NTFL 2022-23: Watch Tiwi Bombers vs Southern Districts Round 7 livestream

A depleted Southern Districts has seen off Tiwi Bombers with a massive third quarter barrage. Watch the replay.

With just 20 fit men on the park for the majority of the match, Southern Districts have delivered their proudest victory of the 2022-23 season so far, transforming an even contest into a one sided celebration through a nine-goal, third quarter barrage.

The Crocs, who went into the match without Ronald Fejo Jr who called in sick before the ferry left for Bathurst Island, then lost a dominant Jake McQueen when caught high by Sam Darley, triggering plenty of angst between both teams.

McQueen, who played no part in the match, was eventually flown back to Darwin via helicopter.

Darley, who has already been rubbed out for a week this season for striking, exchanged words and just as many shoves with fellow ex-AFL player Cam Ellis-Yolmen.

Luke Smith of Southern Districts was one of the standouts against Tiwi Bombers. Picture: Tymunna Clements / AFLNT Media

It was the boiling point from perhaps the most entertaining half of the NTFL season thus far.

There is nothing quite like the sound of a Tiwi crowd energised by the dash and dare of Brendan Kantilla and Dion Munkara from half back, while it felt like anything could happen when six-goal star Kim Kantilla got the leather in hand.

His one handed grab and snap from the pocket in the third term must surely rate as one of the best goals of Men’s Premier League so far.

However, the Bombers could not find a match up for big man, ex-Waratah forward Sam Dunstan, who emerged in the second quarter as a huge threat, clunking a raft of inside 50 marks.

Districts, who lost their radar at Freds Pass against Nightcliff – kicking 3.12 across two quarters – suddenly rediscovered their accuracy with a decisive 9.1 third term.

Sunraysia recruit Matt Mazzini, who made his name as a defender, was also a presence up forward with three majors.

Celebrating its first win on the road this season, Crocs had turned an 18-point deficit into a 34-point lead by the final break, eventually winning 20.9 (129) to 13.11 (89).

Earlier, it was the Kim Kantilla Half Hour with two first quarter majors: the beneficiary of a customary precise Darley pass, then finding ample space in front of the big sticks.

In fact it was mostly Tiwi’s quarter, with Harley Bennell beating Frazer Driscoll in a one-on-one battle in the goalsquare to kick the Bombers’ second.

And when Adam Tipungwuti converted neatly from the pocket, the home team had built a three-goal point buffer, leaving the Crocs to rue their abbreviated team sheet.

However, Districts would answer through a Luke Smith brace while Dunstan’s first, a true mongrel, up country, finger-breaking wobbler that would have done Rex Hunt proud, steadied the Bomber surge.

With Dunstan emerging as the most influential figure on the park, and new midfield recruit Jack Mentha showing he will take some stopping this season, Districts held the edge by the slimmest of margins at the main break.

However, any thoughts of a similar theme in the second half were swiftly shot to smithereens as Districts delivered its best quarter of the season to blow the Bombers off the park, with fast and efficient ball use, led by Smith, Mentha, Matt Shannon and company.

Shannon would put the finishing touches on the team’s best goal of the day, as the Crocs coasted from end to end.

Post-match, two-goal contributor Beau Schwarze said Dunstan had been an important pick up from Waratah,

“We’re very happy to have him up forward, him and (Matt) Mazzini work well together,” Schwarze said.

“It was good to see him get on the end of a few today.

“It would have been a very boring boat ride back if both of us had lost.”

Score

Tiwi Bombers: 6.2 7.5 10.9 13.11 (89)

Southern Districts: 4.1 7.6 16.7 20.9 (129)

Best

Tiwi Bombers:

Kim Kantilla

Brendan Kantilla

Dion Munkara

Sam Darley

Harley Bennell

Southern Districts:

Sam Dunstan

Luke Smith

Jack Mentha

Matt Mazzini

Nick Weightman

LIVESTREAM PREVIEW

The Tiwi Bombers will be hoping to keep their clean home record alive when they host a lively Southern Districts in Round 7.

And the NT News will be there to livestream the game exclusively for you from 1.45pm, Saturday.

Tiwi have enjoyed an uptick in performances in recent weeks, tasting their first win in 988 days against PINT in Round 5.

Another big showing in Round 6 will have the side fielding the likes of Harley Bennell, Sam Darley and Shannon Rioli feeling pretty confident.

And at home at Wurrumiyanga Oval in front of their own ground anything is possible for the Bombers.

Districts have so far only tasted victory at their Norbuilt Oval home, and will be hoping to change that stat on the island.

Tiwi Bombers will host Southern Districts in Round 7 of the 2022-23 NTFL season. Picture: Warren Leyden / AFLNT Media

Premier ruck Matt Dennis has been in supreme form for the Crocs, and with him in the middle Districts will have the better platform.

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.