The NT News predicts who will win in Round 15 of the 2022-23 NTFL season
With the last break week out of the way finals are now in sight, and for some sides there’s still plenty to play for. We’ve analysed each match and predicted who will win in Round 15 and why.
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The fight for positions is still on for some sides in the NTFL, and with finals now in sight, the top clubs are sure to bring out their best.
First up we have the Tiwi Bombers taking on top side Southern Districts, and though they’re on opposite ends of the table both sides have plenty to prove.
Meanwhile, sixth-placed PINT know they need to perform and beat fourth-placed Darwin Buffaloes to keep their finals hopes alive.
Also at TIO Stadium, is what promises to be a blockbuster match-up between in-form sides St Mary’s and Nightcliff Tigers.
And on Sunday at Tracy Village Oval, Wanderers will host the formidable Waratah in the annual Foundation Cup.
Tiwi Bombers vs Southern Districts
While finals have obviously not been an option for months, the Bombers will still have plenty to play for after last round’s devastating forfeit to Waratah.
And it will be a similar situation for their opponent who will be smarting after a poor performance against Nightcliff in Round 14.
While the Crocs were without some of their core players from a successful 2022-23 campaign so far – skipper Dean Staunton and rebound defender Brodie Lake for example – they couldn’t rival the Tigers’ hunt for the contest and didn’t play local conditions well.
For the Bombers, there will be motivation to make a statement on behalf of the club after it received a suspended $10,000 fine for forfeiting the Maurice Rioli Cup in Round 14.
Coach Brenton Toy said the club couldn’t field a competitive team due to bad weather and social unrest on the islands.
Bombers appear to be without their premier ruckman, Sam De Sousa, and Harley McCarthy (first for spoils and one percenters at the club) and Will Madden in defence, who are all teachers on the island.
With the league’s best ruckman Matt Dennis coming off a quietish match by his standards against Nightcliff, expect Districts to dominate in that area.
However, a big in for the Bombers is Sam Darley, whose four games for the club in 22-23 have been immense.
His last appearance was against the Crocs on Bathurst Island in late October where he copped a five week suspension for striking Jake McQueen.
The Crocs put in their bravest effort of the year that day – down to 20 men after Ronald Fejo missed the ferry and McQueen was flown back to Darwin – piling on nine goals in the third quarter.
Hard to see Districts not bouncing back hard at TIO Stadium.
Our tip: Districts by 40 points.
Darwin Buffaloes vs PINT
They may only be one win outside the top five, but for PINT this is as crucial an encounter as any this season with a win here important in keeping their finals hopes alive.
The Greenants will have been targeting this match knowing the fourth-placed Buffaloes are one of only two sides that could slip out of the top five.
But to nab the victory, and further their finals ambitions, the league’s newest side need to be at their best in every department.
PINT have not been a side to pile on the points, but in Jett Trotter (17 goals) and Silver Yousif (15 majors) they have two players who know how to find the middle of the sticks.
And while they haven’t exactly dominated up front, they are a side who know how to keep a contest close due to the strength of their midfield.
Tom Schott (235 disposals) and Elliott Chalmers (211 disposals) have both contributed greatly in the centre, while Brayden Taylor and Mitchel Lowe have both been forces to reckon with.
Brock Carter has also provided a massive presence in the midfield ranking second in the league for hit outs with 307, giving his side plenty of the ball.
And against a Darwin Buffaloes side missing former Carlton and Brisbane gun Mitch Robinson, the midfield battle will be crucial.
It’s the second round in a row the Buffs will have to do without their big name, but they aren’t lacking options across the ground.
The explosive pace of Jarrod Stokes has been a standout this year, while Bradley Stokes has brought the tackle pressure down back.
Kokwam Niki has also come into his own in recent weeks, and will need to be on his game again against PINT.
While PINT are a side who have shown plenty this season, Buffs may have just a bit more firepower for this encounter with the big body of Daniel Stafford already racking up the goals for his new side.
Our tip: Buffs by eight points.
Nightcliff Tigers vs St Mary’s
Rivals St Mary’s and Nightcliff face off once again, and this time both sides find themselves in winning form.
