Exclusive NTFL action: Nightcliff Tigers vs PINT at Nightcliff Oval. Watch the replay

Nightcliff’s juniors showed their class in the rain in PINT’s first ever match in the Men’s Premier League. WATCH THE REPLAY

Nightcliff ensured PINT’s first foray into Men’s Premier League was at times forgettable, kept at arm’s length by 29 points in an old fashioned, one-on-one slog in teeming rain.

It was a teenage debutant who stood out in the 9.9 (63) to 5.4 (34) win in PINT’s first ever Men’s Premier League match.

WATCH ROUND 1 LIVESTREAMS

Sixteen-year-old Phoenix Joe Pool who thrilled on debut, kicking two goals including a brilliant slide-in and soccer in the goalmouth, deep in the final quarter, plus a sublime one-handed pick up which led to a James Gow goal.

Joe Pool’s dexterity, and a brilliant Petros Politis brace, showed the Tigers simply handled the slippery conditions better as the Greenants dropped marks at costly times or in vulnerable sections of the ground.

Joe Pool, who came through the club’s Under 16 and 18 teams after arriving via Mount Isa, relished the opportunity to showcase his skills in the wet.

“It’s my kind of weather, I like playing in the rain,” Joe Pool said.

“I was pretty excited and a bit nervous (before the match). Getting amongst all the bigger men.

“(PINT) did pretty well, they were pretty decent, they played hard. They actually did better than I expected.”

PINT won the toss but had little else to crow about in the opening quarter, with a dearth of forward entries as their defenders battled hard to limit scoreboard damage.

Nightcliff's Peter Politis kicked two big goals in the opening round of the 2022-23 season. Picture: Felicity Elliott / AFLNT Media

The Greenants made the best of their minimal chances, with Alex Harvey finding the middle of the big sticks after a marking infringement.

However, for last year’s preliminary finalists, they were relatively lethal in sodden conditions, with Michael Mummery converting beautifully from a set shot to open the Tigers’ account, and quality finishes from Politis and Nick Howe.

The home side maintained their efficient wet weather form in the second, with Aidan Robinson nailing a shot from the paint of 50.

Several yellow and black forward thrusts came via hopeful torpedoes as Nightcliff opted for dirty ball, driving the pill forward in any way possible.

PINT managed a minor riposte: a Ben Smyth goal gifted through consecutive 50m penalties, transferring him from deep in the Tigers’ forward line.

Joe Pool got himself on the scoreboard with a clever snap which slid across the greasy turf, while Shaun Wilson pounced on a PINT defender’s dropped mark to add his first.

The Greenants at least stopped the bleeding in the third and arguably had the better of the contest, and were simply more competitive after half time.

In their best passage of play, starting in the hands of the zippy Silver Yousif lurking near half back, the Greenants transitioned the ball smoothly into its forward arc where Andrew Ciavarella provided the finishing touches.

PINT came within inches of two further goals, only for desperate Tiger defenders to knock the ball clear just before the line, as Nightcliff withstood a mini assault.

Score:

Nightcliff 3.3 6.5 7.5 9.9 (63)

PINT 1.0 2.0 3.4 5.4 (34)

Goals

Nightcliff:

Petros Politis 2

Phoenix Joe Pool 2

Michael Mummery

Shaun Wilson

James Gow

Aidan Robinson

Nick Howe

PINT:

Alex Harvey 2

Ben Smyth

Andrew Ciavarella

Kyle Winter-Irving

Best

Nightcliff:

Cam Ilett

Brodie Filo

Phoenix Joe Pool

Adrian Scott

Aidan Robinson.

PINT:

Elliot Chalmers

Silver Yousif

Brodie Motlop

Brock Carter

Alex Harvey.

LIVESTREAM PREVIEW

After years of hard work and strong results PINT will play their first ever NTFL premier league match against Nightcliff Tigers at Nightcliff Oval.

And the NT News will be there to livestream the game exclusively for you.

It’s been a long time coming for the Greenants who have long been one of the heavyweights of the Division 1 competition.

Now with former AFL star Shannon Motlop in the coaching position they’re at the top level, and will be looking to make an impact as an unknown side for their new rivals.

They head to Nightcliff where the home side will be hoping for an early win to pounce back after a disappointing loss in last year’s prelim final.

The Tigers have shed some players, but have kept many of their stars including Cam Ilett, Trent Melville, Shaun Wilson and Brodie Filo.

Nightcliff Tigers will play PINT in Round 1 of the 2022-23 NTFL competition.

With that kind of star power they are still more than an issue for any side in the league and will be wanting to make a big impression on the season early on.

If you are attempting to cast the livestream or replay to a television, the best result can be achieved by either using a laptop/computer or a mobile phone.

The NT News and AFL Northern Territory have come together in a partnership to livestream Men’s and Women’s Premier League games for this TIO NTFL season.

Originally published as Exclusive NTFL action: Nightcliff Tigers vs PINT at Nightcliff Oval. Watch the replay