Territory footballer Jasmyn Hewett credits PINT for her rediscovering her love for the game

How a footballing natural rediscovered her love for the game in the NT before winning an AFLW premiership as a last-minute replacement.

Footballing natural and the Territory’s latest AFLW premiership player Jasmyn Hewett had pretty much fallen out of love with the game during a particularly grim 2019.

After a swift lift, from a raw PINT rookie to Adelaide Crow in the space of just two years, that golden run suddenly stopped after a season-ending ankle injury during a league trial game against Fremantle in March of that year.

It was shocking timing for the now 29-year-old, who had come off a solid VFLW season with the NT Thunder in 2018, which had sharpened her game education and built confidence.

Primed for a breakthrough season, she was hoping to add to her seven senior matches in the West Lakes tricolours.

“It was heart-wrenching, I knew the minute I did it that it was a serious ankle injury,” Hewett told the NT News.

“It was really hard.”

After then crossing from the Crows to the Suns in 2020 – while completing an extensive 12-week rehabilitation – she eventually grew tired of carrying the residual pain and craved some downtime to “mentally reset”

“My ankle was painful and sore all the time, I almost fell out of love with the sport,” Hewett said on Saturday after arriving back in Darwin from the long drive from Adelaide.

Jasmyn Hewett is tackled by Eliza McNamara during the 2022 AFLW grand final. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Putting herself on the inactive list, Hewett returned to the NT where she was eventually talked into having a run around with PINT in the Women’s Premier League.

And in Hewett’s own words, “what a success that was”, winning a premiership by just 11 points over Darwin Buffaloes, judged best on ground while taking home the Gwynne Medal.

“(PINT) really helped me reignite that love for the game again,” she said.

Then, after a chance meeting between gun Crow Chelsea Randall and a friend of Hewett’s, she was drafted back to Adelaide Oval for the 2022 season.

Hewett’s expectations were particularly low, and she was happy to just pick up a game or two.

“I started the year with the intention of just training with the most elite team in the competition,” she said.

However, fortune shone on the SA product when Montana McKinnon was suspended and coach Matthew Clarke needed a replacement for the grand final against Melbourne last Saturday.

She would kick the first goal of the game as the Crows clinched its third flag in six seasons with a 13-point win.

Former St Mary’s and PINT footballer Jasmyn Hewett with the 2022 AFLW premiership cup. Picture: Adelaide Crows.

“It was mind-blowing, I’ve actually got goosebumps just thinking about it, it’s an absolute dream come true,” she said.

“It’s a feeling you want to have more than once in your life. The thirst for more is undescribable.”

It bookended a footballing journey which began after Hewett moved to the Territory in late 2016 from Port Augusta for a “scenery change”.

Needing respite from a 17-hour-a-day working life as a PT and co-running a sports store, it was only meant to be for a few months.

“I just fell in love with the place, it was a really easy decision to transition up here,” she said.

“I don’t see myself wanting to move away from the Territory.

“I’d love to run around in the NTFL again this year if I can.”

She quickly joined St Mary’s FC, and in a stellar debut, kicked seven goals despite having minimal game sense.

“I picked it up pretty quickly,” Hewett said.

“I didn’t even know there was an AFLW competition, intiallly.

“It rapidly became a big part of my life.

“Where I’m from, girls didn’t play footy they played netball. I didn’t really have any opportunities growing up.”

How NT footy star Danielle Ponter flipped the script to win second AFLW flag

Northern Territory’s most celebrated FIFO football star Danielle Ponter had to totally flip the script to get her second taste of AFLW premiership success this season.

The 22-year-old, who began her football journey at NTFL powerhouse St Mary’s Football Club more than a decade ago, was flying down to Adelaide each Thursday for her debut season in 2019.

Ending with three goals in a winning grand final over Carlton in front of 53,034 people at Adelaide Oval, it was always going to be a tall order to top that effort.

And new challenges emerged when Covid impacted the season and Ponter was suddenly locked in the state, unable to see her family or partner for six, long months.

Ponter celebrates with an Adelaide Crows fan. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

While it was “challenging” at times, Ponter admits the social isolation actually improved her game.

“I got so much more out of my football,” Ponter told NT News, with a noticeably raspy voice after several big nights of merriment.

“I definitely felt improvements.”

She said the most frustrating period came when the Collingwood v Brisbane qualifying final was delayed due to a Covid outbreak, and the Crows eventually fronted up in a preliminary final after a forced, three-week spell.

“We had all those different distractions and obstacles in our way. That just pushed us to want it more,” she said.

“If anything was frustrating, I think that was it.”

