Reigning NTFL premier Nightcliff gets an Christmas present against a wounded Magpie opponent

NIGHTCLIFF’S Premier League season got even better last night when they feasted on an undermanned Palmerston

Brodie Filo was back to his best against a wounded Palmerston opponent.

NIGHTCLIFF’S Premier League season got even better last night when they feasted on an undermanned Palmerston.

The Tigers showed all the poise of the maneaters they are named after by consuming the birds with the big front beak and distinctive black and white colours.

Their 13.11 (89) to 2.4 (16) win told a Christmas tale about both sides with the 2019-20 season breaking for the festive season.

The Trent Melville show opened proceedings for a Nightcliff side chasing its 10th win of the season.

Melville had three goals on the board before most of the fans for last night’s match had taken their seats for the Round 11 showdown.

Dylan Gordon’s 70 metre bomb at the Michael Long Centre end got Palmerston on the board, but most of the first quarter headlines belonged to the players in black and yellow.

Brodie Filo was back in his accustomed midfield role, Melville was a constant menace to the overworked Magpie defence and Liam Holt-Fitz his normal pacy self around the goals.

Palmerston lost playmaker Adam Diamond to a shoulder injury early in the game, placing an even greater emphasis on ruckman Jack Berry and Mitch Bunworth to get the ball out of the middle of the ground.

Kyle Emery lifted his side’s spirits with a stand and deliver snapped goal from just inside the 50 metre line, but a 46-point deficit at the main break meant a lot more goals were required to put some fright into the Tigers.

Another Emery kick — a 70 metre torpedo that reached the centre circle from full back — was the only third quarter highlight for the Magpies.

Nightcliff was too smart and too focused to even allow their opponents entry into their forward line as they stretched their lead to 64 points at the last change.

NIGHTCLIFF 4.2 9.5 11.11 13.13 (91)

PALMERSTON 1.0 2.1 2.1 2.4 (16)

GOALS — Night: T Melville 5 L Holt-Fitz 2 C Ilett 2 P Wills 2 Z Brain R Mu. Palm: D Gordon K Emery.

BEST — Night: B Filo L Holt-Fitz J Brain J Kickett D Bowles. Palm: J Berry D Gordon K Emery J Thompson A Lonergan.