NTFL 2024-25: Palmerston Magpies vs Darwin Buffaloes Round 3 live stream

Their last win was on February 11, 2023, so it was no wonder Palmerston’s ground-breaking success over their new neighbours was celebrated long and hard. Watch the full match REPLAY.

The Palmerston Magpies have sensationally snapped their winless drought, taking out the inaugural ‘Battle of Palmerston’ against the Darwin Buffaloes in the process.

It was the club’s first win in the NTFL Premier League since the penultimate round of the 2022-23 NTFL season.

And a couple of big ins including the returning Tristen Waack and Victorian journeyman Nayef Hamed inspired the new look black and whites to a brilliant 13.20 (98) to 5.11 (41) victory.

Hamed finished with a goal and easily among the Magpies best as they bounced back brilliantly from a flat performance against Waratah the previous week.

WATCH THE FULL MATCH REPLAY IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

It wasn’t until the second term that the contest truly got underway, with the Pies absolutely bullying Darwin off the park.

Nayef Hamad on the burst for Werribee Districts in 2019. Picture: Local Legends Photography

Desperate defensive efforts and wayward strikes of the ball kept Darwin in the fram,e but once Cameron Nyko and Ricky Walsh took control of the middle the Magpies put their foot to the floor.

Accuracy would be the home side’s only critique, scoring three majors of its 10 scoring shots in the term.

A more subdued period of play followed as Darwin were chasing scoreboard pressure while Palmerston showed its defensive improvements lead by stand-in captain Ryan Warfe.

The Double Blues lost their way in the final 20, chasing the play, ball watching and involving themselves in off the ball scraps that allowed the Pies to score a handful of late majors.

While the Magpies attack was singing up front led by a combined six-goal haul to forwards Thomas Antulov and Declan Barnett, it was the way they smothered the Buffaloes in defence that proved key in the big result.

Tristan Waack has returned to the Magpies. Picture Glenn Campbell

While on the sideline with his arm in a sling suffering an AC sprain, new captain Shaun Wilson was inspired by what the win means for the season ahead.

“What we witnessed was a changing of fortunes for the club and a group that was connected for all four quarters,” he said.

“From our 18s to our fly-ins, everyone stuck to their assignment and played a part in getting the monkey off our backs and securing a long awaited win.

“We knew that last weekend (against Waratah) it was our first hit out of the year and we were up against a side that’s pushing for top three.

“So, to have a bounce back performance such as this, and against our new rivals in the Buffs gives me a lot of confidence for what we can achieve moving forward.

“Our defence was brilliant and we looked structured, which sounds cliche but was a major issue last season.

“Up front we had a lot of different contributors who put their hands up, but it was our movement through the middle and quick link plays that won the contest for us.”

Score

Magpies: 2.5 5.12 7.16 13.20 (98)

Buffaloes: 1.4 2.5 4.9 5.11 (40)

Goals

Magpies:

Thomas Antulov 4, Declan Barnett 2, Ryan Bonham, Nayef Hamad, Joel Munnich, Cameron Nyko, Wade Rosas, Tristen Waack, Ricky Walsh

Buffaloes:

Liam Holt-Fitz 2, Joseph Collinson, Callum Hutcheson, Baxter Mensch

Best

Magpies:

Tristen Waack, Nayef Hamad, Connor Wright, Ryan Warfe, Thomas Antulov

Buffaloes:

Liam Holt-Fitz, Baxter Mensch, Brandon McDonald, Xavier Hampton, Callum Hutcheson

PREVIEW

A new neighbourhood rivalry will be ignited on Friday night while a newly-minted coach will take on the club he left at the end of last season.

Palmerston Magpies will rely on the home support at Cazalys Stadium against the Darwin Buffaloes on Friday, with the NT News and KommunityTV will stream every moment of the clash from 8pm.

The two proud clubs are now based side-by-side after the Buffaloes moved their base of operations to Palmerston for the 2024/25 season.

The Magpies are hoping the new rivalry will bring about a turn of fortunes as the club aims to snap a 20-month losing streak.

The black and whites have already shown moments of promise this season, even leading rivals Waratah after a quarter last week before conceding 139-9 in the next three.

Shaun Wilson in the 2024-25 NTFL men's Round 2 match between Palmerston and Waratah. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

There will be some added feeling for Buffaloes playing-coach Phil Wills as he goes up against the club he led only last season.

Wills and new Palmerston skipper Shaun Wilson also played alongside each other during Nightcliff’s recent premiership years.

The Buffaloes came close to a win at Nightcliff in Round 2 and with Jarrod Stokes and Tom Simpson leading the way, the two blues will be confident they have what it takes to get their first win of the year.

Phil Wills playing for Darwin Buffaloes in Round 1 of the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Patch Clapp / AFLNT Media

The match will be able to be watch live and on demand, with a full replay available after full time.

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.

Originally published as NTFL 2024-25: Palmerston Magpies vs Darwin Buffaloes Round 3 live stream