Waratah, Nightcliff and Tiwi all record 50+ point Round 9 wins
All but one match saw one way traffic at the weekend as the inform side’s punished those down the ladder. Read our Round 9 WPL wrap here.
Local AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Waratah finally got itself on the board with a resounding victory over the luckless Wanderers in their Round 9 clash at TIO.
In a battle of the bottom two teams on the ladder, it was the Warriors who came home with four points in what was remarkably the side’s first win, two months into the season.
The Tahs reached triple figures for the first time in 2024-25 with a percentage boosting 15.16 (106) to 0.2 (2) victory.
Newcomer Nikki Watts was the star of the show as she scored nearly half of Tahs’ total with eight goals while Hannah Wilson bagged three.
Elsewhere, the Darwin Buffettes were unable to recapture their attacking prowess from last round, falling to a determined Green Machine in a 6.2 (38) to 1.4 (10) scoreline.
Darwin didn’t help itself as the team kicked four behinds and no majors in the first term to Saint’s single goal.
St Mary’s kicked another goal in the second to lead by eight at the half.
Saints kicked another four goals in the second half while Darwin continued to misfire.
The Bombers ran away with a resounding win over the Palmerston Magpies at Wurrumiyanga (Stanley Tipiloura) Oval despite being down at the half to win 11.14 (80) to 4.4 (28).
The visitors could not get it together in the second half, utterly suffocated by the Bombers’ relentless energy and well-structured defensive line.
Usual suspects Marika Carlton, Ella Ward and Kate Grady were sound for the black and whites but the likes of Maria Rioli, Kimberley Cunningham and Sarah Darcy had a field day in the second half.
The margin would have been far greater if not for some poor choices and miscued kicks up front.
The final match of the round saw the Nightcliff Tigers firing on all cylinders in their match against Southern Districts, downing the Crocs to the tune of 13.3 (81) to 0.1 (1).
With a number of players out, the Tigers stood up to the challenge, making a statement in the process, with seven different goal scorers; Cassie McWilliam’s bagging a hat-trick.
Tully Vlahovic was terrific while Queenslander Sally Evans and Victorian Gabrielle Deller had another solid showing.
As for the Crocs their early season form has yet to rear its head, unable to stem the flow of points at the back while being shut-out in attack.
ROUND 8
It was a sombre end to an entertaining Round 8 of WPL action as one of the most well-liked players in the competition suffered a significant injury in the final match of the weekend.
At Gardens Oval on Saturday afternoon Waratah and Darwin Buffaloes went head-to-head on a muddy main oval that saw Darwin win in a 4.8 (32) to 0.2 (2) scoreline.
Always a contest full of emotion the old foes got off to a fierce start in the opening term.
Down some names and struggling to find winning form the Tahs were under attack from the get go.
VFLW players Jamilla Cranny and Ruby O’Dwyer held their own at the back but with Dom Carbone back in the mix alongside Molly Althouse, Ebony Abbott-McCormack and Julianna Kerinaiua peppering the Tahs inside 50, the Buffettes got out to a well earned 13 point lead.
The match was all blue in the ensuing term as the Darwin women terrorised Waratah with its high press for all 18 minutes.
The Buffs were their own worst enemies however, inaccurate in front of the sticks with rushed kicks and poor decision making under pressure pushing the Sherrin wide of the uprights.
Nevertheless the Double Blues kept the Tahs from scoring, ending the half up 3.8 (26) to 0.2 (2).
After the break the visitors hit the score board early courtesy of a Keanne Hart-Aluni major.
Moments after the restart Keanne’s sister and fellow Buffette Tayla was dumped in a tackle in the middle of the field.
It quickly became apparent Tayla suffered a severe injury in which the umpires and officials halted the match until further notice.
Unfortunately paramedics were not able to attend to the injured player inside the 30 minute threshold resulting in AFLNT officials declaring the match abandoned with Darwin receiving all four points, its third win of the season.
Elsewhere the Nightcliff Tigers rebounded in style after last round’s eight point defeat at the hands of reigning champions PINT.
The Tigers downed Palmerston Magpies in a dominant defensive fashion winning 6.7 (43) to 1.2 (8).
Nightcliff were utterly dominant in all four quarters, rarely giving the Pies a chance to establish a counter.
Sally Evans and Hayley Jones were the pick of the Tigers while Talia McMasters and Ella Ward were strong in a losing outfit.