Danielle Ponter celebrates with family and friends, including Essendon great and uncle Michael Long (far right). Picture: Danielle Ponter.

Luckily, Ponter was able to continue working for an Aboriginal justice agency a few days a week to take her mind off football.

Despite that three-goal effort in front of 50,000 plus fans in 2019, Ponter wasn’t reflecting on it entering the match against Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

“That was something that I wasn’t thinking of at the time,” she admitted.

“I had immense confidence in the team going into it… rather than my own performance from two years ago.”

Last year’s 18-point grand final loss to Brisbane was a bigger focus, she admitted.

“I reckon it was a pretty big part of it,” she said of motivating factors.

“We didn’t want that same outcome to happen again.

“We were ready to feel that premiership-winning feeling again.”

Ponter kicks clear against Tracy Village in 2020. Picture: Tymunna Clements AFLNT/Media

She also said having uncle and “massive supporter” Michael Long at the game was an “incredible feeling”.

And it will be a hell of a homecoming when Ponter returns to the Territory on Friday, and will bring fellow Crows Chelsea Randall, Stevie-Lee Thompson and Marijana Rajcic up for a trip.

“It will be awesome to get them around the family and get out and do a few things around Darwin,” she said.

Ponter clearly hasn’t forgotten where she came from, paying tribute to the club she joined as an 11-year-old, competing against girls several years older.

“They were a massive part of getting me where I am today,” she said.

“To see how far football has come in such a small amount of time, it’s amazing to be part of.”

Darwin Buffaloes successfully appeal star player’s striking charge

Darwin Buffaloes will seek a please explain after the NTFL’s independent tribunal threw out a striking charge against its Brenda Williams medallist Dom Carbone.

Carbone, who starred in the Buffettes’ 18-point Women’s Premier League grand final win over Nightcliff on March 19 at TIO Stadium with two goals, was charged with striking opposition player Emily Casey in the second quarter.

Carbone could have accepted a three-week penalty for a guilty plea over the incident – which was deemed intentional conduct, medium impact and high contact by the league’s independent match review panel – but instead chose to challenge the sanction at a tribunal hearing on Wednesday night.

Then, following an assessment of available evidence, the tribunal found Carbone not guilty.

Club president Shaun Pearce said he was “very happy” with the result and that “justice has taken place”.

“We will be seeking clarification from the league as to how this case even got to the tribunal as we believe proper processes may not have been followed,” Mr Pearce said.

“A young, female player has had her name and reputation tarnished.”

Mr Pearce pointed out that an NFTL commentator had described a “big collision” involving Carbone and a Nightcliff player in the fourth minute of the second quarter.

However, an AFLNT spokeswoman said the matter was now closed.

“The league followed the appropriate process in regard to this independent tribunal case,” the spokeswoman said.

Nightcliff, which lodged an official incident referral following the grand final, have until 5pm on Friday to appeal the decision.

The club has been contacted for comment.

Buffettes star to contest striking charge

Darwin Buffaloes will “strongly” challenge a striking charge against its Brenda Williams medallist Dom Carbone at the NTFL tribunal next week.

Buffettes star Carbone, who was judged best on ground in the Women’s Premier League grand final with two goals and plenty of possessions, reportedly struck Nightcliff player Emily Casey in the second quarter of the match at TIO Stadium on Saturday.

Carbone returned to the NT a few days before the match after moving to Melbourne to pursue a career with Hawthorn’s VFLW team.

The matter proceeded to the league’s independent match review panel following a club incident referral from Nightcliff..

The Buffettes prevailed by 18 points to claim its first Women’s Premier premiership since 2015-16.

However, the panel deemed the action as intentional conduct, medium impact and high contact, resulting in a four-match penalty, after it viewed all available evidence.

Carbone could have reduced it to a three-match with a guilty plea.

The matter was deferred until next Wednesday.

Carbone returned to Melbourne during the week to play for Hawthorn in the VFLW.

Buffaloes president Shaun Pearce told NT News the club would be “strongly disputing” the charge.

“We will do all we can to have it thrown out,” Pearce said.

“We will follow the league’s processes and ultimately want to have Dom’s name cleared.”

Meanwhile, PINT’s Matthew Gill will face the tribunal on Wednesday night on a charge of rough conduct against a Banks player in the third quarter of the Division One grand final on Saturday.

The match review panel deemed the action should be classified as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact.

He could have accepted a one-match penalty with a guilty plea.

PINT’s Billy Lovel was also charged with rough conduct and charging in the same game, during the fourth quarter, and could have accepted a seven-match penalty with an early guilty plea for both offences.

They were both judged intentional conduct, medium impact and body contact.

Both matters will be heard by the tribunal on Wednesday night.

