The NT News looks at the predictions and tips for Round 2 of the NTFL

We’re into Round 2 of the NTFL and there are plenty of interesting match-ups. We’ve looked at each round examining who will win and why.

Week two has arrived of NTFL Men’s Premier League and it promises some interesting contests.

Reigning premiers St Mary’s will be looking to atone for last Friday night’s 101-point debacle at Gardens Oval when they take on a team which hasn’t won since before Covid seriously hit our shores, the Tiwi Bombers.

Meanwhile, at Norbuilt Oval, it looks an even contest between Southern Districts, armed with star ruckman Matt Dennis and highly-rated Sunraysia defender Matthew Mazzini, in their first hit out in 2022-23, and a Wanderers outfit bolstered by Steven Motlop and Ed Simpson.

Buffs will test their early season confidence against Waratah, who looked super impressive against the Saints in Round 1.

And at TIO on Saturday night, PINT will take heart from a competitive second half against Nightcliff on Premier League debut against a recalibrated Palmerston.

St Mary’s v Tiwi Bombers

Saturday 2.30pm – Gardens Oval

Reigning premier St Mary’s, smarting from a 101-point loss to Waratah in Round 1, will be looking to bounce back in a big way against Tiwi Bombers at Gardens Oval.

The Bombers, who have not won a game in Men’s Premier League since before Covid – beating Wanderers on February 15, 2020 by 13 points – will also be without Dion Munkara, who has been rubbed out for three weeks following a striking charge.

He was one of the Bombers’ best against Palmerston with 19 disposals – including 11 contested possessions – plus four clearances and three tackles in a losing cause.

The Bombers couldn’t curb the influence of Pies debutant Baxter Mensch, with the Geelong West midfielder collecting 43 possessions, including 16 contested, with 14 marks and three goals.

They were also were thrashed in the air, losing the hit outs (38-10) and contested marks (12-5).

Bomber David Kruse goes up against Palmerston’s Tristen Waack in Round 1. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

However, former AFL player Harley Bennell has been named as an emergency with coach Brenton Toy telling the NT News recently he expected the former Sun, Docker and Dee to start his NTFL campaign this weekend.

The Bombers have also named former Western Bulldog, GWS Giant and Richmond VFL captain Sam Darley, and ex-Box Hill defender/winger Mason DeWit.

Meanwhile, the Saints, with less than 10 players from its premiership team, were no match for a well drilled Tahs and will be looking to atone for a shocking start to the year.

With the Pies having eight individual goal kickers last week, Bombers’ defence will be stretched again covering the likes of Jackson Calder, Joseph Salmon and Nick Yarran.

While the Saints are far from the finished article, it is hard to see the Bombers upsetting a Green Machine keen to get their season back on track.

Ben’s tip: Saints by 30 points.

Southern Districts v Wanderers

Saturday 4pm – Norbuilt Oval

An elimination final rematch at Freds Pass after the Eagles got the best of the Crocs by 12 points at TIO Stadium back in February.

And the Eagles appear to have a more settled line up by comparison, with 11 players from that game to run out at Norbuilt Oval, while gaining some extra firepower through the returning WA forward Ed Simpson, plus former mercurial AFL forward Steven Motlop.

However, Wanderers will miss Darren Shillabeer, who was kept goalless in Round 1 against Buffs.

Wanderers, without young defensive ace and draft hopeful Lloyd Johnston, were a touch leaky at times, with Buffs kicking the last four goals of the game after the Eagles had inched ahead in the final quarter.

Steven Motlop was the Wanderers’ best player in Round 1. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson.

However, the Eagles would have been delighted with the first game from Motlop, who collected 26 disposals – 14 contested – eight clearances and kicked two goals.

Meanwhile, Districts have a much different looking outfit, with just a handful in the 22 from last year’s elimination final – Dean Staunton, Brandon Rusca, Beau Schwarze, Frazer Driscoll and Tomas Boustead – are missing onballer Jake McQueen while Josiah Farrer has gone to Palmerston.

However, the Crocs have added star ruckman Matt Dennis (from Palmerston) and small forward Ronald Fejo Jr (Wanderers), plus defender Matthew Mazzini, regarded as one of the best in the Sunraysia Football League, and midfielder Carter Prendergast (Ballarat).

Staunton will also play his 150th Premier League match, giving Crocs and added element of motivation.

Ben’s tip: Wanderers by 6 points

Darwin Buffaloes v Waratah

Saturday 4.30pm – TIO Stadium

Darwin Buffaloes may have some early season confidence, but that will be put to the test against a super-composed Waratah unit.

The addition of former Nightcliff stars Kaine Riley, Liam Holt-Fitz and Kokwam Niki added ingredients the Double Blues have long been missing.

Add in former Nichols Medallist Dom Brew – another former Nightcliff standout – and Buffaloes have the players needed to push back to finals, and perhaps beyond.