At TIO the green machine was untouchable against a travelling Southern Districts winning by a 40 point margin.
Keeping the Crocs scoreless in the first half the Saints cruised to a comfortable 8.7 (55) to 2.3 (15) victory with VFLW and SANFLW’s Nadia von Bertouch best on.
And in the most lopsided clash of the round PINT demolished Wanderers at DXC.
The Queenants were ruthless against the Eagles winning the match to the tune of 19.13 (127) to 0.1 (1).
ROUND 7
A battle of the heavyweights lived up to its billing as first placed PINTs and second placed Nightcliff battled it out at DXC.
The two remaining undefeated teams headed into the match; it was a slugfest from the first bounce, neither club lifting its foot off the gas.
Down two of their best in Zoe McWhinney and Steph Lawrence, the Queenants were sloppy despite the frenetic nature of the term, committing unforced turnovers periodically.
Despite this the Tigers were unable to finish the job offensively leaving the match deadlocked at six all into the break.
Nightcliff put together its best quarter of the season in the second, remarkably keeping the premiers scoreless.
The ever reliable duo of Mickayla Ward and Sophie Hatzismalis kept the visitors safe in the middle at the back while Cassie McWilliam’s was able to bag a double up the other end to give her team a 14 point margin at the half.
Compounding its depleted squad Kate Atkins didn’t return for the Queenants in the second half succumbing to an injury.
Despite this PINT came out of the change-rooms with a head full of steam, determined to halt Nightcliff’s momentum.
Captain Reni Hicks and ex-AFLW player Jasmyn Hewett lifted their teammates with dominant work through the guts and in the ruck while Casey Morris got her assault underway with two majors in two minutes.
Everything was PINT for the remaining 10 minutes of the third, but accuracy was its biggest hurdle, kicking four behinds to put the score at 3.4 (22) to 3.2 (20) in PINT’s favour.
Kept off the board in the third Nightcliff were left scrambling in the fourth.
Losing its way and ball chasing instead of man-marking, the Tigers shot themselves in the proverbial foot, allowing PINT to run riot in possession.
Casey Griffiths took the lead to eight points with an early goal but it was the big boot of Ward who took the game back to a stalemate with 12 minutes to play.
Morris kicked her third of the day minutes later to retake the lead for PINT.
Two more behinds took the lead back out to eight with six left.
Despite a significant chunk of time remaining, Nightcliff were unable to muster together anything of substance in its attacking 50, handing the come from behind win to the Queenants.
Meanwhile, the St Mary’s women saw off the difficult challenge of Palmerston to extend their winning streak to four games.
The 8.13 (61) to 2.5 (17) defeat of a fellow top four side showed the Saints side are ready to take the next step in their journey up the table as they confirmed their spot in the top three.
The side broke free early and only an inaccurate second quarter let them down from scoring in each term.
Nakeesaha Minter was the standout in front of goal for Saints with two in a side that enjoyed sharing the ball around.
It was the efforts of the likes of Paula Pavic in the ruck battle and Nadia von Bertouch, Ciaralii Parnell and Billie Byers who all played large roles in keeping the momentum up.
In front of goal it was Natasha Medbury who scored both of the Magpies as they struggled to assert themselves against the Saints well setup defence, which included former Magpie Janet Baird.
The Tiwi Bombers pulled off a huge 11.8 (74) to 2.3 (15) victory with usual performers Kathleen Cunningham, Maria Rioli and Gabrielle King all putting in big showings.
The side dominated in the midday encounter to further cement their place among the finals bound sides and deny Waratah another shot at a win.
The Darwin Buffettes kept Wanderers scoreless in a 17.16 (118) to 0.0 (0) domination at Gardens Oval achieving at least four goals a quarter.
Kiara Henry was a standout with four goals while Molly Althouse helped the Double Blues dominate from the middle.
ROUND 6
Nightcliff added another four points to its name after thumping the luckless Wanderers in their Round 6 clash.
The women in yellow and black were made to work for the points from the offset, as the Eagles put together a superb defensive display in the first term, led by southern duo Emily Condon and Zara Guss.
The pair was enormous for the Muk Muk’s with workrate unmatched by neither their teammates nor opponents, however the searing heat gave them trouble as the match progressed, the two slowly fading back into the noise.
