NTFL 2024-25 live stream: Watch St Mary’s v Nightcliff Tigers women’s qualifying final

They were jumped early by Nightcliff but St Mary’s have progressed in the NTFL finals and kept their brilliant winning run going. Watch the full match REPLAY.

St Mary’s have extended their incredible undefeated streak to 15 wins after beating a fast-starting Nightcliff in the Women’s Premeir League qualifying final.

Saints have been the form side of the competition, particularly since the Christmas break, with their last loss coming all the way back in Round 3.

Though that record appeared in danger on Saturday night when their foes brought the early heat, forcing Saints to wait until the third quarter to take a lead they built into a 5.9 (39) to 4.2 (26) victory.

Nightcliff caught Saints out early in the piece with Sally Evans and Georgia Johnson important in pushing the ball down the ground to their forwards.

Crucially in their forward 50 they had the return of the very-experienced Mickayla Ward, who has only played once since Round 10.

Paula Pavic playing for St Mary's in the the women's qualifying final against the Nightcliff Tigers in the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Ward’s smarts and ability to take strong marks were key in the early run for Tigers as she scored two quick goals and show her side what she was missing.

It wasn’t as free-flowing for the Nightcliff forwards from then on however as Janet Baird locked down on Ward and Nikita Long kept the league’s leading goal kicker Cassie McWilliam out of the contest.

Saints found their way into proceedings from there as Paula Pavic found her footing in the ruck contest against AFLW ruck Fleur Davies who presented a huge challenge.

The ever present Billie Byers had her influence pushing the ball onward alongside a busy Nakeesha Miniter whose pace provided an edge.

The Tigers found themselves stuck in their defensive zone for long patches and roads out often turned into unwanted turn overs as Saints brought the pressure.

Those areas as well as a burst of scoring in the third quarter allowed Saints to take a lead off the boot of Grace Senior and Shakalia Gardiner-Dunn.

Billie Byers playing for St Mary's in the the women's qualifying final against the Nightcliff Tigers in the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Meanwhile, Nightcliff’s scoring didn’t resume until the final quarter when McWilliam emerged from the pack and quickly knocked it through.

But it was the only goal of the fourth quarter as Saints continued to pile on forward momentum but ended up with a run of five behinds, though the win was still theirs.

“We just have so much trust in each other and there’s so much heart in the team that when we go out there we have each other’s backs and that mentality is how we get wins,” Baird said.

“Finals footy is different and they caught us off guard in the first quarter, but we just trusted each other and the process, went back to basics and worked it out from there.

Janet Baird playing for St Mary's in the the women's qualifying final against the Nightcliff Tigers in the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“In the backline it was about giving respect where it’s due, we know how good their players are so we put some extra effort into them and luckily it worked out for us.

“Against PINT we just need to go back to structure again, we have a team first mentality and all the talent on paper but we need to show up again.

“It’s all about going back to all the hard work we’ve put in since pre-season and then going out and getting the job done against these top sides.”

Score:

Saints: 1.1 2.3 5.4 5.9 (39)

Tigers: 3.2 3.2 3.2 4.2 (26)

Goals:

Saints:

Grace Senior 2, Caitlin Sargent, Nakeesha Miniter, Shakalia Gardiner-Dunn

Tigers:

Mickayla Ward 2, Lekaiya Rabbitt, Cassie McWilliam

Best:

Saints:

Paula Pavic, Billie Byers, Janet Baird, Nakeesha Miniter, Grace Senior

Tigers:

Sally Evans, Georgia Johnson, Hannah Turnbull, Mickayla Ward, Fleur Davies

PREVIEW

There’s one win each in the battle between St Mary’s and Nightcliff this season, but questions remain over who can claim the glory in the most important match yet – the qualifying final.

The NT News and KommunityTV will stream every moment of this clash from 6.45pm on Saturday.

On recent results it is advantage Saints, who haven’t lost since the now very distant Round 3 at which stage they were 0-2 with defeats to both PINT and the Tigers.

Their fortunes changed as they found they flow in the season and their squad gelled into a side full of speed and skill, and have since beaten both the above sides.

Shakalia Gardiner-Dunn has been one of the junior finds of the season with her ability to find the goal, but she’s far from the only positive of this Saints outfit.

Paula Pavic and Bille Byers have been dominant through the midfield, while the likes of first-year skipper Nikita Long and Janet Baird have held down the defensive end very well.

Emily Forshaw playing for St Mary's in the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Patch Clapp / AFLNT Media

Eliza Hand playing for the Nightcliff Tigers in the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Celina Whan / AFLNT Media

As for Nightcliff, they have plenty to be positive about with talent of their own in every part of the ground led by experienced campaigners eager to win a premiership.

Gabrielle Deller and Georgia Johnson have been the dynamic duo through the midfield, while Cassie McWilliam topped the season’s goalkicking.

Then further back is where this side’s leaders rule with Hannah Turnbull and Sophie Hatzismalis able to trouble any opposition trip towards goal.

The full match replay will be available at the conclusion 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.

Originally published as NTFL 2024-25 live stream: Watch St Mary’s v Nightcliff Tigers women’s qualifying final