NTFL 2024-25 live stream: Watch St Mary’s vs Nightcliff Round 1

Three final term goals ensured St Mary’s began their NTFL title defence with victory over a wayward Nightcliff as plenty of young faces showed off their talents. Watch the full match REPLAY.

Reigning premiers St Mary’s pulled through to start their NTFL defence on the right foot against a wayward Nightcliff outfit in a typically rusty early season encounter.

The grand final rematch wasn’t quite a goal bonanza, with Nightcliff, in particular, unable to convert their chances into majors.

St Mary’s pulled ahead in the final quarter as the game broke up and were able to see out the fixture against the side they beat in last year’s grand final, 8.9 (57) to 4.12 (36).

Nightcliff had their struggles in front of goal with a 1.7 record at halftime reminiscent of the muddy grand final, despite their midfield ascendency.

The missed kicks kept Saints in the contest and then they were able to punish, with the side’s premier goal kicker, Jackson Calder, kicking the first goal of the season.

Nick Yarran on the run for St Mary's against the Nightcliff Tigers in Round 1 of the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Captain Dylan Landt went about his usual business when the ball came his way, but it was recent returner, Nick Yarran, who was the game breaker, bursting out of the contest to set up his forwards.

Nightcliff had an early moment to celebrate when 16-year-old Premier League debutant Hau-Tze Rock snapped through a goal from his first touch of the match early in the first.

But they wouldn’t have another goal until the third quarter when Werribee’s Kye Declase made simple work of a straight in front shot for his first NTFL goal.

Hau-Tze Rock celebrates a goal for the Nightcliff Tigers against St Mary's in Round 1 of the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Caleb Walker contributed some handy disposals while newly-minted captain Brodie Filo impressed, and was the one to sneak his side ahead with a thumping left footer from 50.

But just as soon as it appeared the Tigers had corrected their kicking, Saints regained a foothold of their own with their defenders, led by Kieran Parnell, increasing the pressure.

Will Robinson, fresh off a best on ground in the Katherine grand final, was another standout in the Saints line up, hitting hard and getting the important disposals.

As the game broke up, the Green Machine had the better of the possessions and were finally able to break free on the scoreboard through Calder and Jack Landt.

St Mary's Will Robinson competes for the ball against three Nightcliff players in Round 1 of the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mitch Musgrove and Jack Musgrove were constant dangers in the forward line, while other younger Saints such as Parker Fawcett and Xavier Vallejo performed well.

“Great to get an early win, obviously we’re still testing out our local boys and seeing who’s around with none of our fly-ins up for this one,” Robinson said.

“It’s really good to see that the local blokes who have been training throughout the pre-season can hold up and know we have that base to rely on.

“Being NT footy it was slippery out there, so we got a bit lucky Nightcliff sprayed a few and weren’t as accurate, but our pressure held up, too.

“To respond late as we did shows we don’t take the foot off. We can keep going and playing our own brand of footy.”

Score:

Saints: 2.1 3.6 5.6 8.9 (57)

Tigers: 1.3 1.7 3.9 4.12 (36)

Goals:

Saints:

Jack Musgrove 2

Jackson Calder 2

Jack Landt 2

Mitch Musgrove

Xavier Vallejo

Tigers:

Hau-Tze Rock

Brodie Filo

Kye Declase

Best:

Saints:

Nick Yarran

Will Robinson

Dylan Landt

Jackson Calder

Kieran Parnell

Tigers:

Kye Declase

Brodie Filo

Zackary Derksen

Boyd Bailey

Ben Vile

PREVIEW

Reigning premiers St Mary’s kick off their title defence against the team they toppled in last season’s grand final in what is sure to be bumper opener to the 2024-25 NTFL season.

And the NT News and KommunityTV will stream every moment from 8pm on Friday.

The Saints claimed their 34th premiership earlier this year in a grinding, muddy affair over Nightcliff and will want to get a win over one of their major rivals early.

The Green Machine will have a similar side to last year, with two-time Nichols medal winner Dylan Landt and goalkicking ace Jackson Calder the leaders among the squad.

Nick Yarran has made a return to the side and, alongside some young up and comers, is sure to make an impression in the green and gold.

Check the weekend LIVE STREAM schedule below.

St Mary's Dylan Landt and Nightcliff Tigers' Brodie Filo ahead of the 2024-25 NTFL season.

The Tigers are an experienced outfit themselves and have plenty of proven performers ready to get some early season revenge.

Nightcliff aren’t short of talent with Brodie Filo fresh off a premiership in the Ovens and Murray League, while Cam Ilett, Nathan Brown and Ryan Nyhuis bring a host of experience.

The Tigers were the bogey side for the eventual premiers last season winning every match up until the wet grand final, and will try to use that edge to their advantage in their return to TIO Stadium.

Watch the full replay of the match at 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.