The NT News looks at the main talking points from Round 4 of the 2020-21 NTFL season

BOMBERS name Cyril Rioli, Wanderers in form and a stumble from premiers Nightcliff. WHAT WE LEARNED FROM ROUND 4

The Darwin Buffaloes are sitting pretty atop the table with four wins from four games. Picture: CHE CHORLEY

THE NT News looks at some of the major talking points from Round 4 of the 2020-21 NTFL season following a round which saw Wanderers, St Mary’s, Buffaloes and Southern Districts pick up wins.

Round 4 was full of talking points including an in-form Wanderers, home ground losses, a stumble from premiers Nightcliff and the naming of an AFL legend on the Bombers’ team sheet.

WANDERERS LOOKING THE GOODS ACROSS THE FIELD

Simon Bates was the best on ground against Palmerston in Round 4. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

Wanderers have perhaps been the form side of the 2020-21 season, alongside Buffaloes, and another dominant display over Palmerston at Cazalys Arena shows they have no plans of slowing down.

The Muk Muks inspired by a best on ground performance from Simon Bates, in some of his best ever form, pulled away from Palmerston near the end of the second period.

Dane McFarlane (33 disposals) and Simon Mannagh (28 disposals) lit up the midfield to feed their sharpshooter Brett Eddy who scored seven goals while Bates managed a personal record of five.

Young gun Ronald Fejo also had a strong showing for the Eagles earning himself the Round 4 NT News Rising Star nomination.

They started last season with a similar winning record before falling away but this time around Wanderers are looking the goods for a finals run should their momentum continue.

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The NT News looks at the main talking points from Round 3 of the 2020-21 NTFL season

ARE THE DARWIN BUFFALOES THE REAL DEAL AFTER A 4-0 START TO THE SEASON?

The Darwin Buffaloes are four from four despite limping home against Waratah. Picture: Celina Whan/AFLNT Media

The Buffaloes staggered over the line against Waratah despite leading by eight goals at the last change, a statistic aimed more at Tahs lifting their work rate than the Buffaloes deciding to graze on the lush green grass at Gardens Oval.

With matches against Nightcliff this week, St Mary’s, Wanderers and Tahs again, the real Buffaloes will be known by the end of Round 8.

HOME GROUND ADVANTAGE ISN’T ALL IT’S CRACKED UP TO BE

Palmerston Magpies were one of three sides to lose their home game in Round 4. Picture: Celina Whan/AFLNT Media

Everyone wants to win at home, it’s where you train and where your supporters really get around you.

But only St Mary’s of the four Round 4 home teams enjoyed victory with Tiwi, Palmerston and Waratah all failing to notch a win in front of their home crowd.

Admittedly Waratah rallied and fought back to come within a hair of beating table leaders Buffaloes but the Bombers and Magpies will have been wanting more in their 2020-21 season home ground debut.

Both sides looked lively early on keeping in the contest but fitness disparities soon showed against their respective opposition and they soon fell away.

Tiwi in particular have been a hard side to beat on Bathurst Island in recent years, not dropping a game there last season, but having now lost their first match there in the 2020-21 season the mystique of home may be fading.

HAS THE PREMIERSHIP HANGOVER STRUCK EARLY AT NTFL CLUB NIGHTCLIFF?

The Nightcliff Tigers lost for the first time in the 2020-21 season against St Mary’s despite a three goal effort from Cameron Illet. Picture: Celina Whan/AFLNT Media

Pundits at TIO Stadium on Friday night noted a fumbling Tiger outfit who lacked the leg speed to go with their fleet footed St Mary’s opponents when the ball reached the wide open spaces.

Eight goals from four quarters of football, three of them kicked by veteran Cameron Ilett, was another indication the premiers of the last two years might be having an early season hibernation period.

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TIWI SCOREBOARD GOES MISSING WHILE RIOLI NAMED ON BOMBERS LIST

Cyril Rioli was named on extended list ahead of game against Southern Districts. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

Spectators both at the ground and watching via stream were left in a bit of confusion when viewing the game between the Tiwi Bombers and Southern Districts with the scoreboard a no show.

The scoreboard on Wurrumiyanga Oval was without an attendant for the game left many questioning the score though the flow of the game was in favour of the Crocs.

One viewer joked, “There was score shown at the ground. I think the scoreboard attendant chucked a sickie yesterday” in reply to another asking if the camera man could show the score.

Another mysterious aspect of the Bathurst game was the naming of Cyril Rioli on the Bombers team sheet, though only as part of an extended interchange list.

He didn’t play the Districts game but the naming could be a sign that he isn’t far away from taking to the field.