However, against Wanderers, they were given plenty of opportunities in front of goal, and those chances won’t come as often against Tahs.

Ryan Pendlebury and Thomas Clarke will be looked to in the midfield and both had massive matches in the opener.

Bradley Stokes, with seven tackles and 27 disposals, was another standout against Wanderers and he will face stiff oppositions from last year’s grand finalists.

Christopher Atkinson of Buffaloes takes on Matthew Motlop in the ruck. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Waratah proved themselves a rock solid unit in the season opener, smashing reigning premiers St Mary’s by 101 points.

Instead of looking like a rusty Round 1 side, they appeared a pre-finals outfit.

The Tahs defence led by Dylan Collis, Daniel O’Dwyer and Jake Bowd completely shut down the key Saints forwards, including Dennis Dunn winner Jackson Calder, keeping them goalless for a half.

Buffaloes may have the confidence, but they need to do a whole lot more to prove they’re capable of getting one over Waratah, with Tom Banuelos and Jayden Magro in hot form.

Nathaniel’s tip: Waratah by 46 points.

Palmerston Magpies v PINT

Saturday 7pm – TIO Stadium

The final match of Round 2 pitches a Palmerston side boasting plenty of strong recruits against new league side PINT.

All eyes will be on former AFL stars Eddie Betts and Cam Pedersen, who each kicked three goals in the opener against Tiwi Bombers.

However, don’t forget well-known NTFL stars Ashton Hams, Phil Wills and Josiah Farrer, who have also joined at Cazalys Arena.

And then there’s Baxter Mensch (43 disposals) and Tristen Waack (32 hit-outs) who both enjoyed brilliant NTFL debuts in the black and white.

There’s a lot to look forward to in this Palmerston side and after many years outside of finals, they’re a good chance of a return.

Eddie Betts looks further afield for Palmerston Magpies in Round 1. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson.

However, the key will be getting this team of champions to work together and become the champion team Palmerston have been waiting so long for.

This week they come up against a PINT side who despite a loss did enough to impress in their first outing in the Men’s Premier League.

The Greenants are an inexperienced side at this level and very much are still an unknown commodity.

Elliot Chalmers and Brodie Motlop were among the players to impress in sodden conditions at Nightcliff Oval and there was a period in the second half where PINT seriously threatened.

But against a Palmerston side who now have the means and the firepower to aim for higher honours, the league’s newest side will struggle.

Nathaniel’s tip: Palmerston by 32 points.

ROUND 1 PLAYER RATINGS AND KEY MATCH UPS

It was a NTFL opening round that had it all from a surprising blowout to an early season shower which didn’t dampen the quality of goals.

In the men’s competition it was Waratah, Palmerston, Buffaloes and Nightcliff who came out on top, while Palmerston, PINT, Buffaloes and Waratah triumphed in the women’s.

WATCH ALL THE REPLAYS HERE

WARATAH ON THE MONEY

Jayden Magro enjoyed a fruitful time in front of goal against St Mary’s. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Waratah’s massive battering of last season’s premiers St Mary’s sent shockwaves across the competition.

The side has started the past few seasons strong, but not against the level of competition it faced on Friday.

The composure they showed in defence and the near training ground drills they ran in moving the ball up the field was a sign this Tahs side had a strong off-season.

Saints on the other hand looked undercooked and sluggish.

It’s common for any Round 1 side to look rusty after the break, but Waratah appeared like a Round 15 side in front of their supporters at Gardens Oval, even with just 10 players from last year’s grand final in the side.

Daniel O’Dwyer, Jake Bowd and Dylan Collis formed parts of a formidable defence, while further up forward the likes of newcomer Tom Banuelos and Jayden Magro had a field day.

Waratah aren’t quite the finished article yet, but they’re a lot more structured and a lot more gelled than any other side that played at the weekend.

The rest of the league has been warned. They will have to up their games if they want to equal the Warriors.

They now turn their minds to Buffaloes, who also managed a win at the weekend.

Shutting down Liam Holt-Fitz will be crucial, and Waratah have the defence to get that done.

If Tahs play the way they did against St Mary’s and they should keep their berth at the top for weeks to come.

Round 1 St Mary’s vs Waratah Votes

3. Daniel O’Dwyer (Waratah)

2. Dylan Collis (Waratah)

1. Tom Banuelos (Waratah)

BRIGHT SPOTS FOR PINT

While the Greenants didn’t exactly jump out of the gates in their testing Men’s Premier League debut at Nightcliff Oval, there were plenty of bright spots to savour from a five-goal loss.

Despite the sodden conditions, the Tigers had slotted three relatively spectacular goals as the visitors were restricted to minimal forward entries and just one six-pointer, albeit through a free kick.

However, the debutants were far more competitive after the main break, maintaining a 29-point buffer from half time as the Greenants enjoyed a serious swing of momentum in the third term.