The first meeting between these two sides this season was a slugfest at Nightcliff Oval, a far cry from the non-stop thriller that was their 2020-21 grand final face-off.
However, both sides are now in good form and have plenty of their best players turning out for what should be a spectacle.
The Tigers welcome back both John Butcher and Hamish Hartlett, two former AFL players who are sure to add some flair to the Nightcliff squad.
Add that to the outfit having won their past three matches, including a massive result against top side Southern Districts, and there’s plenty of confidence across Tiger town.
Ryan Nyhuis has perhaps been the form defender in the competition, while known commodities such as Cam Ilett and Shaun Wilson have found their form.
Equally, St Mary’s are sitting pretty in third place and look destined to wrap up the double chance.
Their side is increasingly looking like one with finals credentials and with the dominance of Dylan Landt and Nate Paredes in the midfield they will bring the contest to the Tigers.
Their advantage will come to their forwards and proven goal kicking ability, something Nightcliff have lacked at stages this season.
Jackson Calder and Brandyn Grenfell know how to find the goals, but importantly Saints have options beyond their big forwards.
Nick Yarran and any number of the Green Machine’s mids know how to find a six-pointer.
If the Saints get the run of the ball, they will make Nightcliff’s night a difficult one.
Our tip: Saints by 12 points.
Wanderers vs Waratah
Tracy Village Oval - 4pm, Sunday
Like the Tiwi Bombers, the Eagles, two wins off fifth place, will have little to play for on Sunday apart from pride after a disappointing season.
The Muk Muks were hammered by 78 points at TIO Stadium the last time these two teams met back in November, as the Eagles kicked a woeful 3.14.
It’s been symptomatic of their season.
Like Nightcliff at times this year, Aaron Motlop’s men have struggled to kick decent scores and are the least potent team in the league for total points.
Only one player has kicked goals in the double digits this season: Steven Motlop with 20.
Playing for the annual Foundation Cup might get the best out of Wanderers, though, and they appear to be welcoming back SANFL jet Dane McFarlane.
However, an optimistic might argue Tahs could be a touch underdone after having not played in three weeks, after the Bombers forfeited the Maurice Rioli Cup and then the representative match in recent weeks.
Although the same can’t be said for star forward Jayden Magro who slotted four majors in the representative game against South Fremantle, kicking the majority of those from beyond 50.
Just two points off first place, there will be plenty of motivation for Waratah to keep winning and pinch the top seeding off Districts, who have an arguably easier run home to finals.
One thing is certain: quality sides like Waratah tend to not drop games against lesser sides at this point of the season.
Our tip: Waratah by 24 points.
NT REP FOOTY: PLAYER RATINGS AND TALKING POINTS
Representative footy returned to the Top End for the third year in a row and once more it was a spectacle showing off all things great about the NTFL.
The NT Buffaloes men made history beating South Fremantle for the first time, fifty years on from their first meeting.
And while the women lost to WAFLW premiers Claremont it was a clear show of the amazing young talent coming through the league.
There was also plenty of talking points from off the field as well.
Here is what we learned from the weekend of rep footy.
REP FOOTY BRINGS THE GREATS TO TOWN
The Territory’s annual representative game obviously assembles a heap of talent on the park, but it also brings plenty of legends of the past together too.
Kantillas Function Centre at TIO Stadium was absolutely brimming with legendary footballers of seasons gone by after the final siren on Saturday night.
The rich, historical connections between the NT and South Fremantle Football Club was celebrated too through the presence of Benny Vigona and Basil Campbell, who headed west to develop their individual games with the Bulldogs.
On Saturday evening, stars of the rep game like Mitch Robinson, Steven Motlop, Brodie Filo and Michael Bowden mingled with big names like WA footballing royalty in Stephen Michael, while NT luminaries in Poncie Cubillo, Mark Motlop, John Paterson and St Mary’s champion Ted Liddy, were also among the throng.
Champions of the VFL/AFL game, from Michael Long, David Rhys-Jones, Michael McLean to Mark West, were also in attendance, adding to an electric atmosphere.
