2025-26 NTFL live stream: Watch Darwin Buffaloes v Wanderers in Round 1
Old rivals Buffaloes and Wanderers faced off to start the season in a match that meant plenty for the Buffs playing to honour one of their own. Watch the replay here.
The Darwin Buffaloes may have sprayed a few chances but were able to honour Willem Rockett with a win against a Wanderers outfit that went goalless in the first half.
The beloved Buffaloes clubman tragically died at a preseason training, and the two clubs came together ahead of the midday encounter in the Darwin heat to pay their respects to him.
It was a match defined by the typical rustiness of a first match encounter but inaccuracies definitely marred what was an otherwise dominant showing from the Buffaloes.
The Double Blues had a score of 3.12 at half time, but were comfortably ahead owing to the Muk Muks seeming unable to escape their defensive zone and scoring just one behind in the same period.
The likes of playing-coach Phil Wills and Jack Austin down backwere steadfast every time the ball came their way and though the match opened up the Buffs ran home the 10.20 (80) to 4.4 (28) winners.
Buffaloes captain Jarrod Stokes was a constant with the ball to start the new season and appeared not to have missed a beat since playing a grand final with Southern Mallee.
His efforts and the rebounding skills of his brother Bradley Stokes saw the forward line peppered with chances, many of which weren’t put through the middle sticks.
Luke Atkinson was notable for his effort setting up the first major of the match as his attempt fell short for Leyton Chisholm to boot through 18 minutes into the first quarter.
For Wanderers it was more of a struggle with their defenders in Matthew Motlop and Henry White among those hitting hard with early season aggression but unable to get momentum.
Wanderers had about half a dozen players from the premiership winning Millicent Football Club, but early doors they struggled to make an impact in their first game in the Top End
Playing assistant coach Cody Leggett was the standout for the Muk Muks and was quite literally everywhere in defence, winning the clearance battle and trying to tee up his teammates.
The game broke open in the second half with Wanderers finally getting a name in the goal scoring with Sebastian O’Connell.
They lifted slightly from there with some strong efforts from Dray Thompson and the continued efforts of Leggett, but Buffaloes matched the energy.
The final term was the most successful for the Buffaloes as they scored four including one for Nathan Spry, who recently played in a winning grand final for AFL Cairns.
“This win means a lot for us,” Jarrod Stokes said.
“The past few weeks have been tough for the boys losing one of our brothers, but we’ve responded well, have come so much closer as a group and it showed today.
“I was very impressed with our new player, we gelled well considering we haven’t had a lot of training together but it’s been a better preseason as a whole and that showed.
“Before the game we focused on two-way running, we know we can spread and that we’re a fast team but getting back to defend was big for us and we brought that in our pressure.
“It’s just about doing the basics well now, we know we have the talent we just have to back it up with our commitment.”
Score:
Wanderers: 0.1 0.1 1.3 4.4 (28)
Buffaloes: 1.4 3.12 6.15 10.20 (80)
Goals:
Wanderers:
Dray Thompson, Keelan Fejo, Sebastian O’Connell, Tyler Phillips
Buffaloes:
Aiden Grace 3, Jarrod Stokes 2, Nathan Spry, Nicholas Lehman, Leyton Chisholm, Callum Hutcheson, Jack Jones
Best:
Wanderers:
Cody Leggett, Matthew Motlop, Dray Thompson, Henry White, Dylan Dos Santos
Buffaloes:
Jarrod Stokes, Aiden Grace, Jack Austin, Bradley Stokes, Phillip Wills
PREVIEW
The Darwin Buffaloes will be full of emotion when they take on old rivals Wanderers in a match they will play in honour of one of their own.
Every moment of the blockbuster clash will be live streamed from 2pm on Saturday by The NT News and KommunityTV as part of our season-long coverage.
The Buffaloes have been galvanised by the tragic death of beloved clubman Willem Rockett in a preseason training session, with the whole to pay their respects ahead of the opening round match.
And the Double Blues will want to start their winning ways sooner this year than last when they only got over the line post the Christmas break.
Nathan Spry is one to look out for after playing in North Cairns drought-breaking premiership while Jarrod Stokes and Bradley Stokes are known game breakers.
Wanderers announced a host of interstate talent on the eve of the season starting and will want to put them to quick use when they run out at TIO Stadium.
Daniel Clee has been a long time part of the side and can be dangerous when on while WAFL talent Cody Leggett has committed to a season-long stay in the NT.
HOW TO WATCH
The NT News, KommunityTV 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.
On game day, the live stream for this match will appear at the top of this story in the lead up to the first bounce.
To find other games from this round click the links in the schedule box above.
Alternatively you can head to www.kommunitytv.com.au and use the video player at the top of the site to watch all the action live and scroll through the most recent replays.
Only News Corp Australia full digital subscribers will have exclusive access to watch the action.
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