The home team swatted away a lacklustre first quarter as the side found momentum through the middle via Haley Jones, Tully Vlahovic and Lekaiya Rabbitt that ultimately opened up attacking lanes for Tshinta Kendall and Kate Martin who repaid the favour by striking the Sherrin through the uprights.
The Eagles, while putting on a show with their never say die attitude, were outmatched yet again, unable to put meaningful points on the board.
In the end the Tigers finished the contest on the right side of a 16.6 (102) to 2.1 (13) scoreline, taking their win-loss record to 5-0 with the bye.
The Queenants were missing some of their usual stars such as Reni Hicks and Jasmyn Hewett, but were still able to secure a 5.3 (33) to 1.5) victory to make it six from six.
Tahs were best served by Kierra Zerafa who got her hands on the ball at every opportunity and made an impact with it, even making the first scoring shot with a behind.
PINT had Kate Atkins further forward to kick off proceedings, and though she scored the first goal of the match, moved to her usual position in the backline later on where she dominated.
The Queenants rolled on from there with Steph Lawrence, the league’s leading goal scorer, getting plenty of the action, while Zoe McWhinney had another strong outing for the outfit.
Waratah finally goaled midway through the final quarter when Molly Cooper nailed it through the sticks and it was a well-earned reward for a long day of effort from her side.
But it wasn’t enough to get the better of the reigning premiers who continue to claim the wins against all comers.
St Mary’s made it three in a row as the side burst clear of the Tiwi Bombers in a tough but exciting clash at TIO Stadium.
The Bombers went up early in the second following a three goal sequence involving Jelena Tipungwuti, Maria Rioli and Jessica Nannup.
But the work rate of the likes of Paula Pavic and Emily Forshaw put Saints back on the front foot as a third-quarter surge gave the side a 6.10 (46) to 5.7 (37) win.
At Norbuilt Oval it was the Palmerston Magpies who claimed the win beating home side Southern Districts 9.4 (58) to 2.2 (14).
Ella Ward produced another best on ground showing, while Taelah Smith scored four goals to secure her spot in the top three goal scorers for the season.
STATE OF PLAY
1st) PINT: 6-0-0, 24pts
2nd) Nightcliff: 5-0-1, 20pts
3rd) Palmerston: 4-1-1, 16pts
4th) Saints: 3-2-1, 12pts
5th) Tiwi: 3-3-0, 12pts
6th) Districts: 2-4-0, 8pts
7th) Darwin: 1-4-1, 4pts
8th) Waratah: 0-5-1, 0pts
9th) Wanderers: 0-5-1, 0pts
ROUND 5
It took the team more than a month, but the Darwin Buffettes finally have four points to their name.
The Double Blues faced off against a rejuvenated Southern Districts Crocs at their new home and were made to work for the victory.
Down Dom Carbone but with Stephanie Williams back in the wings the home team struggled for accuracy in the opening term but did enough to take a slim lead.
Districts also struggled for momentum in attack but did brilliantly in their back third for the majority of the contest, the work of new Croc Nayley Borg a standout.
However, the game-breaking abilities of ex-AFLW player Williams and two-time best and fairest winner Molly Althouse were too much to contain for the full 72 minutes, leading to a 5.8 (38) to 3.4 (22) win.
The two had each other’s number for most of the game but the Bombers’ inaccuracy in front of the sticks came back to hurt them big time as Nightcliff stuck in the churn, creating and capitalising late.
The Sherrin fell into the hands of Nightcliff debutant Tshinta Kendall who, despite all eyes fixated on her, stuck the leather sweetly, kicked the winning score, and the team’s first lead of the match after the siren.
Meanwhile, PINT stays top of the table after beating Palmerston 8.8 (56) to 2.2 (14) and remains unbeaten after five rounds of competition.
Zhoe Clarke continued her strong run of recent form for the Queenants, while Steph Lawrence added four goals to her growing tally.
St Mary’s also pulled off its second win of the season with a strong display in front of goals to finish 26.9 (165) to 1.2 (8).
Georgia Marsland was a force with six goals while Shakalia Gardiner-Dunn added four in a side full of multi-goal scorers.
ROUND 4
The Palmerston women have made it three in a row after taking care of Wanderers, while last year’s grand finalists St Mary’s have claimed their first win of the season.
Under a lightning lit sky the Magpies were a class above their visitors running away with a healthy percentage boosting 18.12 (120) to 0.5 (5) victory to go second on the table.