Darwin Buffettes achieve sweet redemption

DARWIN Buffettes have achieved sweet redemption, beating Nightcliff by 18 points in a bruising Women’s Premier League grand final.

Click here to watch the replay

In blazing conditions, the Buffettes avenged an 11-point loss to PINT in last season’s final decider.

After Tiger skipper Eliza Morrison kicked the opening major from the goalsquare within minutes of the start, the “Tigals” couldn’t muster another inside 50 for the rest of the quarter as the Buffettes dominated play.

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The Nightcliff defence was under continuous pressure as the Buffs strung repeat entries together.

The returning Dominique Carbone from VFLW duties with Hawthorn, Tikesa Docherty-Cole and the speedy Tayla Hart-Aluni were in the thick of the action and gathered influential touches.

The latter danced around a couple of defenders before spotting Carbone for the Buffettes’ first.

Then, a penalty and a 50m extension allowed Carbone to slot the team’s second to give Darwin an early buffer.

The Buffs’ skills were cleaner and their relentless pressure caused some Nightcliff players to commit basic errors in a shaky first half.

Darwin managed to keep the ball locked inside its forward 50 for extended periods in the second, but without getting reward on the scoreboard.

Then, suddenly, the window opened ever so slightly for Nightcliff, who lost Sophie Hatzismalis through injury.

Against the flow of play, Gwynne medallist Molly Althouse overstepped the mark, which took Katrina Simmons from the middle of the ground to near the goalsquare for a much needed Tiger rebuttal.

The Nightcliff defence continued to toil in the heat, with a desperate smother from Morrison stopping a certain Johanna Gregory goal.

But in a clear half time highlight, Ebony Miller snapped a brilliant goal to increase the margin and knock the stuffing out of an unlikely Tiger revival.

As the heat, and tiredness enveloped the players, Carbone’s second major appeared to put the game beyond a Nightcliff team which never really got into the contest.

Victorious Darwin Buffettes coach Mel Taylor says she channelled the pain of missing out on last year’s grand final loss to PINT to lift her players into a premiership outfit in her first season in charge.

Taylor was left out of the club’s 11-point loss last year to PINT, and she had to do the same as coach on Saturday.

“This is probably the ultimate,” she asked if this was the most special win of her career which began with the boys in Under 14s.

“I was playing with these girls last season and I missed out on playing in the grand final.

“At the end of the day the best team needs to play and I wasn’t in that team.

“I had to put girls aside today and they didn’t get to play.

“It takes more than the 20 (to win a flag). We are one, all of the time.”

An emotional Taylor said the win was extra special with one of her friend’s mothers battling cancer.

“We’re not sure she’ll make it,” she said.

“She’s like my second mum. Cancer, I hate you.”

She admitted it was hard to find the right words to describe the win.

“I’m very humbled to coach a team and a family club like Darwin Buffaloes,” Taylor said.

“It is just a pleasure to be here today and come away with a win.

“Girls you did it, you make me so proud. I wouldn’t be standing here (without you).”

SCORE:

NIGHTCLIFF: 1.0 2.1 2.2 2.4 (16)

BUFFALOES: 2.3 3.6 4.8 4.10 (34)

GOALS:

Nightcliff: E Morrison K Simmons

Buffaloes: D Carbone 2 T Hart-Aluni E Miller

BEST:

Nightcliff: E Morrison H Turnbull C McWilliam O Hatzsismalis K Simmons

Buffaloes: D Carbone T Hart-Aluni T Docherty-Cole M Althouse K Duggan

Led by captain Kylie Duggan, the Buffs were simply too strong in the contest and had too many playmakers in their front half, winning 4.10 (34) to Nightcliff’s 2.4 (16).

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Buffettes seek grand final redemption against first-time Tigals

DARWIN Buffettes will be looking to their potent mix of experienced leaders and young talent to give them the edge in the NTFL women’s grand final.

Last year the Buffettes faced grand final defeat after coming agonisingly close (11 points) against a strong and focused PINT outfit.

But this year they’ve been ruthless throughout the competition eager to go one better.

Buffettes captain Kylie Duggan said last year’s loss was fuel to her side’s progression in the 2021-22 competition. “We’re fired up and more than ready for this grand final,” Duggan said.

“We’ve been working hard and had a pretty consistent season other than after Christmas but I feel we’re really finding form at the right time.

“Losing that final (last year) is something that always sits in the back of our heads, it was a tough loss to take.

“But we’ve got that same consistent side going into the final. There’s a good feel among the squad and we know what the end goal is, we’ve worked so hard to get here and absolutely deserve this.”

