The NT News predicts who will win in Round 8 of the 2022-23 NTFL season
It’s the end of the first half of the NTFL season and there’s sure to be plenty of action as everyone plans to climb the table. We’ve analysed each match and predicted who will win and why.
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We’re at the halfway point of the season and there’s plenty of action to look forward to in Round 9 of the NTFL.
The men’s action kicks off with Eddie Betts returning for Palmerston Magpies as they head to Norbuilt Oval to face Southern Districts.
Then we have what promises to be a belter between a rejuvenated St Mary’s and Darwin Buffaloes.
Other matches on Saturday include an important battle between Nightcliff Tigers and Wanderers, and PINT hoping to keep their perfect home record vs Waratah.
Palmerston v Southern Districts
A delicious contest awaits at Norbuilt Oval, with a number of players turning out against their former clubs.
Both sides go into the Round 9 fixture laying claim to being the most improved side of 2022-23, with the Pies rising from second last to third this year.
The Crocs, however, are clearly a better unit than the one which was beaten by Wanderers in the elimination final last season, and now top the table in Men’s Premier League.
For the Pies, they welcome back their leading goal kicker in Eddie Betts (15 goals in four games) although mystery surrounds his next move after announcing his departure from a coaching position at Geelong during the week.
Former Richmond player Ben Nason is also a handy pick up at Cazalys Arena, who was playing SANFL for Central District two seasons ago and had 13 touches against the reigning premier in Round 8.
However, Palmerston appear to be without its leading ruckman, Tristan Waack, for the second week running.
Second in the competition behind PINT’s Brock Carter for hit outs this season, the Magpies lost the clearances in Waack’s absence.
Sadly, the country Victorian won’t come up against one of the competition’s leading players in Matt Dennis, a former Pie.
Dennis has been a force for Shannon Rusca in his first season, bulldozing the ball forward this year to be third at the club for inside 50s.
And in a further interesting subplot, Jonathon Farrar returns from suspension, while Josiah Farrer faces the Crocs for the first time after leaving Freds Pass.
Districts, after a bruising win over PINT last week – captain Dean Staunton said it was their toughest of the year - are always hard to beat at home.
After something of a reality check, it will be interesting to see how the Pies respond against another top five team, too.
Our tip: Southern Districts by 18 points
St Mary’s vs Darwin Buffaloes
Fans of these old rivals will surely be out in force when they clash at TIO Stadium.
There is no denying reigning premiers St Mary’s started the season slowly, but having won three games on the trot, they’re back in business.
The key to their success against Districts, Nightcliff and most recently Palmerston was ascendancy in the midfield, led by captain Nate Paredes and Dylan Landt.
Both players have been in elite form in recent weeks - earning 173 and 177 disposals respectively for the season - with three, fourth quarter goals from Landt last round against Palmerston cementing his importance to the side.
Last year’s leading goal scorer Jackson Calder has also found his rhythm, rising to joint top of the scoring table with 21 goals to his name so far this season.
Elsewhere, Jacob Long, Ryan Smith, Joseph Salmon and Kieran Parnell have all been getting better week after week.
But Saints will miss Lucas Jellyman-Turner, who provides a key rebound option from the Green Machine’s backline.
Saints come up against a Buffaloes side who have proved, match after match, they want nothing less than a return to finals footy.
Bradley Stokes and Hayden Brown down back have been among the best defenders of the season.
In the midfield, former Carlton and Brisbane veteran Mitch Robinson and Jarrod Stokes rack up the possessions, while Liam Holt-Fitz can turn the game on its head at any time.
Dom Brew also returns to Buffs, adding plenty to a side which is currently flying.
It’s a tough one to call, Saints are on the up, but will rely on everything clicking and need Landt to add his magic.
Meanwhile, Buffs have been the more consistent side and have the personnel to get the job done.
Our tip: Buffaloes by eight points
PINT v Waratah
In a similar vein to its grand final opponent last season in St Mary’s, Waratah are starting to draw back some of its key players from its 2021-22 campaign.
Coming off a bye, Corey Rich and Abraham Ankers have been named against the Greenants at DXC Arena, with just one Men’s Premier League match between them this season.
Meanwhile, Rob Turnbull is back in red and white for the first time since Round 6 against the Tiwi Bombers.
Waratah went to the break after a serious smashing of the Eagles by 78 points and will look to flex its muscles against a MPL debutant still finding its feet at the level.
However, the Greenants have played well at DXC so far this year, claiming the scalps of St Mary’s in Round 3 and belting the Eagles by 47 points three weeks later.
It will also take plenty from going within four points of Southern Districts last round, earning the respect of captain Dean Staunton in the process.
With Jayden Magro leading the competition for goals and Darcy Hope not far behind, Greenants coach Shannon Motlop will be looking to shut down a Tahs outfit which has kicked 33 majors over its past two outings.