Palmerston quickly got themselves on the board as Taelah Smith slotted through the uprights, while the boot of Taylah Easton led the eventual pummelling.
The hands of the ever-crafty Marika Carlton and a great shift playing up the guts from Ella Ward blew the score out for the young side.
Wanderers were gallant in their defence as they tried to find a foothold, but the youthful and quick Pies midfield cut them to shreds.
The Muk Muks banded together in the third, and limited the Magpies scoring rate but the contest was all but over, leaving the home team to boost their percentage in the fourth.
“We’ve found some rhythm in the games so far that we didn’t quite have last season,” Ward said.
“We’ve got a few new girls in the side who have come up from South Australia which have already proven to be an absolute asset to the team.
“I know we’re just three matches in but it feels like we’re really starting to gel together, which is showing on the scoreboard.”
Off the back of a successful first half the Pies looked to shake things up, trying out some different structure and plays in the third.
“We were testing out some different combinations and show some love to the girls that were getting cold at the back,” Ward said.
“It didn’t result in us getting many points on the board but shuffling around and practising for when stuff happens will be a good thing for when we get tested a bit more.”
Maria Rioli had a standout game popping up out of the midfield and capped off the performance with a brilliant 50m torpedo goal in the last quarter.
The Buffettes gave a solid account of themselves too with Dom Carbone and Tayla Hart-Aluni both showing up well in the big encounter.
Meanwhile, St Mary’s claimed their first win of the season fighting back from an early deficit to win 5.12 (42) to 4.6 (30) condemning Waratah to their fourth loss of the season.
Billie Byers was a standout for Saints through the middle alongside ruckman Paula Pavic as the Green Machine got a grapple on the contest in the second term.
Their fitness showed by match end as they dominated the scoring shots seven to one in the final term, though goal kicking wasn’t in their favour.
And reigning premiers PINT kept their undefeated run alive with a 6.12 (48) to 3.3 (21) victory over a hearty Southern Districts.
The Queenants dominated the opening quarter scoring 5.7 in the term, which would have won the match in itself, while conceding just one goal.
However, they would go on to score just one more goal for the rest of the match, while the Crocs managed five scoring shots in the final quarter.
ROUND 3
The Nightcliff Tigers continued its perfect start to season 2024-25, dispatching Waratah on home turf, while PINT surged late to pip St Mary’s at the post in a thrilling NTFL women’s round.
The important victory catapulted the Tigers atop the ladder, above reigning champions PINT on percentage after three rounds of competition.
The Tigers put together a defensive footy masterclass, strangling the Warriors in every quarter bar the first, resulting in an 8.7 (55) to 2.2 (14) victory.
Nightcliff took the early lead courtesy of some individual brilliance in front of goal from Cassie McWilliam, but the Tahs stayed in the contest off the back of some desperate defence from the ever-reliable Hayley Finning.
The Tahs were unable to muster the same attacking vigour the rest of the match, out-muscled and outplayed across the park by the Tigers’ high press.
A goalless third quarter saw the Tigers hit their straps in the final 18 minutes, as Charlotte D’Ambrosio led the charge with two goals, alongside McWilliam’s crucial points for the teams overall percentage.
Tigers captain Hannah Turnbull said the tremendous defensive result is indicative of the team sticking to its assignment and no individuals overplaying their hands.
“We were solid in the first but were quite scrappy in the second term, we were playing scramble footy as if there was one minute left on the clock.” she said.
“We didn’t add points but we got back into the rhythm and groove in the third which settled us down and set us up nicely to pounce in the fourth.
“We have a big emphasis on starting from the back and our half backs are really strong, which meant they cut everything off, leading to the girls creating more chances on the attacking end.”
“It’s exciting to have a few more options particularly upfront to help us keep up the scoreboard pressure.”
Meanwhile, reigning premiers PINT scored five of the last six goals to pip St Mary’s with just minutes left on the clock despite trailing all night in the grand final rematch.
The Green Machine brought plenty of fire early and were bolstered by big performances from the returning Janet Baird and Paula Pavic in the middle.
However, a late surge from the Queenants, and particularly from their big West Adelaide inclusions Madison Russell and Iilish Ross and captain Reni Hicks, found their way in the second half.
They wouldn’t hit the front until deep into the fourth quarter when Steph Lawrence and then Casey Morris goaled, and then it was just a matter of winding down the clock until the siren.