The Buffettes have a strong mix of experience and youth right across the ground. Rising star nominee Freda Wosomo and Tayla Hart-Aluni have been two of the side’s standouts, while 19-year-old Molly Althouse was named the league best and fairest winning the Gwynne medal.

And they’ve mixed right in with some of the league’s best including Duggan herself, Jemma Iacono, Ebony Miller and Tikesha Docherty-Cole.

Now both the youth and the experienced have one united goal in mind.

“Molly absolutely deserved that award. She’s had a really good consistent season,” Duggan said. “She’s a naturally gifted, talented footballer, she works so hard and she just doesn’t give up until she gets that ball. Hopefully she can pursue footy and go further in her footy career.

“For some of the girls this is their first grand final and for others it’s maybe their third so we have a real mix of youth and experience.

“It lifts the side to have that mix. It helps the younger girls feel more comfortable and when it comes to crunch time and we need them to step up we know they will.

“To have that trophy in our hands at the end of the day will be pretty special.”

WATCH THE LIVESTREAM

Morrison’s troops looking to make history

THE Nightcliff women have already made history by entering their first ever NTFL grand final but when it comes to the day itself they will be wanting nothing less than a win.

After pulling off a gritty two-point win over Waratah in the prelim final the Tigers have reached their first ever grand final but know they’ve got a challenge ahead in the form of the Darwin Buffettes.

Nightcliff has come on in leaps and bounds this season topping the table in a season that involved only one loss – to Buffettes – with their across-park talent putting other sides to the sword.

Captain Eliza Morrison called it a relief to be in the final following a tough match against the Tahs.

“We’re excited for this grand final. There’s a real sense of relief after the weekend,” Morrison said.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game that could go either way so there was a bit of relief to not only make the grand final but also to experience this awesome week as well.

“Playing that extra week has been really good for us.

“We had a lot of back- end games away from TIO which perhaps caught us off guard going into that first final.

“So having back-to-back games at TIO gives us a better feeling here and has given us the chance to adjust.”

As well as being captain the on-baller will also be pivotal to the side’s success bringing all her experience from VFLW level with the Western Bulldogs.

In the back line look out for reliable full back and co-captain Hannah Turnbull and the impactful half back Sophie Hatzismalis.

Olivia Hatzismalis has been a standout in the ruck while up forward rising star nominee Cassie McWilliam has improved her game each and every week.

“We have to make sure we keep our running patterns. Some of our defence got caught off guard because we just stopped attacking a little bit,” Morrison said.

“We have to stick together as a unit. We did that better last week against Waratah where we just connected better from backline, midfield to our forwards.

“We proved that when it was contested we were pretty confident with our contested work so we need to be in control of that aspect of the game.”

‘I was pretty stoked’: Tahs star wins best rookie award

It was a bittersweet weekend for young Waratah ruck and forward Annabel Kievit.

The day after her Tahs went down by two points in an absolute heart-stopper against Nightcliff in the Women’s Premier League preliminary final, the promising 16-year-old claimed the NT News Rising Star award on Sunday night.

It was her first year in the top flight, turning 16 just before the season started.

Although Kievit was a little distracted when the Gwynne Medal was held in cyberspace, and wasn’t actually sure how many votes she scored.

“I was multi-tasking, I was cooking dinner as well so I missed a bit,” she told NT News.

However, the Year Eleven student was stoked to take out the best rookie prize after a tonne of track work, either with Waratah, NT Thunder or just extra sessions at home.

She also benefited from the guidance of Tahs captain and two-time Gwynne medallist Lisa Roberts.

Season 2021-22 was one of major achievement: playing for the Territory in the annual representative match, Kievit also came fifth in the club’s best and fairest after being 14 Premier League matches, kicking 12 goals and named within the club’s best players on nine occasions.

However, the modest teenager directed discussions ack to her team, saying the Tahs should be proud of their efforts despite a few costly misses in the second half at TIO Stadium on Saturday.

“We played our hearts out and we all left everything out on the field, so there’s not much (more) you can ask for,” she said.

“(But) it was a nice result (to win the award) to end the season with.

“I was pretty stoked I got to play up in Premier League and pretty happy with the end result.”

It came a week after several of her teammates suffered heat stroke and another was hospitalised following the 33-point semi-final win over PINT on March 5.

“It was very difficult to get the same speed as I usually would,” she said.

“It was a lot more tiring on the body. After the game I was very dehydrated.

“That player who did get sent to hospital, she didn’t even play, she just got it from the warm up. It was pretty intense.”

Just like her fellow Rising Star award winner, Wanderers defensive ace Lloyd Johnston, Kievit has come from a soccer background – playing with Mindil Aces with Tigers star Cassie McWilliam – before graduating over to Aussie Rules with aplomb.

