Key players and match-ups in the second week of the NTFL finals
There’s very little to split the remaining sides in the Men’s and Women’s NTFL competitions setting the stage for a thrilling second week of finals. We’ve analysed who will win and why.
Local AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The league’s top sides in the St Mary’s men and PINT women are into the finals contest for the first time this season.
But they will have to shake off any rust earned in their brief rest to get the better of their opposition sides all looking for their own slice of victory in the lead up to the grand final.
We take a look at each match up and the key players in each.
Waratah vs Nightcliff women’s knockout semifinal
It’s do or die for these sides, and with so little splitting them all year this will be a match won by the fine margins.
Nightcliff currently have the wood on their beachside rivals beating them just two weeks ago in the final regular season match of the season.
But as proven by their male counterparts finals are a very different ball game, and Waratah, fresh off a 100-point beating of the Buffettes are the side with momentum.
In Round 18 it was a four goal showing from Mickayla Ward, and another great performance from Maighan Fogas that netted the Tigers some dominance.
But for a side that prides itself on defence, where Hannah Turnbull and Sophie Hatzismalis usually dominate, they conceded 18 scoring shots against St Mary’s in the opening round of finals.
They’ll need to shore up their defences there and find a way for Fogas and Christy Landwehr to get their hands on the ball through the midfield to open up Waratah.
Tahs were a bolstered outfit in the first week of finals compared to their final match of the season adding the likes of Stephanie O’Brien, Lisa Roberts and Jenna Singh-Lippo back into their arsenal.
Singh-Lippo was again a livewire in front of goal while O’Brien dominated through the middle, and in her forays up forward, mirroring her finals run from last season.
Skipper Keirra Zerafa and Madeline Jeans also got plenty of the action in a performance that if replicated will have Nightcliff on the back foot.
That was their best side of the season, and for a side that historically readies itself for finals was an ominous sign for everyone else.
Our tip: Waratah, but only just
PINT vs St Mary’s women’s major semifinal
The last meeting between these sides was touted as a grand final preview, and for good reason with the pair sitting in the top two all year.
The match ended in a draw on that occasion after Saints brought the challenge to reigning premiers and the still-undefeated in the 2023-24 season PINT.
The Green Machine have a great complement of talent with Adelaide Crow’s Danielle Ponter the first name people will be looking out for.
Last season’s leading goal kicker Kaitlyn Armstrong will again be up front alongside the consistent Emma Stark.
But it’s in the middle where Saints need to get the upper hand, and they have some great options there including Billie Byers, Jo Miller and Jemma Iacono.
That’s where the Queenants can match anyone though with ruck Jasmyn Hewett, Reni Hicks and Carly Remmos all in fine form.
And up front they have this year’s leading goal kicker in Steph Lawrence, who just about everyone has failed to keep quiet in the forward line.
But Hewett is the difference between this game and the draw, the match she missed shortly after a best on showing in the representative fixture.
If she can get to business, as she has done for most of the year, then Saints will find matters very difficult.
Interestingly, the reigning premiers lost this match to Waratah last season, just their second loss of that year, and came back to dominate in the grand final.
Whatever the result of this one form suggests this will not be the last we see of this matchup, as they look likely to meet again in the big dance.
But for this one, the Greenants have been unbeaten all year, and while Saints have made the challenge it’s hard to go against the premiers.
Our tip: PINT, in another thriller
Waratah vs Southern Districts men’s knockout semifinal
A year on from competing in the 2023-24 grand final, these two are locked in a battle of survival to just make it there this time around.
Reigning premiers Waratah were shocked one of the most thrilling NTFL comebacks in recent memory when Nightcliff stole the win in last week’s final quarter.
But now is not the time to dwell on that, with another massive test ahead of them in the form of an intimidating Southern Districts outfit.
Lachlan Cassidy and Ryan Clarke were magnetic ball getters across the midfield for Waratah, while Arnold Kirby looked the business early in the piece.
But in every quarter, except the first, they came away second best against the Tigers, and with Jayden Magro missing in the forward line due to injury the possession count hurt them.
However, the league’s top goal scorer has been listed to retake his place besides Anthony Munkara in the Waratah forward line for this encounter, but in how injury has impacted him we’re yet to see.
Districts are a side that have a lot of strength in the midfield with Jed Anderson, Jye Bolton and Matthew Johnston all big game players.
Add in the likes of twin rucks Wyatt Ryan and Matt Dennis, the exciting Beau Schwarze and a forward line containing Jonathon Ross and Jarrod Brander and you have a quality side.
The midfield battle will be crucial with Waratah also having Brodie Carroll and Scott Carlin, who sit among the competition’s best, and both know what it’s like to win finals matches.
But even more important is the battle between defences with Matthew Mazzini shaping up brilliantly this season for the Crocs, while Tahs have Dan O’Dwyer locking down the full back spot.
This is another properly even game in a weekend where we should expect nothing but tight score lines, but going purely off form Districts have been the better side since the long break.
Our tip: Districts
St Mary’s vs Nightcliff Tigers men’s major semifinal
St Mary’s may have finished on top of the table, but in doing so failed to beat the Nightcliff Tigers at both times of asking.
This has been one of the NTFL’s biggest rivalries over the past decade, and this match will be no less important in that story as the winner gets to jump straight into the grand final.
St Mary’s have been the best attacking side in the competition with Jackson Calder, Tex Korewha, Jack Landt and Dylan Landt all big scorers throughout the season.
And on the opposite side there’s a more than fair argument to be made for Nightcliff being the best defensive unit with the likes of Mitch Norton, Ryan Nyhuis and Nathan Brown almost impassable.
So that leaves the key battle to the midfield and it’s there that Nightcliff gained the upper hand last time around.
Lewis Rinaldi strangled Nichols medal favourite Dylan Landt out of the game in a big lockdown role that frustrated the league’s best player.
Landt has otherwise looked brilliant in just about every game picking up plenty of possessions or kicking goals himself, but limiting his influence puts you a long way up.
He isn’t Saints’ only midfield threat with Nate Paredes, Joel Garner and Seth Harris all able to go on a tear in his absence, but a Landt on his game is sure better than a Landt locked out of it.
Nightcliff also have talent in the middle with dual Nichols medallist Brodie Filo and Cooper Dahms looking the goods, while Lachlan Tardrew and Cody Szust were pivotal in the comeback against Tahs.
Tigers’ Liam Buxton is also one of the best rucks in the competition whenever he has made an appearance giving Saints just that little bit extra to think about.
Nightcliff’s only real flaw is the lack of a central goal scorer, someone they can depend upon when things get difficult, as they did in Round 18 against Waratah.
It’s there the likes of Kieran Parnell and Darcy Chirgwin need to capitalise and put their opposition under as much pressure as possible.
Because the odd inroad from livewire youngsters like Adrian Scott and Tristan Singh Lippo can put Nightcliff on the up from nowhere as witnessed in the first week of finals.
For now Saints are the best side in the competition, but they need a few of their mids to step up when the heat starts to be put on their main man.
Our tip: St Mary’s, but only just
50+ photos: Fans out in force for Darwin AFL spectacle
Thousands of Territory footy fans showed their colours as they were treated to a spectacle match between the Gold Coast Suns and Western Bulldogs. Check out the photos.
Elite junior footy matches return to the Top End
Elite junior footy will return to the Top End with two matches of the Coates Talent League to be played at TIO Stadium showcasing the Territory’s talent ahead of the AFL. See who made the NT team.