The NT News looks at the talking points from Round 8 of the 2020-21 NTFL season
Districts bag big result, Waratah’s efforts pay off and Wanderers show mark of top side with ugly win. WHAT WE LEARNED FROM ROUND 8
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THE NT News looks at some of the major talking points from Round 8 of the 2020-21 NTFL season with St Mary’s, Wanderers, Districts and Waratah all notching wins.
In a round full of surprises Districts upset Nightcliff’s party, Waratah get big scalp and Wanderers pulled off an ugly win over Palmerston to top table.
WARATAH’S EFFORTS FINALLY RESULT IN BIG SCALP
Waratah’s persistence and smart use of the football finally saw them claim a big scalp when they led all night to beat the Buffaloes at TIO Stadium. Close losses to Nightcliff, the Buffaloes and St Mary’s were forgotten after a couple of scares in the last half. The ruckwork of Zach Westerberg, run of Rob Turnbull around the ball and a hard working backline got Tahs over the line, with no sign of the goal kicking yips that have sunk their ship in most of those losses.
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BUFFALOES IN A MID-SEASON RUT
Buffaloes were the form side of the early rounds but with three losses from their past four games it looks as if the double blues have lost their way.
And a potential two-week penalty to skipper and talisman Jarrod Stokes will put further pressure on the Darwin side.
However, it won’t be all doom and gloom in the Cameron Stokes’ side with the talent they have in their ranks and a decade best performance against St Mary’s only three matches ago.
With Jalen Clarke set for a return and the likes of Ryan Pendlebury, and Tim Eldridge firing the Buffs will be looking to get themselves out of their hole sooner rather than later.
WANDERERS UGLY WIN THE MARK OF TOP SIDE
Winning ugly has become part of Australian football folklore and Wanderers proved that theory right when they got over a feisty and determined Palmerston in their Round 8 clash.
The Magpies had plenty of prime movers. With Eric Guthrie and Matt Dennis prominent, when the Pies ran to a 19-point lead midway through term three before being pulled back by a Wanderers side restricted to third gear by their opponents.
The win, helped by Dane McFarlane’s 41 touches, lifted the Eagles to outright top on the Premier League ladder for the first time since 2016.
DISTRICTS’ FINALLY BAG BIG RESULT
With their only wins coming over bottom sides Tiwi and Palmerston you could be forgiven for doubting the 2020-21 edition of Southern Districts.
But an ambush of two-time premiers Nightcliff in their own den has put the Crocs back on the map and proven that this still is anyone’s season.
Narrow losses worked against Districts early in the season seeing them fall behind but strong stats showings from individuals such as James Tsitas and Nik Rokahr suggested a return to form was near.
And in a night that was supposed to belong to the Tigers it all went the way of Districts with Luke Kiel, Lionel Ogden and Jesse Clark lifting the side to a major scalp.
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SAINTS RUTHLESS AS THEY GET THEMSELVES BACK ON TRACK
The 39-point loss to rivals Darwin Buffaloes in Round 6 would have been a bitter pill to swallow for the Anthony Vallejo coached St Mary’s.
So the ruthless manner in which they dealt with Tiwi will have sent a message to the rest of the league particularly as regular spearhead Jackson Paine was absent.
Nate Paredes, Dylan Landt, Lachlan Taylor and Lucas Jellyman-Turner were busy throughout the matchup and even when the game turned into a shootout in the third quarter Saints held their ground.
Beau Tedcastle took another four goals while Jackson Calder was able to ground himself upfront once again after a week in Division One.
REPLAY: Nightcliff advance in weather affected final
A dominating performance from Nightcliff has seen the Tigers comfortably account for Tiwi, but not before a delayed start threatened to start finals action off on the wrong note. Watch the REPLAY here.
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