Apart from Premier League success, Kievit has also improved her skills through representing the Gold Coast Suns in the Under 17 NAB Challenge last year: “That was one of the best opportunities I’ve had for myself to showcase my skills”.

She has also made the cut for the Allies squad, which draws on some of the best junior talent across the country.

Tahs coach Heidi Thompson said Kievet was already being considered as a “draftable player”.

“She’s performing beyond her years,” Thompson said.

Tigers qualify for their first ever Women’s Premier League grand final

Two cool last quarter Eliza Morrison majors was the difference as Nightcliff booked a place in its first ever Women’s Premier League grand final with a heart-stopping two-point win over Waratah at TIO Stadium.

The Tahs were left to rue a number of missed opportunities, with a relatively quiet Aggie Singh smacking into an upright from about 10m out late in the third term.

Tahs still had time in the dying moments to kick the winning goal after Morrison’s second, but couldn’t muster the clean possessions required as the Tiger defence fought gallantly in the heat.

Earlier, in a goalless opening quarter, Waratah defended strongly for most of the term, keeping the ball locked into its forward half, with Isobel Hartog, Stephanie O’Brien and veteran Lisa Roberts routinely pinging the pill towards the airport end, but without reward.

The script was flipped in the second, though, with the Tigers suddenly producing all the forward assaults and the Tahs back six under increasing stress, as Jacqueline Anyon-Smith plucked a brilliant pack mark.

Tahs withstood the barrage though, with two of its premium performers – Lisa Miceli and Annabel Kievit – marking and goaling to finally attain some breathing space.

The margin would be trimmed back to just one point after a classy, set shot finish from Cassie McWilliam.

The left-footer continued to grow in stature in the third; a brilliant snap out of traffic was a quarter highlight.

Then an always-threatening Lauren Gooden swooped on a loose ball to score a six-pointer as the Tigers threatened to kick clear.

But the game maintained its seesaw theme, as Waratah won some crucial one-on-ones with Singh, who had kept deathly quiet by her explosive standards, converted after a Tiger turnover through the middle.

Tahs had all the momentum early in the fourth, with Singh bouncing back from her third term poster to snap a beauty from a tight angle.

But Nightcliff hit yet back again after Morrison marked an across-goals pass from the boundary line to put the Tigers up by three points.

The pendulum swung back towards Waratah once more after Kievit’s clutch, low set shot flew, only just, over the hands of the Tigers defenders in the goalsquare.

But Morrision’s defensive pressure would be the final piece of decisive play in a best on ground performance, causing an exiting Tahs defender to incorrectly dispose of the ball, then cooly converted the penalty.

Morrison said the match was an “emotional rollercoaster” but her defenders stood up when it counted.

“Our backline fought all day to clear the ball out,” Morrison said.

“They’ve been the backbone of our team all season so they’ve carried us through another one.”

She downplayed her two last quarter goals – “I was pretty lucky they were pretty close to goal” – and praised Sophie Hatzismalis for keeping Singh quiet.

A jubilant Tigers coach Shannon Millar said her players simply persisted all day.

“After a game like that I’m just relieved it’s over,” she said.

Tahs general Lisa Roberts told NT News she was “devastated” by the loss.

“Maybe we were a bit flat footed and that just caught up to us, but obviously not taking anything away from Nightcliff,” Roberts said.

“They had really great structures out there, and played a really good style of footy.”

WATCH THE REPLAY

SCORE:

NIGHTCLIFF: 0.0 2.3 4.4 6.4 (40)

WARATAH: 0.2 2.4 3.6 5.8 (38)

GOALS:

Nightcliff: C McWilliam E Morrison 2 J Anyon-Smith L Gooden

Waratah: J Singh A Kievit 2 L Miceli

BEST:

Nightcliff: E Morrison L Gooden E Casey H Turnbull C McWilliam J Anyon-Smith

Waratah: S O’Brien L Roberts A Kievit N Watts I Hartog

Absolute thriller promised in Women’s Premier League preliminary final

In a mouth-watering Women’s Premier League preliminary final clash this Saturday, Nightcliff will take on Waratah for a spot in the grand final.

After losing only one match and finishing at the top of the ladder after the home-and-away season, Nightcliff dropped their first final in tough conditions at TIO Stadium against Darwin Buffettes last weekend, where the mercury hit 34 degrees with 70 per cent humidity.

Waratah, on the other hand, are in fantastic form, having won both their finals with commanding performances by a total of 117 points, with their two-way running and pressure game being the centre of their success.

The Tigers won both encounters against Waratah during the home-and-away season, but with Waratah’s recent form, an intriguing matchup is expected.