It was an absolute goldmine for football fans, historians and journalists, keen to lap up a yarn or two from guns of the past and present.
THE BEST OF THE MEN STOOD OUT
The annual representative fixture is a great chance to see the best players from across the league put their club loyalties aside and combine to represent the Territory.
And this year’s squad was one of the finest groups of players in recent memory, with Mitch Robinson, Steven Motlop and Ryan Nyhuis taking it up to South Fremantle.
Jayden Magro was named best on ground after scoring four goals, all coming during important moments of the match.
It was an award that not only acknowledged his performance, but proved the Waratah livewire is likely to claim the Dennis Dunn.
Magro currently leads Men’s Premier League’s goal tally with 41 majors, with last year’s winner Jackson Calder from St Mary’s trailing by 13 goals.
However, Calder, who played alongside Magro for Cairns City Lions in the off-season, still has the ability to take this particular race down to the final game.
After all, the Saints still have Wanderers and Palmerston to play this season.
Meanwhile, Brodie Newman and Mitchel Taylor once more showed why they’re so highly rated despite playing for an underperforming Wanderers outfit.
The pair, alongside Nightcliff skipper Nyhuis, dominated in the back six, preventing chance after chance when the Bulldogs were on the up early on.
And Jarrod Stokes (Buffaloes) and Dylan Landt (St Mary’s) displayed their talents once more, with the pair likely to be strong contenders for the Nichols Medal.
NT Best: Ryan Nyhuis, Jayden Magro, Dylan Landt, Mitchel Taylor, Mitch Robinson.
WOMEN IMPRESSED DESPITE LOSS
Positives in football can always be found, even in the most disappointing of losses.
And that was yet again the case in the annual rep game at TIO Stadium, despite the women losing their first match in their short history to Claremont by 11 points.
Notable contributors in the black, white and ochre included Buffettes defender Elisa Niki as Claremont were kept scoreless in the first quarter, while Jemma Iacono also had her moments in defence.
Up the other end of the ground, PINT’s Stephen Lawrence and Saints forward Billie Byers were influential for the Territory and started the game strongly.
However, the momentum of the match dramatically shifted in the second term, as Claremont was first to the ball, its defence tightened and forwards benefited from two 50m penalties.
The Territory simply struggled to reassert its earlier dominance as the Tigers ramped up the scoreboard pressure, dropping easy marks and failing to hit targets.
That being said, head coach Mel Taylor’s players still had their chances to pinch it late in the game, with a few shots late missing the mark, including one on the siren.
The overall positive remains, however, local player development.
The Territory game will only get better if our rep teams are tested against the best and Claremont are the reigning WAFLW premiers for a reason.
NT Best: Steph Lawrence, Tayla Hart-Aluni, Jemma Iacono, Molly Althouse, Elisa Niki.
PLAY BOTH MATCHES ON ONE DAY
To maximise crowds for representative games into the future, both of the headline matches must be played on the same day.
Of course, the logistic issues of playing teams from the same club, as was done in 2021 and 22, is largely different to playing against two separate clubs.
However, a super Saturday of rep footy with the women’s match leading directly into the men’s would attract a stronger crowd and make for a better spectacle.
This season, more than 2000 people went to TIO Stadium to watch the NTFL men take on South Fremantle, and a further 1000-plus attended the following day to witness the women’s clash with Claremont.
Sunday is typically a tougher day to draw a crowd with the working week looming.
But how great would it be to see TIO Stadium packed with fans there to watch not just the men, but both matches, one after the other?
It’s what the Territory game needs to support both sides of the code.
GIVE GARDENS A GO
Wouldn’t it be great if the annual rep game could be taken around Darwin, rather than just played at Marrara each year?
With more than 2000 people attending the men’s match at TIO Stadium, how magnificent would Gardens Oval, for example, have looked with a similar number of people down at arguably the city’s most beautiful football ground?
The only fly in the ointment might be adequate facilities for the players and support staff, broadcast crews and thousands of people, while the scoreboard at Gardens is definitely a relic of the past.
But there’s nothing wrong with being aspirational.
And Gardens simply boasts the charm, atmosphere and history which some other grounds lack.
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