NTFL 2024-25 live stream: Watch PINT v Tiwi Bombers in Round 17

The Tiwi Bombers have ended their regular season with a thrilling comeback win scoring five goals in the final five minutes to keep their top-three aspirations alive. Watch the REPLAY here.

The Tiwi Bombers were forced to dig deep late, but their never say die style of footy secured them a win against a PINT outfit that were ahead by 20 deep in the match.

All seemed doom and gloom for finals bound Tiwi Bombers when they turned around a last quarter deficit by booting five unanswered goals in the final five minutes of play to run out 8.8 (56) to 6.9 (54) victors.

The Bombers owned the first half and in wet conditions led a goalless PINT by 16 points at the long break.

After the break, the Greenants returned with renewed drive and focus and held the islanders goalless while reducing the margin to a mere 4-points at three quarter time.

And when that aggressive characteristic carried them to four unanswered goals throughout the middle of the last, it looked enough for a victory.

That outwardly assumed success was short lived because the Bombers switched on and in a scintillating five minutes smashed their way through a previously unbreakable Green defence to boot five goals and grab a fortunate win against a gallant opponent.

A bigger and stronger PINT had their chances throughout the match and in the washup will rue the missed chances which started at the very beginning of the game where courtesy of two warranted free kicks found themselves 30m from goals but missed the set shot.

In settled rain, only Tiwi’s Tom Phillips managed a major at the 18-minute mark.

The same player opened the scoring in the second and when Thaddeus Puautjimi got another in tough defence rich footy, the Bombers looked the real deal.

Thaddeus Puautjimi playing for the Tiwi Bombers in the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Patch Clapp / AFLNT Media

A big mark by PINT forward Andrew Jones inside 30m opened the third but again no chocolates as the shot went wide.

However, soon after the home side got some reward for a markedly improved performance when Alex McCarthy snapped truly.

Another by skipper Thomas Schott late in the term dragged his side to within 4-points at three quarter time.

A warranted 50m penalty to PINT onballer Cameron Wilson and his subsequent goal put his side ahead at the three-minute mark of the last.

Another to the hard-running Thomas Miller soon after and the Ants were flying and when Hugh Schmetzer repeated the dose it looked all over for Tiwi.

But then it happened – someone in the Bomber camp pressed the turbo button and almost immediately the islanders charged forward.

Firstly Edward Darcy, then two from Dwayne Kerinaiua followed by Stanley Tipiloura and finally Malachi Walley and the come-back was complete.

The remarkable win was welcomed by veteran Michael Dunn, the only 2012 Bomber premiership player still competing at Men’s Premier League level.

“That was an unbelievable effort by the boys – I thought we couldn’t get over the line, but we did. Five goals in the last five minutes was unreal and the last time we did something like that was during our premiership year in 2012,” said Dunn.

“I played in the 2012 win, and I reckon we could do it again – we’ve got the bye next week which is not good but if Districts beat St Marys, we will finish top three which would be a bonus.

“I’m the only one left playing from 2012 and while I miss the old boys, I’m also proud of the new boys – I love them all.”

Score:

PINT: 0.2 0.6 2.8 6.9 (45)

Bombers: 1.2 3.4 3.6 8.8 (56)

Goals:

PINT:

Alex McCarthy, Thomas Schott, Hugh Schmetzer, Thomas Reeves, Thomas Miller, Cameron Wilson

Bombers:

Tom Phillips 2, Dwayne Kerinaiua 2, Thaddeus Puautjimi, Edward Darcy, Stanley Tipiloura, Malachi Walley

Best:

PINT:

Cameron Wilson, Riley Mayne, Thomas Schott, Alex McCarthy, Brad Ryan

Bombers:

Nathaniel Cooper, Michael Thompson, Kim Kantilla, Braedon McLean, Karlson Kantilla

PREVIEW

Tiwi are on their last chance to make their case for a top three finish – and with a bye to come – a win over PINT is crucial to their hopes.

The NT News and KommunityTV will stream every moment of this clash from 2pm on Saturday.

The Bombers can finish their season on 44 points should they win here, enough to finish as high as second, but realistically third, should other results go their way.

But regardless of how things pan out, Tiwi will reach finals for the first time since the 2019-20 season and after a defeat to Districts in their last outing, they’ll want to make as big a statement as they can before their first finals clash in two weeks.

John Tipiloura playing for the Tiwi Bombers against Southern Districts in Round 16 of the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Kim Kantilla has been a standout of recent weeks kicking crucial goals in tandem with Malachi Walley, while the defensive set up including Braedon McLean has been in great form.

PINT will be after some improvement after their heavy defeat against St Mary’s last round in what will be their second last outing of the season.

The Greenants won’t return to the finals fold this time around, but they can send their season off in a positive manner.

To do so their attack will need to be a focus after scoring just nine goals across their past two games against Nightcliff and St Mary’s, only one of which came in the first half.

Thomas Miller playing for PINT in the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Celina Whan / AFLNT Media

The full match replay will be available at 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.

Originally published as NTFL 2024-25 live stream: Watch PINT v Tiwi Bombers in Round 17