Nightcliff coach Shannon Millar said there are a few sore bodies from the tough and hot contest against the Buffettes on the weekend, but that the girls have been really positive during this week’s training.

Coach Millar expects a hard contest, and said a whole-team effort would be vital to stop Waratah.

“I’m expecting it to be a really tough game, they’ve been in really good form, they’ve got some really good momentum,” Millar said.

“They’ve got strong leaders and a lot of finals experience within the team, with their leaders spread across the three lines of the ground.”

Waratah coach Heidi Thompson also expects a great contest, for Nightcliff to come out firing, and will look to reduce the impact of star Tigers Eliza Morrison and Hannah Turnbull.

“Across the board, there’s a number of players we’ll look at, but they’re probably two we will focus on a bit more closely,” Thompson said.

Waratah defender Isabella Rapson-Staropoli said there were a few nerves ahead of the game, but the team was “working like clockwork”.

“We are just riding this momentum wave that we’ve been surfing, and we are really excited to see where it’s gonna take us,” she said.

Coach Thompson said her team had recovered well after playing in blistering heat last weekend, but that they aren’t yet daring to dream of a grand final spot: “One week at a time, the girls aren’t looking too far ahead.”

Buffettes qualify for the big dance

A SMART and composed game has seen the Darwin Buffettes earn themselves an early entry into the women’s grand final after they beat Nightcliff Tigers 9.3 (57) to 4.3 (27) at TIO Stadium.

The Buffettes had control of the footy right away putting pressure on the Nightcliff backline from the off.

Molly Althouse was dominant in the midfield, as she has been all season, while Ebony Miller played a key link up role up forward to give her side every opportunity.

Tigers, who had topped the table during the regular season, were able to withhold that pressure for some time with Sophie Hatzismalis hitting tackles left and right.

However, the Double Blues could not be refused forever and soon enough skipper Kylie Duggan slotted through the opening major from a tricky angle.

Nightcliff got into the scoring in the second quarter when young gun Cassie McWilliam made more than one impressive break down the field.

Her breaks and some important possessions from Eliza Morrison saw the side back in contention heading into the second half.

But the Buffettes never lost their heads using their multiple scoring options and when it came to hitting their targets across the ground were the better side.

Usual full back Bianca Stokes came up forward taking the opportunity to score a goal while Delsey Ah Wang contributed a double.

Miller got in the scoring in the fourth quarter, a reward for a big day’s effort in which her composed distributions had set up many a goal.

“It’s amazing to come away with the win. It was a brilliant effort by all the girls, we dug deep and it’s amazing to be into the grand final,” Miller said.

“I’ve come back from Districts to my home club in Buffs this year and to be straight into the grand final with them is brilliant.

“It came down to our composure. The girls just worked hard all around the ground. It was a full team effort and now the focus is perfecting our game and ensuring we’re all in the right frame of mind.”

Nightcliff earned themselves some confidence late on to carry into the preliminary final putting some possessions together and while Kristy Irvine was able to add a couple of goals.

WATCH THE REPLAY

Score:

Nightcliff: 0.0 1.3 1.3 4.3 (27)

Buffettes: 3.1 3.3 6.3 9.3 (57)

Goals:

Nightcliff: C McWilliam 2 K Irvine 2

Buffettes: D Ah Wang 2 K Duggan R Denyer J Ransome B Stokes J Gregory M Roberts

Best:

Nightcliff: C McWilliam S Hatzismalis E Morrison K Irvine H Turnbull

Buffettes: E Miller M Althouse T Hart-Aluni K Duggan T Docherty-Cole

Waratah end PINT’s premiership defence

WARATAH have continued their hot finals form in scorching conditions, marching to a 34-point win over reigning premiers PINT.

Waratah dominated the first half and maintained their lead for the rest of the game, ending

PINT’s season and the chance to win back-to-back premierships.

The Queenants kicked the first goal of the day courtesy of a long-range running major from Jacinta Reid, before Waratah hit back with a goal from Megan Hunt, and another from Jo Guthridge just before the quarter time siren.

PINT was one player down early on too, with Lisa Bleakley limping off in the hands of trainers with an ankle injury, failing to return.

In the second quarter, Waratah kicked three unanswered goals, including a gift from a 50m

penalty, to open up a five-goal buffer at half time.

PINT’s injury luck went from bad to worse with midfielder Amy Chittick, who was doing a power of work through the middle, ran out the game out with a lower leg injury, while usual on-baller Hillary Grubb was moved to full forward in the second half after some heavy knocks early on.

The second half was relatively even on the scoreboard, with PINT continuing to battle hard as players from both teams tired under the intense heat.

