NTFL 2024-25 live stream: Watch Palmerston Magpies vs Southern Districts in Round 11
The Crocodiles have picked up two big wins on the bounce, but they were made to work harder against the Magpies than what the scoreboard suggests. Watch the REPLAY.
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Southern Districts bounced into the season break at the top of the table following an uncharacteristically clunky win over Palmerston in the match played at Cazalys Arena.
The Crocs demolished Buffaloes last round and were favoured to do the same against Palmerston, but early misses and an eager Magpies defence kept the score tighter than expected.
Districts sit two games and more than 100 percent better than second placed St Marys after 11 rounds.
Although the 14.18 (102) to 3.5 (23) scoreline suggests a comfortable victory for the visitors, the Magpies had plenty of moments, particularly in and around their defensive structur.
That would be a concern for the highflying Crocs and an overconfidence against apparent easybeats might just be ammunition for the Districts’ hierarchy to ponder over the break.
WATCH THE FULL MATCH REPLAY ABOVE
The tricolours started full of run and on the back of Wyatt Ryan’s dominance in the ruck and clearances from the quartet of midfielders Matt Shannon, Matthew Johnston, Jed Anderson and Mitchell Bidmade, they made it look easy.
But the home side clearly had a defensive plan and managed to snuff out most of the Croc attacks.
A goal to Steven Motlop and another to Anderson was a poor return at the first break for such power around the ball.
Nathan Dowsett, Ryan Ellis, Jordan Clyne and Deacon Summerville all had good moments in the home side defence and managed to strangle most forward movements.
Anderson began the second in the goal square and it was the far reaching Bidmade who found space and goaled and when the reliable Jonathon Ross did the same it appeared Districts had finally found a way through.
However, persistence paid dividends when Declan Barnett slotted home Palmerston’s first at the 15-minute mark of the term.
And when Waylon Davey repeated the dose from an acute angle on the siren, the Magpies went to the long break trailing by a mere 16-points.
In the third, Palmy broke first and Hunter Lewis found the big sticks within a minute of the opening, but Anderson who had been sent back to the middle, ran forward and squared the ledger.
After that, the tricolours took control and although wasteful on occasions, the result was inevitable.
Slotting seamlessly into an already elite Croc midfield is Warrnambool, Victoria, recruit Mitchell Bidmade and the strongly built player is enjoying his first foray in the NTFL.
“I moved up here from Warrnambool in Victoria for six months – one of my mates played up here last season and I was meant to come up with him but that didn’t happen so here I am 12-months later and I’m enjoying the experience,” Bidmade said.
“I played on the ball and a bit up forward and spent some time on the bench, so it was business as usual for me today.
“Palmy made it difficult for us – they dropped players back in defence, so it made it hard for us to score in the first half. But once we started to switch the ball in the second half, we found a way to score again.
“It is pretty stacked in our midfield and sometimes it’s hard to get a good run at it but learning off them every week is a bonus.”
Score:
Palmerston: 0.1 2.3 3.3 3.5 (23)
Districts: 2.5 4.7 8.11 14.18 (102)
Goals:
Palmerston:
Declan Barnett, Waylon Davey, Hunter Lewis
Districts:
Jonathon Ross 2, Jye Bolton 2, Jed Anderson 2, Mitchell Bidmade 2, Will Farrer 2, Steven Motlop, Stanley Waistcoat, Jack Sexton, Jordan Johnston.
Best:
Palmerston:
Nathan Dowsett, Ryan Ellis, Jordan Clyne, Hayden Sampson, Deacon Summerville
Districts:
Mitchell Bidmade, Jed Anderson, Will Sexton, Wyatt Ryan, Matt Shannon.
PREVIEW
Southern Districts are fresh off an absolute demolition of the Darwin Buffaloes and have everything they need for another huge win when they take on the Magpies.
The NT News and KommunityTV will stream every moment of the Round 11 clash from 5pm on Saturday.
Districts are the top crocs in the 2024-25 NTFL season and with their main rivals in tougher matches they could improve on the margin heading into Christmas.
The Crocs are the best offensive side in the league with 1106 points scored and only 386 conceded after they notched a double century against winless Buffaloes last week.
But the Crocs know that Palmerston will sniff out any sign of complacency.
The Crocs have performers across the ground whether in the midfield with Jed Anderson, in the ruck with Wyatt Ryan or down back where Connor Giddings is emerging as a top class defender.
Steven Motlop has switched back into the forward line in recent weeks and with nine goals against the Buffs has entered the top ten goal scorers for the season, 15 behind leader Jackson Calder.
For Palmerston they know this is an uphill battle, particularly with just one win for the season so far.
A disappointing showing against PINT has pushed them further out of contention, but there are players in the black and whites who have not given up in the effort stakes.
Ryan Warfe, Tristen Waack and Cameron Nyko are among those who have the ability, while Shaun Wilson brings much-needed experience. There is enough talent in the Magpies ranks that an upset, as unlikely as it might be, is not impossible.
Watch the full replay at the end of the game.
The NT News and AFL Northern Territory have come together in a partnership to live stream both the men’s and women’s Premier League games for this TIO NTFL season.
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