Elsewhere, the Palmerston Magpies got the job done against a struggling Darwin Buffettes outfit, who were feeling the absence of marquee player Dom Carbone.
The Magpies were electric across the park all night, warming into a confident looking team after a slow first quarter.
Neither team made a move in the first half, the score 1.1 (7) to 1.4 (10) in Darwin’s favour, however matters changed in the second half with Marika Carlton in particular burning her foes down the wing.
The Magpies’ efforts off the ball also impressed allowing them to control the flow of the match and frustrate their opposition.
The Magpies added two majors in the fourth to extend their lead, but were let down by some poor efforts in front as well.
The win puts the black and white third on the ladder while the Buffettes are still in search of their first four points of the new season.
And finally, the Tiwi Bombers handed Southern Districts their first loss of the season after holding on to an early lead to win 6.5 (41) to 4.8 (32).
Ellie Kellock and Maria Rioli were among the Bombers standouts adding speed and direction to a side that brought all the pressure early on.
The Crocs recovered from a scoreless opening quarter, with Emma Forsyth again among their best, but they were unable to claw back the two goal deficit from that period.
ROUND 2
For the first time in their 11 year history the Southern Districts women have won their opening two matches of the season, while Palmerston also pulled off a monumental win.
A triumphant victory in Round 1 over Waratah set the Crocs up well for their clash with Wanderers, a side they were already favoured to beat on their home deck.
The Crocs kicked their way to a handy 16.8 (104) to 2.0 (12) victory, with junior Bonnie Brown sinking six majors and Michala Collins joining in on the action with five of their own.
Littered with big bodies and lots of height, the Crocs dominated the Muk Muks middles all day despite the Eagles’ busting a gut under the searing 37C sun.
Captain Megan Craufurd was buoyed by the performance of her girls and the high points tally following what was a rough 2023-24 campaign for her team.
“Training is looking like it’s paying off and we all are really doing our best to be competitive this year,” she said.
“It was bloody hot and I thought we played rather well considering this is our second match of the season, and with a heap of new girls and younger girls in the team.
“We were already stringing together some really nice connections in the middle and shifting the ball early to our girls upfront.
“And getting over 100 points on the board, that has rarely ever happened in the 11 years of us being established.”
An influx of new bodies and new coach Eddie Shearer at the helm has the Crocs and Craufurd quietly confident they’re in for a big year.
“It really feels like everyone seriously has bought in,” she said.
“From Bonnie and Michala upfront and Emma (Forsyth) ripping it up in the middle and all the girls at the back, if we stick to our guns and don’t get full of ourselves we should be up for the fight.”
Meanwhile, Palmerston also announced itself as a side making a dig for the top spot after overcoming Waratah in the first outing of the season.
It was a changing of the guard moment of sorts when the Magpies surged early, with their only flaw being shots at goal on their way to a 5.12 (42) to 2.2 (14) win.
Taelah Smith was a standout with three majors, while Ella Ward in the ruck and Talia McMasters gave it their all in the effort department.
Reigning premier PINT remains undefeated after its 12.11 (83) to 2.4 (16) win over a pacey Tiwi Bombers outfit.
The Queenants were served well by some of their usual standouts including captain Reni Hicks, Zoe McWhinney and Kate Atkins.
Last year’s leading goal scorer Steph Lawrence got plenty of the action too with four goals as she goes on the hunt for another season full of big scores.
Nightcliff also made it two from two with a 7.9 (51) to 3.3 (21) defeat of the Darwin Buffettes, with Cassie McWilliam scoring four goals to propel her own case in the kicking tally.
The Tigers soared to an early lead and despite conceding two final quarter goals never looked in doubt of sealing the deal off the hard work from the likes of Eliza Hand and Gabrielle Deller.
VFLW medal winner Dom Carbone had another strong performance in her return to the Double Blues, while Roxy Beuzeville did plenty to trouble the Tigers too.
REPLAY: Districts kick clear of willing Palmerston
The Crocodiles have picked up two big wins on the bounce, but they were made to work harder against the Magpies than what the scoreboard suggests. Watch the REPLAY.
REPLAY: Nightcliff get early jump to beat Wanderers
The Nightcliff Tigers set the tone early in their win against an in form Wanderers and ensured their spot in the NTFL top three ahead of the break. Watch the full match REPLAY here.