For Waratah, half back Isobel Hartog ran all day, while Stephanie O’Brien was electric with either her turn of foot and took several running bounces, while Aggie Singh finally got reward for effort, kicking a goal in the fourth quarter, finishing with 1.6 for the match.

Waratah Coach Heidi Thompson said she was really proud of her team being able to perform under the hot conditions and was pleased the work on the training track had paid off.

“Our two-way running has been an area of improvement over the last couple of weeks,” Thompson said.

“I was pleased that we weren’t only attacking, but we turned around and gave pressure, which I thought we were superb at throughout the day.”

Waratah defender Isabella Rapson-Staropoli said post-game that the team has hit their straps during the finals.

“It’s such an awesome feeling. We’ve been taking each week as it comes and we’re starting to gel really well as a team at the right time,” she said.

Waratah will next week face the loser of Nightcliff and Darwin for a spot in the Women’s Premier League grand final.

WATCH THE REPLAY

Score

Waratah: 2.3 5.6 6.10 8.13 (61)

PINT: 1.0 1.0 2.2 4.3 (27)

Goals

Waratah: J Guthridge 2 M Hunt L Miceli B Roberts M Jeans A Singh A Kievit

PINT: H Grubb 2 J Reid R Huppatz

Best

Waratah: I Hartog I Rapson-Staropoli S O’Brien M Hunt J Guthridge

PINT: A Chittick R Huppatz H Grubb J Reid R Hicks

Buffettes snatch three-point win over PINT

DARWIN Buffettes dug deep to eke out a tight extra time 2.6 (18) to 2.3 (15) win over a fast starting PINT in the women’s qualifying final.

PINT had just the start they were looking for dominating the possession and applying the pressure to put the Buffettes on the back foot early.

And that early dominance paid dividends for the Queenants whose quick disposals saw a couple of quick goals go the way of Jordyn Nicholls-Ramirez and Casey Morris.

Amy Chittick, playing her 150th NTFL match, and Reni Hicks were busy across the midfield throwing themselves into every contest and on the lookout to smoother the ball whenever possible.

The Buffettes, as they’ve proven all season, are never out of the contest for long and as soon as they were able to put some possessions together were back in the game.

Young gun Freda Wosomo was her usual dangerous self while Tayla Hart-Aluni had more than one pivotal disposal and on the chime of quarter time Janna Ransome put one through.

The scoring slowed down from there with neither side yielding any clear cut possessions in front of their goalsquare.

It was however the Buffettes who seemed to have the better momentum with Molly Althouse and Jemma Iacono delivering more than one crunching tackle to their opposition.

Hart-Aluni’s runs continued to be destructive running in the wet conditions as if they were normal and it was her that kicked the pivotal goal in the third quarter, feeding off a handball from captain Kylie Duggan.

But neither side could convert that advantage into anything concrete come full time and were forced into an extra time contest.

It was there that the fitness of the Buffettes shone most as they gathered a couple of extra points to see themselves through to a win over the reigning premiers.

“There’s a sense of relief for us. We had a slow start to the game and to play the extra time that we did was really tough on the body,” Duggan said.

“The girls dug deep to get there in the end and I couldn’t be prouder of the team as a whole and I’m really proud of the efforts.

“They made it a faster paced game and we were behind for most the game but we kept up after and we need to make sure that we start like that from the get go going forward.

“We wanted to come away with the win and we did just that. We want to get to that grand final so know we have to dig even deeper again next week.”

The Buffettes will face the Nightcliff Tigers next week with the winner there set to move straight into the grand final.

WATCH THE REPLAY

Score:

PINT: 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 (15)

Buffettes: 1.0 1.0 2.1 2.3 2.6 (18)

Goals:

PINT: T Hart-Aluni J Ransome

Buffettes: J Nicholls-Ramirez C Morris

Best:

PINT: A Chittick R Hicks C Morris H Grubb C Henderson

Buffettes: T Hart-Aluni J Iacono F Wosomo K Duggan T Docherty-Cole

Tahs smash Saints by 84 points in elimination final

A dynamic forward-half performance has propelled Waratah to an 84-point win over St Mary’s in the Women’s Premier League elimination final.

Following two losses to St Mary’s during the home-and-away season, Waratah came out

with a point to prove, bursting out of the blocks to kick four unanswered goals in the first

seven minutes of the match.

The forward line trio of Lisa Miceli, Aggie Singh and Stephanie O’Brien were on fire

throughout the match, creating multiple scoring opportunities and combining for 11 of the

team’s 15 goals overall.