And PINT would have been happy with the work of midfielder Elliot Chalmers, who played 11 games for the club in division one in 2021-22.

He was regularly among the best players and matched his Tiger opponents for class.

Coming off a 17-game season with Myponga-Sellicks in the Great Southern Football League, the former SANFL player with North Adelaide (15 games in 2021) had plenty of important touches in difficult terrain.

He should be a key asset for Shannon Motlop’s men, who next face Palmerston.

If they bring their second half showing they could mix it with the side in black and white.

But if they bring their first half performance the more experienced Magpies could run all over them.

Round 1 Nightcliff vs PINT Votes

3. Cam Ilett (Nightcliff)

2. Brodie Filo (Nightcliff)

1. Elliott Chalmers (PINT)

MAGPIES RECRUITS STAND OUT

Bombers David Kruse goes up against Tristen Waack in round one of the Men's NTFL 22/23 season. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

The Palmerston Magpies brought plenty of their newly-recruited superstars into the season opener against the Tiwi Bombers, but it was a ruckman who stole the show.

Ruckman Tristen Waack led the charge in every midfield bout, ensuring his side got the ball, and plenty of it, on the way to the Maggies’ clinical win over the Bombers.

He wasn’t the only newcomer to the Magpies side to make an impact with former AFL stars Cam Pedersen and Eddie Betts both kicking their share of the goals.

Phil Wills, Josiah Farrer and Jonathan Farrer all also stood out in the league opener, and will only improve in the black and white as the season goes on.

Last year’s Nichols medallist Eric Guthrie was also, once again, a standout.

If they gel properly Palmerston will finally find themselves back in the fight for finals footy after years in the wilderness.

You would expect the duo of Pedersen and Betts to once again be targets up front for the Magpies

In recent years, Palmerston have struggled putting consecutive wins together, but against an unproven PINT will be the favourites in the second round.

And their arsenal of newcomers will once again be key.

Round 1 Palmerston vs Tiwi Votes

3. Tristen Waack (Palmerston)

2. Baxter Mensch (Palmerston)

1. Eric Guthrie (Palmerston)

GUN FORWARD MAKES TAHS SINGH

Aggie Singh dominates Picture: Julianne Osborne

Waratah could be a team to watch in Women’s Premier League this season.

Smarting from a two-point loss in last year’s preliminary final to Nightcliff, the Tahs sent an early message to the rest of the competition – with two of its young stars having an absolute day out – against last year’s finalists St Mary’s in a 116-point drubbing.

Despite being bolstered by the addition of two Buffettes premiership players during the off-season in Jemma Iacono and Tikesa Docherty-Cole, the Saints went down 21.11 (137) to just 3.3 (21), with Aggie Singh kicking eight goals.

And last year’s NT News Rising Star, Annabel Kievit, was also among Tahs’ best.

However, they won’t have it as easy in Round 2 against a much better side in reigning premiers Darwin Buffettes.

The Buffettes had an equally dominant win and will be licking their lips at the prospect at playing against another big side after a relatively easy tune-up.

This is an important match on the calendar and could very well nail down the top side early.

Singh will once again be a go to for Tahs, while Buffs will be looking to Johanna Gregory and Lee-Anne Allia as their forward targets.

Round 1 Waratah vs St Mary’s Women Votes

3. Aggie Singh (Waratah)

2. Annabel Kievet (Waratah)

1. Madeline Jeans (Waratah)

BUFFS HAVE THEIR CONFIDENCE BACK

Ryan Pendlebury was impressive in his return to Darwin Buffaloes. Picture: Celina Whan

There was an air of confidence from the Buffaloes leading into the opening round, and against Wanderers they backed it up.

The side put in a solid 10-week training block ahead of the season, but more importantly the Double Blues made some recruitments that could very well return them to the top.

As expected there was some rustiness in their opening game, but there were plenty of positives as well.

Last year Buffaloes looked at sea whenever captain Jarrod Stokes and star ruck Ben Archard were missing.

But they were missing both against the Muk Muks and still pulled through scoring four goals in a row to close out the final term.

New recruits Liam Holt-Fitz, Kaine Riley and Kokwam Niki starred, while Ryan Pendlebury was busy right the way through.

Now they face a much tougher challenge in last year’s grand finalists Waratah.

Tahs have the strongest defence in the league meaning Buffaloes won’t be able to rely on the opportunist goals that came their way against the Muk Muks.

It will instead be a grind dependent on winning the fray in the midfield and ensuring their forwards don’t miss their targets.

Buffs miss their opportunities and it will be a long night for them at TIO Stadium, because they will not be gifted the same freedom they enjoyed in the opener.

Round 1 Buffaloes vs Wanderers Votes

3. Liam Holt-Fitz (Buffaloes)

2. Kaine Riley (Buffaloes)

1. Steven Motlop (Wanderers)

Originally published as The NT News looks at the predictions and tips for Round 2 of the NTFL