NTFL 2022-23: Watch Nightcliff Tigers vs Darwin Buffaloes Round 16 livestream

Nightcliff Tigers showed their finals credentials in a trouncing of the Darwin Buffaloes at Nightcliff Oval. WATCH THE REPLAY.

A stunning seven-goal, second term in the tumbling rain has set up a Tiger trouncing of the Darwin Buffaloes by 70 points in Round 16.

Nightcliff solidified fourth place on the Men’s Premier League ladder, and enhanced its credentials as the form team of the competition, as key forwards John Butcher and Sam Overall combined for 13 majors through strong marking and top shelf delivery.

The stats won’t be known for a few days but it could have been a season-high for forward 50 grabs, as Nightcliff also kicked its biggest score for the season, winning 19.14 (128) to 8.10 (58).

Meanwhile, the Buffs crawled to the line at Nightcliff Oval bereft of confidence, unable to convert a number of opportunities to pick up a few late consolation goals.

A Jarrod Stokes poster from about 10m out summed up a dirty night for Cam Stokes’ charges who managed to cling onto fifth position after sixth-placed PINT went down to Southern Districts at Freds Pass.

John Butcher celebrates a goal for Nightcliff. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Earlier, in a sign of things to come, Brodie Filo won the first clearance of the game with a trademark roost inside 50 as he and fellow Nichols medallist Cam Ilett ran riot at Nightcliff Oval.

The silky Stokes,who was everywhere in the first term just like that Tiger duo, was given ample space to slot the Buffs’ first on the run.

Ryan Mu was rewarded for a holding the ball decision to give Nightcliff a quick counter, but a leading Daniel Stafford via a Stokes pass gave the Double Blues further momentum.

Then the John Butcher Show started rolling for Tigers fans, his first act being a deft conversion from the pocket on his non-preferred.

Matt Campbell would produce the goal of the night early in the second, though, somehow bending the ball back between the sticks from the boundary line where Butcher had delivered his earlier six-pointer.

And when Stafford snapped his second, also on the left boot, after two Tiger defenders spoiled each other, Buffs were back in the hunt.

However, as conditions took a turn for the worst, Butcher and Overall began marking everything in sight as the Tigers rained down 7.6 in their most prolific quarter for the season, eventually overtaking its 18.19 (127) against the Tiwi Bombers in Round 4 for its highest score of 2022-23.

Down by 37 points at half time, Buffs needed everything to go right, but in a similar pattern to last round’s loss to the Greenants, they couldn’t muster enough active participants up forward.

A terrific goal through a Roger Morris intercept highlighted the Tigers’ commitment to the contest, who have now won the past five MPL matches in a row.

Post-match, Adelaide-based Overall said he had been the recipient of first class delivery, opting to mark on the chest as often as possible.

“It was good to hit the scoreboard and show we’re a good side and hopefully do some damage in the finals,” Overall said.

The South Adelaide recruit, who has kicked 10 goals from four MPL matches, said he would be available in Round 17 against PINT but beyond that was unclear.

“I’ll just have to see what they do with their fly-in players I guess,” he said.

Score:

Nightcliff: 4.3 11.9 14.13 19.14 (128)

Darwin Buffaloes: 2.1 6.2 7.5 8.10 (58)

Goals:

Nightcliff:

John Butcher 7

Sam Overall 6

Brodie Filo

James Gow

Ryan Mu

Jackson Bowen

Bailey Edwards

Anthony DePasquale

Darwin Buffaloes:

Daniel Stafford 2

Liam Holt-Fitz 2

Matt Campbell

Jarrod Stokes

Tanner Coulthard

Tom Baulch

Best

Nightcliff:

John Butcher

Brodie Filo

Sam Overall

Cam Ilett

Nathan Brown

Darwin Buffaloes:

Jarrod Stokes

Tom Baulch

Sterling Mitchell

Patrick Boles

Liam Holt-Fitz

LIVESTREAM DETAILS

KommunityTV apologises for the technical difficulties throughout our Nightcliff v Darwin NTFL Round 16 live stream. These issues were caused by the major storm cell which came across the ground late in the first quarter. We are aiming to provide a full match replay as soon as possible.

Nightcliff and the Darwin Buffaloes are only one place apart on the NTFL table, and with both protecting a finals position, they will each be giving everything in their Round 16 clash.

And the NT News will be there to livestream every minute of the game exclusively for you from 6.30pm, Saturday.

Darwin Buffaloes know they need to pick up their act after narrowly losing to PINT in Round 14, and slipping to fifth as a result.

The buffer between the Double Blues and the non-finals positions is now just two competition points, and the run home has become more difficult as a result.

However, Buffs want finals footy and have the firepower to get there with captain Jarrod Stokes in great form and former Carlton and Brisbane player Mitch Robinson due for a return.

Tom Baulch, Liam Holt-Fitz and Daniel Stafford should provide plenty of x-factor up forward, while Bradley Stokes has run the show down back all year.

Nightcliff are another side with a position to protect, but unlike the Buffs they have form on their side winning their past four matches.

A big win over top-of-the-table Southern Districts and a scrappy victory against reigning premiers St Mary’s has cemented the Tigers position in the top five.

They now have higher ambitions of climbing to third and the finals double chance, but need to see off Buffaloes to get there.

Nightcliff Tigers gun Ryan Mu attempts to smother a kick from Darwin Buffaloes captain Jarrod Stokes in the 2022-23 NTFL season. Picture: Celina Whan / AFLNT Media

Key to their recent success has been their strong defence, which has conceded the least points in the league, run by Ryan Nyhuis, Luke Wines and Ben Vile.

Brodie Filo has been an important link-up man in the midfield, and with an in-form Cam Ilett set to come back into the side Tigers are now genuine contenders.

If you are attempting to cast the livestream or replay to a television, the best result can be achieved by either using a laptop/computer or a mobile phone.

The NT News and AFL Northern Territory have come together in a partnership to livestream Men’s Premier League games for this TIO NTFL season.