PINT’s defensive structures kept Crocs to its lowest score, and smallest tally of inside 50s, for the year, last round.
However, the Greenants appear to be without goal kicker Chris Nield, and its captain Ben Smyth for the second week in a row.
Our tip: Waratah by 24 points
Nightcliff Tigers vs Wanderers
Nightcliff and Wanderers are two sides with plenty to prove after suffering poor results in recent rounds.
In seasons gone by, it’s been a rarity for Nightcliff to lose, and to have lost three in a row is almost unheard of.
But that is the position the Tigers find themselves in after conceding consecutive losses to Districts, St Mary’s and Buffaloes.
They’ve lost a few of their key players of recent years, but their core group of Brodie Filo, Ryan Nyhuis, Cam Ilett and Shaun Wilson are still to be respected.
Filo, in particular, has shown the skills that twice earned the Nichols Medal, and is crucial to the line-up.
Former Port Adelaide hard nut Hamish Hartlett also returns to the fold, and will want to impose himself.
Meanwhile, Wanderers finally got back in the winner’s list last round, albeit over bottom side Tiwi Bombers who were missing key players in Sam Darley and Harley Bennell.
Steven Motlop again showed his brilliance, Beau O’Connell displayed why he’s so highly rated and Mitchel Taylor and Brodie Newman did the job they always do down back.
But the Muk Muks need to show something more against one of the big sides before we can start saying they’re back.
This is a side with talent, everyone knows they have it in spades, but at the moment a lack of converted chances is still the Eagles’ bane.
Our tip: Nightcliff by 29 points
WHAT WE LEARNED ROUND 8
ARE WANDERERS BACK?
Suddenly, Wanderers’ season has a pulse, albeit a weak one.
After a dismal 1-5 start to the season, noted not just by disappointing losses but poor first quarters, Aaron Motlop’s men responded after half time against a resurgent Tiwi Bombers, who had slotted 5.2 in the second term.
However, akin to the previous week at Wurrumiyanga, where there was just one point in it at the main break before the Crocs piled on 9.1 in the third, a Steven Motlop-inspired Muk Muks kicked 4.6 in the premiership quarter to see off Tiwi’s challenge.
Retaining the ball a little more in a bid to slow down the contest, the Eagles put the defensive clamps on the Bombers’ quest for their second win in Men’s Premier League.
And without key players Braedon McLean, Marcus Totham and Dane McFarlane, no wonder the team song was sung with renewed gusto at Tracy Village, relieving some of the tension which had built up over the past winless month.
For the first time this season, too, the Eagles kicked more than one goal in the opening term, slotting 4.3.
The challenge now, obviously, is to string a few wins in a row.
But Wanderers face a Nightcliff outfit which has dropped its past three games, lost its goal kicking mojo and slipped to sixth place.
You could argue the wounded Tigers are either vulnerable or are due to respond in a big, big way.
We argue it will be a case of the latter.
ALMOST LIGHTS OUT
It could have been a slightly embarrassing finish at Tracy Village on Saturday.
With the game due to start at 4pm, the Wanderers and Tiwi Bombers clash had a delayed start and an AFLNT staffer was forced to call the game early after 20 straight minutes into the final term.
The only illumination was coming from street lights outside the ground.
Luckily, by then, the Eagles were on top and 39 points clear.
However, it would have made for an interesting call if scores were much closer.
With no lights, the NT News was told the scores would stand when it was deemed too unsafe to play.
With a jam-packed schedule and no lights at Tracy Village, it was perhaps an unavoidable issue for a competition largely run by volunteers.
CROCS MASSIVE IMPROVEMENT
Knock off Palmerston this Saturday and Southern Districts will build a pretty strong case of being the most improved team in Men’s Premier League this year.
The Pies, who play the Crocs next round, will lay claim to that title after launching from second last in 2021-22 to third this year, but were perhaps giving a lesson on Friday night on what is required to be a premiership aspirant.
However, with just one loss against a Saints side several Crocs players have told the NT News was their strongest team to that point, Districts could be four points clear of Waratah in second if the Round 4 game against Darwin Buffaloes wasn’t called off due to an injury to Nick Weightman.
On top of the ladder and perceivably a destination club for high quality, imported talent (Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Matt Shannon, Luke Smith, Dallas Willsmore, Kaine Stevens, Boyd Woodcock and now Jye Bolton), Shannon Rusca’s men have clearly sharpened up after last year’s season which ended with a 12-point elimination final loss to Wanderers.
And the NT News has heard a further SANFL star with premiership credentials is bound for Norbuilt Oval this year.
Adding further spice to the Round 9 clash at Freds Pass against Palmerston will be Josiah Farrer and Jonathon Farrar playing against their old side.
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