The 2022-23 season opener with with grand final rematch between Waratah and St Mary’s at Gardens Oval
A grand final rematch, Gary Ablett Jr’s NTFL debut and the return of football on the Tiwi Islands will highlight a 2022-23 season loaded with mouth-watering contests.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A grand final rematch, Gary Ablett Jr’s NTFL debut, a return to footy on the Tiwi Islands and PINT’s first Premier League match.
They will all be must-see matches from the 2022-23 season, as the league released its official fixture this week — highlighted by Ablett Jr’s scheduled appearance on November 18 at TIO Stadium for Palmerston against reigning premier St Mary’s.
The league accepted Palmerston’s request to move the game to TIO to allow thousands more people to attend the game after Ablett Jr signed with the Pies.
The season will kick off on Friday, September 30 with a grand final rematch between Waratah and St Mary’s under lights at Gardens Oval.
Round one will also have PINT make its Premier League debut against Nightcliff while Darwin Buffaloes and Wanderers will fight it out at TIO Stadium for the Nungalinya Cup.
October 15 will also mark Indigenous Round, with Tiwi taking on Buffaloes at TIO while footy returns to the Islands in round five, with the Bombers drawing PINT at Wurrumiyanga Oval.
There will also be the famous “Battle of the Beaches” between Waratah and Nightcliff in round 11 and a bye in January (21 and 22) for the representative game.
And for the first time, under a new aligned model, the Men’s, Women’s and Reserves Premier League teams will play the same opponent on the same weekend each round.
It will also include the Tiwi Bombers fielding a side in the Women’s Premier League, through a partnership with Tracy Village.
AFLNT community football manager Leigh Elder said the fixture had been produced after consultation with clubs and stakeholders.
“We are looking forward to an exciting season under the new aligned model, and appreciate the hard work done by all clubs to create what will be fantastic season,” Elder said.
See all the fixtures here.
KEY FIXTURES TO LOOK OUT FOR
Grand final rematch
September 30 — Round 1
Waratah v St Mary’s at Gardens Oval
As is tradition, season 2022-22 will kick off at Gardens Oval, but this year there will be a little extra spice to the contest as it also serves as a grand final rematch.
It will be our first look at grand finalists Waratah and St Mary’s and both clubs have suggested they will field largely unchanged squads heading into the season.
The Tahs will be out for some early revenge at home, while reigning premiers Saints will be hoping to prove they’re still the top dogs of the NTFL.
PINT’s Premier League debut
October 1 – Round 1
Nightcliff v PINT at Nightcliff Oval
Shannon Motlop’s men will make their premier league debut against one of the competition’s strongest teams of the past few years.
While there is still some mystery about the make up of PINT’s squad, Nightcliff has lost top goalkicker Kyle Emery to St Mary’s while former skipper Phil Wills has headed to Cazalys Arena.
Plenty of eyes will be trained on this fixture to see how PINT goes on debut.
Indigenous Round decider
October 15 – Round 3
Tiwi Bombers v Darwin Buffaloes at TIO Stadium
Round three marks Indigenous Round with the Bombers, who missed the second half of last season due to covid, returning to Darwin’s biggest footy stage.
With both sides finishing in the bottom half of the ladder in 2021-22, it will be a good early indicator of how they are running and if there will be more cause for hope.
Betts makes his return
October 15 — Round 3
Palmerston v Nightcliff at TIO Stadium
Former champion Carlton and Adelaide goalsneak Eddie Betts brought the crowds and the excitement to Palmerston for seven games last year, and he’s likely to do so again in 2022-23.
However, currently an assistant coach at Geelong, it’s unknown exactly when Betts will make his return up north as AFL finals kicks off.
He made his debut at Cazalys Arena against Nightcliff last year, producing two goals in Round 7, including one from what is now being referred to as Eddie’s Pocket.
Fingers crossed we get to see him this early in the season.
Potential fight for finals survival
October 23 — Round 4
Darwin Buffaloes v Southern Districts at Cazalys Arena
It’s been a couple of years since either Buffaloes or Districts made deep runs in the NTFL finals.
However, they have both been the other’s worst enemy when it comes to taking the last finals spot.
In 2020-21, Buffaloes claimed the last place, while that honour went to the Crocs the following season.
Last year, it was a thrilling Round 2 draw at Cazalys, 84 apiece, that cemented how close these two sides are after Districts successfully reeled in the Buffaloes’ lead in the final quarter.
Return to Bathurst Island
October 29 — Round 5
Tiwi Bombers v PINT at Wurruyimanga Oval
It has been some time since we’ve seen regular matches on Bathurst Island, but finally Wurrumiyanga Oval is back on the footy schedule.
Over the past two years Covid has limited access to what many call the heartland of Territory footy.
However, this match shapes up as extra special, with the Bombers taking it up a level when they’re playing in front of their home crowd, while PINT will play their first game on the island.
Steven Motlop Cup
November 5 — Round 6
PINT v Wanderers at DXC Arena
With both PINT and Wanderers vying for the services of former Geelong and Port Adelaide mercurial forward Steven Motlop, it will be interesting to see who the 31-year-old runs out with in 2022-23.
With strong family connections to both clubs – his brother Shannon will coach the Greenants while cousin Aaron will once again marshall the Eagles – it will be an emotional day regardless for the 217-game AFL champion.
Traditional foes
November 12 — Round 7
Nightcliff v St Mary’s at Nightcliff Oval
If recent history is anything to go by then one thing is for sure — Nightcliff vs St Mary’s will be a massive contest yet again.
The Tigers have finished top two during the regular season three years in a row, contesting two thrilling grand finals and one nailbiting preliminary in that period.
However, St Mary’s currently hold the bragging rights after winning that decisive prelim last season.
Adding to the occasion, Nightcliff’s top goal scorer Kyle Emery has moved over to the Saints to partner with Dennis Dunn winner Jackson Calder, while ex-Port Power hard nut Hamish Hartlett will play in the black and yellow.
The Little Master’s NTFL debut
November 18 — Round 8
Palmerston v St Mary’s at TIO Stadium
It’s impossible to look past Gary Ablett Jr’s NTFL debut, and what an occasion it promises to be.
One of the game’s best of all time playing in black and white is sure to attract a crowd on its own.
Add in the fact Palmerston will also potentially have Eddie Betts in its arsenal, and are playing the reigning premiers, you can see why the league moved the Pies’ home game to TIO Stadium.
A host of known Territory stars will also be playing in the blockbuster encounter which is shaping up to be the biggest regular season game in recent memory.
Foundation Cup
January 29 — Round 15
Gardens Oval
Waratah will take on old foe Wanderers for the Foundation Cup in late January at Gardens Oval.
There should be plenty of residual spite with last season’s meeting on Australia Day – a Tahs 24-point victory – ending in acrimony with the league investigating reports of racial vilification and discrimination.
There was also a melee and several 50m penalties handed out due to rough play.
With Waratah looking to go one better in 2022-23, and the Eagles keen to surge back up the ladder, it promises to be another spicy encounter.
Back-to-back top 10 finishes round out Territorian’s Bathurst campaign
The SuperUte driver from Howard Springs found his touch at the mountain, putting together his best round of the year.
Records fall on second day of Red Centre ‘Games with Heart’
The first record has fallen during the Red Centre sporting calendar’s biggest week – with the record breaking already eyeing the next. SEE THE PICTURES.