NTFL 2022-23: Watch Southern Districts vs St Mary’s Round 11 livestream

Southern Districts have strengthened their spot on top of the NTFL ladder after beating a fast-finishing St Mary’s. WATCH THE REPLAY.

Southern Districts have banked their biggest win of the Men’s Premier League season – while collecting eight points for their trouble – after holding on against a fast-finishing St Mary’s in a thriller at Freds Pass.

The Crocs, without key defender Frazer Driscoll, appeared home midway through the last quarter when the boot of Matt Shannon put Districts four goals up.

But the Saints’ key focal point, Jackson Calder, would wrench back control of the Round 11 contest with a pair of late majors, only to fluff a gettable set shot that would have put the visitors three points clear with just seconds remaining.

In a Crocs coaching masterstroke, Shannon Rusca also sent Matt Mazzini to the backline, hanging onto a pair of huge defensive grabs to halt the Saints’ late charge.

A Ronald Fejo goal on the final siren was the icing on the sweetest of cakes for the top-of-the-table Crocs, who had gone into the game with four extra points after its Round 9 clash against Palmerston was deemed a forfeit due to a fly-in breach.

Districts won the contest 14. 11 (95) to 12.15 (87).

For the victors, leather hunters Luke Smith and Jake McQueen, playing just his second MPL game after a nasty head knock against the Tiwi Bombers on Bathurst Island in Round 7, were instrumental in the club’s eighth and best win of the year.

Matt Shannon playing for Southern Districts in the 2022-23 NTFL season. Picture: Tymunna Clements / AFLNT Media

Earlier, in punishing Top End conditions which pushed the mercury well beyond 30 degrees, St Mary’s looked the stronger unit.

The Saints moved the ball with speed and precision as the tall timber of Calder and Brandyn Grenfell loomed as imposing marking targets.

A Tom Boustead point was transitioned from coast to coast for Nate Paredes’ first as the Saints exhibited the kind of form which had underpinned their five-game winning run.

Fortunately for local fans there was a home team response: Smith’s tackle, after being bumped off the ball, caught Luke Oborn stone cold for Districts’ opening six-point salvo.

The second term was a mixture of the best and worst of Territory footy: a brace of brilliant goals and a slew of defensive turnovers allowed both sides to inflict punishment on the scoreboard.

It would be McQueen though that would light up Norbuilt Oval with two long range bombs within a minute to give Crocs a serious shot of momentum.

Jake McQueen was integral to the Crocs’ victory, kicking two goals against St Mary's in Round 11. Picture: Tymunna Clements / AFLNT Media.

However, just when it looked like the home side might keep kicking clear, a genuine comedy of backline errors gift wrapped a goal to the prolific Paredes.

The lead would change multiple times as both teams traded blows: Roy George’s boundary line banana was a sausage-of-the-season contender, matched moments later by a dexterous left foot Calder snap.

The third term would see contributions from fresh faces in red, black and white: Dylan Barry, in his first MPL game for the year, emerged with a goal after Oborn was pinged for the second time in the defensive 50 arc.

Then, another Sunraysia recruit in Zac Nelson found himself on the end of a Shannon pass to kick his first maximum for the club.

But in a sign of things to come, Calder would miss a relatively easy set shot just before the final break, the costliest of the Saints’ five behinds for the term.

Shannon told NT News Smith and McQueen helped shift the trajectory of the match in the second quarter.

“Those couple of goals (McQueen) kicked probably turned it,” Shannon said.

“Just genuine footballers aren’t they? Smithy’s last month has been unreal. He just keeps stepping up when we need him.”

Score:

Southern Districts: 2.3 7.7 11.11 14.11 (95)

St Mary’s: 3.4 7.6 9.11 12.15 (87)

Goals

Southern Districts:

Jake McQueen 2

Luke Smith 2

Dylan Barry 2

Taj Stanley

Sam Dunstan

Roy George

Sam McManus

Zac Nelson

Jack Mentha

Ronald Fejo

St Mary’s:

Jackson Calder 5

Nate Paredes 3

Dylan Landt 2

Sam Fowler

Nick Yarran

Best

Southern Districts:

Jake McQueen

Luke Smith

Michael Bowden

Matt Shannon

Matt Dennis

St Mary’s:

Nate Paredes

Jackson Calder

Lucas Jellyman-Turner

Dylan Landt

Matt Green

Livestream Preview

St Mary’s will be hoping to extend their win streak to six, but they know an in-form Southern Districts are no easy prospect, particularly at home.

And the NT News will be there to livestream the game exclusively for you from 4pm, Saturday.

The reigning premiers have won their past five games, but now have to make the trip to Norbuilt Oval to take on the Crocs.

The Green Machine will carry some confidence with the last time these sides met being the beginning of their current streak.

And with dual tall forwards Jackson Calder and Brandyn Grenfell up front they have plenty of goal scoring options.

But Districts aren’t in second place for no reason and a lot of that has come down to their strong early season form, particularly on home turf.

Matt Dennis in the ruck will be particularly important, as the Crocs will have plenty of ball to work with if he achieves the same dominance in the ruck he’s enjoyed so far this season.

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.