St Mary’s managed to stem the flow in the first quarter after the initial onslaught, and had

multiple inside 50s before hitting the scoreboard courtesy of a good crumbing goal from

Ciaralii Parnell.

The second quarter saw Waratah continue their dominance, with O’Brien putting

her mark on the game, kicking three goals, including a difficult set shot from near the

boundary line.

St Mary’s struggled to penetrate a Waratah half back line led by Megan Hunt and Isobel

Hartog, going scoreless for the quarter.

Waratah extended their lead even further in the second half, with Megan White kicking two

goals, and Aggie Singh bouncing a clever goal through from 40m, a highlight.

The heavy conditions played into the hands of Waratah, with their bigger bodies helping

them control the stoppages.

“We were pretty worried about the wet weather, but I think it worked in our favour,” said

O’Brien post-game, who finished with a tidy 5.1.

“We were just really concentrated on getting our heads over the footy on the ground and

just trying to get it out of the mess and get it long.”

St Mary’s skipper Isabelle Porter was best afield for the Saints, while young gun Emma Stark

was prolific all over the field.

WATCH THE REPLAY

SCORE:

Waratah: 4.2 9.5 13.5 15.7 (97)

St Mary’s: 1.0 1.0 2.0 2.1 (13)

Goals

Waratah: S O’Brien 5 L Miceli 4 A Singh M White 2 A Kievit B Martin

St Mary’s: C Parnell D Kobelt

Best

Waratah: L Miceli S O’Brien L Roberts A Singh I Hartog

St Mary’s: I Porter E Stark E Forshaw C Grant C Parnell

Emma Stark kicks three goals on Women’s Premier League debut

A multi-talented 16-year-old is bridging the gulf between football umpiring and playing with aplomb, starring with either the leather or a whistle in hand.

Emma Stark shone in her Women’s Premier debut, as a player, at Gardens Oval against Waratah on Saturday with her three goals from half forward crucial in a 13-point win.

However, in a footballing tale that has become common place for the talented teen, Stark then backed it up by field umpiring a men’s fixture 24 hours later.

The Year Eleven O’Loughlin Catholic College student, who is dreaming of an AFLW playing or AFL umpiring career, is also flexible.

She got the call up for her Premier match debut on October 16 just two hours prior after an umpire got sick, making her the youngest female field umpire at the highest level in NTFL history.

Emma Stark sidesteps a Waratah opponent on February 5 in her Premier debut. Picture: Warren Leyden.

The previous season, she also filled in last minute to officiate her first Division One game after an umpire injured his leg.

Stark said umpiring and playing complemented each other.

“It helps with playing... knowing the rules and knowing where to set up, it gives you a different perspective of the game,” she said.

At Gardens Oval on Saturday, Stark said she was “a bit nervous” before the clash but had the support of her teammates and even some of her opponents, collecting around 20 possessions.

“It’s literally been the best decision I’ve ever made (to join St Mary’s),” she said.

Emma Stark has impressed as a player and umpire in the NTFL. Picture: Gerry Wood.

Stark admits she was the beneficiary of a “lucky bounce” to score her first Premier six-pointer, before fending off a Waratah opponent to slot her second.

Then, she marked strongly in the pocket to kick her third and book her place among the best Saints players.

Undeniably a busy weekend, Stark admits she’s had evenbigger days on the field.

A few rounds ago, after playing an Under 18 game, she then officiated a Division Two match after an umpire broke his rib, before later adjudicating a Division One fixture at Palmerston.

“I did three games in the one day. Far out, I was stuffed (after those games),” she said.

Feedback from players, officials and fans so far had been supportive, too.

Stark celebrates with St Mary’s teammate Roslyn Starr after a Saints goal. Picture: Warren Leyden.

After fluffing her first attempt at a bounce during one men’s match, she felt like the players had her back.

“They were saying: ‘Look mate, just have another shot, it’s all right if you stuff up again, we’re all good, we’re here for you’,” she remembered.

St Mary’s women’s coach Jarred Ilett said Stark was an “absolute ripper”, level-headed, a pleasure to coach who had the talent for an AFLW career.

“She’s one of the most committed juniors I’ve seen,” Ilett said.

“She wants to achieve, she’s just got that determination. I’m just looking forward to seeing her thrive.”

AFLNT umpiring co-ordinator Andrew Wainwright said AFL umpire John Howorth, who provided Stark tutelage earlier this year, said she was one of the best junior umpiring talents in the country for her age.

“She shows exemplary dedication and commitment to her crafts, is a keen learner that trains very hard... Emma has such a bright future in store for her,” Wainwright said.

Originally published as Territory footballer Jasmyn Hewett credits PINT for her rediscovering her love for the game