The NT News looks at the talking points from Finals Week 1 of the 2020-21 NTFL season
NIGHTCLIFF women win first ever WPL final, Wanderers surprise Saints and Waratah prove ready for finals. WHAT WE LEARNED FROM FINALS WEEK 1 ACTION
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THE NT News looks at some of the major talking points from a surprising Finals Week 1 of the 2020-21 NTFL season, with Wanderers and Waratah winning the men’s finals and Nightcliff and Darwin Buffettes winning the women’s.
The first week of finals saw the Nightcliff women win their first ever final, Wanderers surprised Saints and Waratah proved themselves ready for the finals challenge.
WANDERERS CRASH SAINTS’ PARTY IN QUALIFYING FINAL
Just when a Nightcliff-St Mary’s Premier League grand final seemed a certainty, Wanderers turned party crashers in a manner that has Saints’ season on a knife edge.
The Eagles swooped on a Saints side that refused to man up on their opponents across the centre of the ground, most significantly Shaun Mannagh and Dane McFarlane, who gathered 59 possessions between them.
Add the threat of spearhead Brett Eddy to that equation and the Eagles were away, grabbing an early three-goal lead St Mary’s were unable to pull back.
Now the green and gold jumpers have to beat a confident Waratah to stay alive in the finals race, while Wanderers tackle Nightcliff in a grand final qualifier immediately following the Saints-Tahs knockout game.
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SAINTS NEED TO REFIND ACCURACY
For all their consistency and depth the one thing Saints seem to be missing at the moment is accuracy in front of goal.
Their busy midfield and strong defence has allowed the side to paper up the cracks around a sometimes misfiring forward unit.
But what happens when their opposition get their own hands on the ball and starts to score with some frequency?
Well that was seen in the qualifying final with Wanderers getting time on the ball and firing through the centre posts.
Saints actually managed five more scoring shots than their winning opposition but inaccuracy left them exposed.
TIGERS WOMEN WIN FIRST EVER FINALS GAME
The Nightcliff women made history when they beat reigning premiers Southern Districts clinching their first ever WPL final win.
A three goal burst in the first quarter gave the Tigers the early advantage and set up the first ever semi-final outing for the Shannon Millar coached outfit.
Eliza Morrison and Emily Casey made important contributions all day while the likes of Sophie Hatzismalis held strong in defence.
The Tigers have their next challenge in Saints in the second week of finals and will be taking plenty of confidence into that exchange.
TAHS MIDFIELD TO CAUSE HEADACHES FOR OPPOSITION
The Nightcliff women made history when they beat reigning premiers Southern Districts clinching their first ever WPL final win.
A three goal burst in the first quarter gave the Tigers the early advantage and set up the first ever semi-final outing for the Shannon Millar coached outfit.
Eliza Morrison and Emily Casey made important contributions all day while the likes of Sophie Hatzismalis held strong in defence.
The Tigers have their next challenge in Saints in the second week of finals and will be taking plenty of confidence into that exchange.
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WOMEN’S FINALS TO DELIVER EXCITEMENT
The Women’s Premier League has mouth-watering matchups in both finals. Nightcliff’s rise and rise as a league power continued when they knocked reigning premiers Southern Districts out of the finals race.
And the Darwin Buffettes showed with their big qualifying final win over St Mary’s that they are the real thing.
The Buffettes meet the unbeaten PINT in a classic second semi-final on Saturday afternoon, with Nightcliff and St Mary’s playing a lunchtime knockout final.
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