NTFL 2023-24: Watch St Mary’s vs Nightcliff Round 10 live stream

Nightcliff have done it again. While no-one else has stopped the Saints marching through the first half of the season, the patient Tigers have now knocked them off twice. Re-live all the action.

Nightcliff seemingly have the wood over St Mary’s this season after ending the ladder leaders winning run with another elite defensive performance.

The Tigers were the only side to have beaten the Green Machine this season up to this point, after Saints struggled to kick goals in the season opener.

And again the Tigers defence shut St Mary’s down, winning this one 11.9 (75) to 8.10 (58) to prove they will be a real contender come the business end of the season.

Saints had the advantage coming out of midfield early on, with skipper Dylan Landt and Joel Garner near constants around the contest.

However, defensive pressure from Ryan Nyhuis and Mitch Norton forced Saints to rush their shots and waste early opportunities.

Nightcliff gained plenty of confidence from their defensive dominance and were able to take that pressure further forward, eventually resulting in the match opener to Cam Ilett.

The NTFL champion quickly became a needle in Saints’ side by scoring two more goals in quick succession to build the lead for his side, who were playing the more patient game.

Tristan Singh Lippo and Brodie Filo celebrate a goal for Nightcliff against St Mary's in Round 10 of the 2023-24 NTFL season. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Saints did eventually find their way through when Jackson Calder got the ball, while Charlton Offermans showed his talent racing toward goal.

It was a telling moment in what went on to be a see-sawing opening half of footy with neither side able to keep their lead through the second quarter.

However, Nightcliff kept their noses in front thanks to a spectacular snap from Tristan Singh-Lippo, while their defence continued to suffocate Saints’ forwards.

John Butcher was another Nightcliff forward who made a difference. He provided a big body up forward for his mids, such as the busy Brodie Filo, to target.

The Green Machine felt the absence of tall Tex Korewha as Norton limited what Calder could do, and even Landt was kept relatively quiet because of Lewis Rinaldi.

Nightcliff's John Butcher kicks a goal against St Mary's in Round 10 of the 2023-24 NTFL season. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

And Nightcliff just went about their business from there playing consistent, patient footy up the ground and getting the points as they came.

“We’ve been looking at this game for a while, they’ve been the benchmark for the first part of the season, so we’re pretty hyped up to get the win,” Rinaldi said.

“We pride ourselves on our defensive style, we think if we defend well it’ll set us up going forward so that’s always one of our main focuses.

“It was an honour to get to match up on Landt, who’s one of the best going around, we were able to calm his influence, and though he’s always going to find the footy we limited his impact.

“We’ll take a lot of confidence from this one, we’re really starting to build that confidence and connection for one another, and now we just need to keep building that momentum.”

Score:

St Mary’s: 3.3 6.4 6.5 8.10 (58)

Nightcliff: 3.2 7.3 9.7 11.9 (75)

Goals:

St Mary’s:

Jackson Calder 3

Jack Kluske 2

Jack Landt

Nate Paredes

Charlton Offermans

Nightcliff:

Cam Ilett 3

Tristan Singh-Lippo 3

Cooper Dahms 2

Brett Kennedy

John Butcher

Kyle Emery

Best:

St Mary’s:

Joel Garner

Charlton Offermans

Seth Harris

Xavier Vallejo

Kieran Parnell

Nightcliff:

Lewis Rinaldi

Ryan Nyhuis

Mitchell Norton

Cooper Dahms

Jay Moody

PREVIEW

St Mary’s are hunting their eighth league victory in a row, but it won’t come easy against a Tigers side who inflicted their only defeat all the way back in Round 1.

And the NT News and KommunityTV will be there to stream every moment of the spectacle from 4pm on Saturday.

Saints have been flying since that 19-point defeat at the beginning of October, including both of last year’s grand finalists, Southern Districts and Waratah.

The Green Machine has talent right across the field and skipper Dylan Landt has been pivotal in what has been one of their best season starts in recent memory.

Last time against Nightcliff, it was their goalkicking that ultimately let them down, but the likes of Jackson Calder, Jack Landt and Tex Korewha have since stood tall in that department.

Efficiency in front of goal was not a problem for Nightcliff until last round, where they only kicked 5.13 in their defeat to Waratah.

Can St Mary's continue their great form at the expense of the Tigers?

St Mary’s will make them pay an even higher price if that sort of profligacy in front of goal continues on Saturday.

The Tigers remain in the top four and have been one of the best defensive sides, and, as such, are sure to have a plan for the threats they will come up against.

A full replays of the match will be posted here following the end 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.