What we learned from Round 17 of the 2023-24 NTFL season
The game of the year, Buffettes into the finals placings and PINT securing their first ever finals run underpinned a huge Round 17. Check out the key talking points from the NTFL.
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A match of the season contender, the Buffettes jumping back into the finals placings and a side securing their first ever finals run were the big talking points from Round 17 of the 2023-24 NTFL season.
PINT, St Mary’s, Waratah and Nightcliff were the winners in a decisive round of Men’s Premier League action, while Saints, Buffaloes, PINT and Nightcliff won in the women’s competition.
Read all the talking points from the round that was below.
PINT wrap up finals spot
PINT have secured their slice of history, wrapping up the club’s first ever NTFL Men’s Premier League finals spot in just their second season.
And it came off the back of an incredibly dominant 19.17 (131) to 4.8 (32) against the Tiwi Bombers, a side the Greenants have struggled against in the past.
Connor McDonald has been a standout in the outfit in recent weeks giving his side plenty of first use out of the ruck, while also working tirelessly in the midfield.
Harrison Maher, Steven Motlop and Brad Ryan maintained their fine form in the back line, keeping a fast and exciting Tiwi offence to just four goals.
But most impressive in this outing was their ability to score goals adding 19, their second most of the season, in a match where they were irresistible coming out of the midfield.
The Greenants offence has been lacking of late, getting held goalless for three quarter against Nightcliff and to less than 50 points against both Districts and St Mary’s in matches before that.
In all three matches their defence kept them in the game, but their lacking attack saw them stumble to losses, and with skipper Matt Ryan missing goals seemed as if they would come as a premium again against Tiwi.
However, the speed of Liam Holt-Fitz and the returning Silver Yousif gave PINT go forward, and Rory Taggert and Andrew Mead-Harding proved PINT have other avenues to goal.
All that remains in their way to finals is a match against the winless Palmerston Magpies, while their only rivals for the spot, Buffaloes, now have a match and percentage to make up against top ranked St Mary’s.
Advantage Buffettes in spot for finals women’s spot
The Darwin Buffettes shot at a spot in finals came into question in recent weeks after they dropped matches against Palmerston, Districts and Tiwi.
It was a run of successive defeats which left the 2021-22 premiers behind the Palmerston Magpies, and set adrift in sixth place.
However, against the odds they rallied against a third-placed Waratah outfit, winning 7.7 (49) to 3.5 (23), and not just reclaim fifth spot but all but confirm their spot in finals.
The Buffettes had the sort of performance they became known for over the past few years, but have lacked since the Christmas break, and after trailing early absolutely dominated the encounter.
Dual best and fairest winner Molly Althouse imposed herself on the contest, while once the second quarter hit Sophia Mauboy was almost impassable in the backline.
Amber Wunungmurra had one of her best games of the season kicking two crucial goals, spurred on by the work rate of the likes of Liz Watkins, Machaelia Roberts and Nicole Schmitt.
The result pushed Waratah down to fourth and a possible elimination final, which will now come as a scary prospect with this Buffs side now their most likely opposition.
It was a crucial win for the Double Blues who would have been up against second-placed St Mary’s in the final round of the season, a more difficult prospect.
Meanwhile, Palmerston’s only hope of climbing back into the finals placings is pulling off a blinder against the still-undefeated PINT women in their final match of the season.
Buffs and Waratah play match of the season
The Darwin Buffaloes clash with Waratah, in a match with plenty on the line for both sides, will go down as one of the best NTFL games in recent seasons.
The match that ended 19.17 (131) to 18.12 (120) in Waratah’s favour had it all, including 37 goals, five final quarter lead changes, a seven-goal haul and plenty of feeling.
Reigning premiers Waratah were the side that came away with the result, keeping their shot at a top three finish alive, however they were given a real scare from the Double Blues.
The Buffaloes played their best game in quite some time with a win their only realistic chance of staying in the fight for a spot in the top five.
And they more than turned up for the encounter, with Daniel Stafford everywhere in the forward line booting seven goals, and assisting four more.
The midfield quartet of Jarrod Stokes, Bradley Stokes, Baxter Mensch and Nick Yarran were everywhere as well and all had influential showings, and benefited from the hit out work of Ben Archard.
But for all they threw at Tahs, in the end it was just not quite enough.
Waratah matched up well against the Buffaloes’ midfield with Lachlan Cassidy, Abe Ankers, Scott Carlin and Brodie Carroll all getting plenty of the ball for themselves.
And though their leading goal kicker Jayden Magro was largely held at bay, it was those midfielders who all stepped up, taking the initiative to go forward and boot the goals and get the scoreboard moving in their favour.
It was a goal from Carroll, who found an ability late to pop up wherever needed, which sealed the match against tired legs and broke Buffaloes’ hearts for the season.
Waratah still have a hope of moving into the top three and claiming the double chance, if they overtake Districts with a win against defensive heavyweights Nightcliff in the final round.
Nightcliff nullify Districts best
The Nightcliff Tigers have in some ways flown under the radar despite sitting at the top of the table for many weeks in a row.
However, they have the results to now back themselves not just as dark horses, but as genuine title contenders.
The Tigers don’t have a flashy offensive way of playing, and don’t have a central spearhead with Brett Kennedy their only goal kicker in the comp’s top 20, sitting at 12th with 23 goals to his name.
Instead their victories have come from their ability to nullify their opposition’s offensive game plan, and taking advantage of the opportunities that presents.
Districts’ midfield including Jed Anderson and Beau Schwarze is one of the best attacking units in the league, however they were largely nullified.
Crocs’ top scorers Jarrod Brander and Jonathon Ross were kept goalless as well, forcing the heavy lifting on the scoring front onto Dylan Barry.
However, despite all of that, Districts still rallied late in a final quarter, and weren’t far off winning, which after a similar late claw back from PINT the week before, will spell some concern for Nightcliff.
For Tigers Jay Moody and Zac Moody were standouts in front of goal, but Mitch Norton, Ryan Nyhuis, Nathan Brown and Lewis Rinaldi playing their defensive roles were the ones that locked down the opposition.
This defence has been known for their ability to lock down danger players throughout the season, with the likes of Dylan Landt, Jarrod Stokes and now the Districts mids all limited against Tigers.
And as the saying goes defence wins matches, and it’s never more important than in finals time.
Nightcliff will finish the season second now, after Saints big win against Palmerston lifted them ahead on percentage, and face one last challenge before the knockouts in Waratah.
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