, Steven Motlop, Wyatt Ryan
Darwin: Michael Cooper 2, Jarrod Stokes 2, Xavier Hampton, Tom Kilpatrick
BEST
Districts: Quinton Narkle, Mitchell Bidmade, Lloyd Johnston, Jed Anderson, Matthew Dennis
Darwin: Tom Kilpatrick, Brenton Watts, Jarrod Stokes, Luke Atkinson, Michael Cooper
PREVIEW
A new nucleus and improved team culture are behind the Darwin Buffaloes’ hot start to the new NTFL season, and now the focus is on a strong performance for their 150 gamer.
The Double Blues, who have taken down Wanderers and Palmerston to begin the campaign, face their biggest test yet as they face reigning premiers Southern Districts.
And for mainstay Bradley Stokes the match will serve as his 150th, one the Buffaloes will want to mark with a strong performance, if not a win against the premiers.
Every moment of the match will be live streamed from 4pm on Sunday by The NT News and KommunityTV as part of our season-long coverage.
Second-year coach Wills believed the signs of improvement boiled down to a club that has unified out of adversity and a productive pre-season.
Wills took up the helm just two weeks ahead of the 2024-25 season after a turbulent period for the club and has been able to set them up better for success this time around.
“It’s been about setting the foundation with a new core group combining our relocated players that want to be part of our growth,” he said.
“A quality pre-season always sets up continuity in players and then the vibes have been up too, everyone is just buying in, it’s the best I’ve seen it at the club in a long time.”
There’s been some adversity so far with inaccurate kicking against Wanderers and rain delays in the Palmerston win, but Wills has taken the positives in the chances created in those matches.
Skipper Jarrod Stokes has again been a standout alongside brother Bradley, while Tom Simpson from Brisbane has proven a premium fly-in for the club.
But it’s the relocated youngsters in Tashaun Wright, Kalen Russell and Luke Atkinson as well as Nathan Spry who have impressed their coach most with their commitment for the season.
“Wright is only 19 and the type of things he’s been doing leading from the front creates plenty for us,” Wills said.
“Three of those guys have relocated to Darwin for the season and their commitment gives us three quality players for the season.
“And Simpson, to fly up and do what he did against Palmerston is great for us because when our local base see that type of player they walk a foot taller themselves.”
The challenge is now being competitive against Districts, one of the only two others sides to hold a 2-0 record heading into round three.
The reigning premiers have threats across the field and are flooded with former AFL talent including Jed Anderson, Quinton Narkle, Steven Motlop, Ash Johnson and Lloyd Johnston.
“It’s all about the challenge at hand, we’re excited to play against the type of quality players Districts have,” Wills said.
“It’s great for the competition and great for my players to be able to see what level they are at and what level they can get to.
“At the end of the day there’s names on paper that come with personal accolades but it’s exciting for us to try and go out there to match them.
“We go into every game with a winning mindset, we never go trying to lose we’re always trying to win no matter who we’re playing.”
HOW TO WATCH
The NT News, KommunityTV 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.
On game day, the live stream for this match will appear at the top of this story in the lead up to the first bounce.
To find other games from this round click the links in the schedule box above.
Alternatively you can head to www.kommunitytv.com.au and use the video player at the top of the site to watch all the action live and scroll through the most recent replays.
Only News Corp Australia full digital subscribers will have exclusive access to watch the action.
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Originally published as 2025-26 NTFL live stream: Watch Darwin Buffaloes v Southern Districts in Round 3
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