The NT News looks at the talking points from Round 15 of the 2020-21 NTFL season

Waratah genuine title chances, Districts fall out of finals contention and Buffs show signs of flowing footy. WHAT WE LEARNED FROM NTFL ROUND 15 ACTION

St Mary’s saw off Southern Districts at TIO Stadium. Picture: Che Chorley

THE NT News looks at some of the major talking points from Round 15 of the 2020-21 NTFL season, with Nightcliff, Waratah, Buffaloes and St Mary’s all winning.

Round 15 was full of ups and downs with Buffs showing signs of flowing footy, Waratah show they’re a genuine title chance and Districts falling out of finals contention.

TWO QUESTIONS REMAINED UNANSWERED AFTER WARATAH BEAT WANDERERS AT GARDENS OVAL

James Edmonds with a look to handball for Waratah against Wanderers. Picture: Che Chorley

How good will Waratah be on the wide open spaces of TIO Stadium and was it just a bad day for Wanderers, the Jekyll and Hyde of Territory football?

Those that argue Tahs are at their best on the tight confines of their home ground at Gardens Oval forget their run-on style of play that not only brings every player into the game by creating space, it also sets up numerous scoring opportunities that can shatter the confidence of opposition sides.

Wanderers by the high standards they have set themselves this season, were very ordinary in their pursuit of the Foundation Cup trophy.

But a glance at their playing personnel that day revealed seven of the eight Eagles players (Neil Vea Vea included) who ran out for the NTFL-Glenelg game suited up for the Tahs clash three days later.

Was that the reason they were flat and lacked imagination against a side that applied physical pressure to their opponents all day?

The three-day preparation did not affect the Tahs contingent, where Rob Turnbull, Abe Ankers and Callum Searle were big contributors in their side’s 38-point win.

MORE NT SPORT STORIES

NTFL STATS: All the individual and team statistics for Round 15 of the Men’s Premier League

Kyle Emery kicks five goals for Nightcliff Tigers in big win over Tiwi Bombers in Round 15 NTFL

Buffalo Luke Roberts seals the Round 15 Rising Star nomination

DARWIN BUFFALOES AT THEIR UNPREDICTABLE BEST AGAINST PALMERSTON

Buffaloes Tom Clarke had a big game against Palmerston. Picture: Glenn Campbell

If Wanderers are the Jekyll and Hyde of the NTFL, the Darwin Buffaloes are the Scarlet Pimpernel of the Premier League.

Always unpredictable, sometimes unbeatable and one of the jewels of Territory football when everything clicks are the Darwin Buffaloes

We seek him here, we seek him there, they seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven? Is he in hell? That demmed, elusive Pimpernel.

Anyone who saw the Buffaloes’ eight-goal last quarter against Palmerston last week would have marvelled at their brilliant ball use and tremendous leg speed.

These factors will have their finals opponents glancing over their shoulders at a Double Blues side desperate for some finals success after two successive elimination final exits.

TIGERS ROAR IN BIG IF NOT RUTHLESS WIN OVER TIWI

Nightcliff spearhead Kyle Emery heads goalward. Picture: Celina Whan / AFLNT Media

With heavy losses to Wanderers and Waratah in the games preceding it was perhaps expected that another loss of that kind would come the way of Tiwi against reigning premiers Nightcliff.

And so it was with the Tigers winning 19.26 (140) to 2.4 (16) putting any idea of a Bombers bounce back out of mind.

Brodie Filo was at his distributing best while Jackson Bowen, Nathan Brown and Daniel Bowles ensured limited chances were given to the opposition.

Key forward Kyle Emery made the most of those opportunities to score himself five goals that alone would have won the contest for the side that seems ready to pounce on another NTFL premiership.

However, the score could have been more had accuracy been with the Tigers with 26 behinds and a couple kicks missed completely the difference between dominant and ruthless.

WATCH ROUND 15

Wanderers vs Waratah at Gardens Oval

Tigers vs Bombers at TIO Stadium

St Mary’s vs Districts at TIO Stadium

Magpies vs Buffaloes at Cazalys Arena

DISTRICTS NOW OUT OF FINALS CONTENTION

After losing to St Mary’s Southern Districts find themselves outside of finals contention. Picture: Che Chorley

Finals chances were already looking grim before the St Mary’s matchup for Southern Districts but with that loss the Crocs are now out of contention.

It’s been a year of ups and downs for the Districts outfit with a win over league leaders Nightcliff a highlight but the slow start to their season left them with a mountain to climb.

Spurred on by the essential win Districts actually kicked off the better of the two outfits though would find themselves unable to keep up with the drilled and in-form Saints.

Now 16 competition points behind the Darwin Buffaloes with only three games left to play it is impossible for the Crocs to qualify for finals.

Missing ball magnet James Tsitas would have hurt their chances though the likes of Jay Dahlhaus, Luke Kiel and Dean Staunton stood up once again to keep their side in the fight.

$1 FOR ALL YOUR NEWS? HERE’S HOW: Sign up now to our amazing deal of $1 for 28 days

PALMERSTON LOSE PUFF DESPITE INDIVIDUAL BRILLIANCE

Eric Guthrie was once again a highlight for the struggling Magpies. Picture: Celina Whan / AFLNT Media

It would come as great surprise to the casual spectator if you showed them Palmerston’s losing 14.8 (92) to 5.11 (41) score line to Buffs and suggested that the Magpies led five goals to one in the second quarter.

Such was the early dominance of the Cazalys Arena home side that anyone watching would have felt a rare upset was on and that the Magpies would manage just their third win of the season.

Eric Guthrie, Tyrell Lui and Josh Grabowski were across the park creating scoring opportunities with Matt Dennis dominating the ruck as per usual.

However, it was after the fifth goal for the side was kicked through Tosh Kurnoth that the Buffaloes woke up and the rest is history.

The Magpies lost control of the game and quickly tired to the point where the Darwin side were able to pile on eight goals in the final quarter.