NTFL 2024-25 live stream: Watch St Mary’s v Waratah men’s elimination final

St Mary’s hadn’t beaten Waratah all season – but in the heat of a win or go home elimination final the reigning premiers have shown their class. Watch the full match REPLAY.

An experienced St Mary’s have proven proved their finals nous once again beating Waratah for the first time this season in a do-or-die elimination final.

A five-goal display from Jack Landt – including a match-turning three straight in the second quarter – sparked the reigning premiers to keep their flag defence alive.

The Ricky Nolan-coached Waratah were the only side to have beaten Saints in both their regular season meetings.

But some key outs and a strong start by St Mary’s punctuated by Landt’s second-quarter dominance allowed the Green Machine a 15.10 (100) to 8.6 (54) win and survival for another week.

Jack Landt booted three successive goals in the second term. Picture: Patch Clapp / AFLNT Media

Between them these sides have won the past three premierships and often meet at the pointy end of the knockouts, but this time it was a battle just to see the semi-finals.

Those previous clashes have so often been defined by the battle between the league’s leading goal kicker Jackson Calder and Waratah’s rock in the backline, Dan O’Dwyer.

O’Dwyer’s ability to keep Calder quiet was part of the winning formula in the past two meetings, but this time the defender wasn’t there, neither was Tanner Lovell who has been crucial in the midfield.

St Mary’s started strong, as they needed to with slow starts often their bane, with skipper Dylan Landt and Connor West getting through a mountain of touches.

Young gun Thomas Dewsbury enjoyed a breakout game of his own with constant effort plays proving his own ability to find the ball.

Dylan Landt was able to nail the first to cheers while Calder, marked by Toby Hutt, got one on the board early too, preventing Waratah from building the early buffer they so often have.

Waratah were able to get some momentum out of Arnold Kirby’s rucking skills and Scott Carlin on the carry, but it was a free kick and some Saints’ ball watching that gave them their first.

It was a flurry of three back-to-back goals off the boot of Jack Landt that finally broke the game open in the second quarter as his side built on confidence.

The only snare of that purple patch was Jacob Long pulling up with a hamstring injury and coming off with a shake of his head, which gave hints it may be the end of his season.

Otherwise, the side just built on their success in the middle with Dylan Landt playing across the ground, Joel Garner getting the pill out of the middle and Josh Smithson another forward force.

Tahs had flashes where they threatened to work back into the contest off the back of Brodie Carroll or Bailey Scott going forward, or Kirby nailing a goal of his own.

But they were unable to peg back the margin as St Mary’s rolled on, showing their finals experience and Jack Landt finishing with a bag of five goals.

“That was great, they got us twice during the year, but Nightcliff beat us three times last year before we won the final so we were pretty confident coming into finals,” he said.

“They got the run on us early last time so the start was key and everyone gave 100 percent, which is what we needed, there wasn’t a weak link for us so it’s really positive.

“As a small forward it’s about making the most of the opportunities when they come and it’s good I could do that, but it was a four quarter effort from everyone so I’m really pleased.

“It’s a bit different for us, we haven’t played an elimination final in the time I’ve been here, but once finals comes it’s a different game for us.

“I don’t know what it is, it must be the culture of the club we just find a way to click into gear at the right time and it was like that again here.

“Now Tiwi it’s about their spread, we have to defend well and slow them when they get going, we’re a good contested side so if we can keep it contested and get it to our forwards quick it will go a long way.”

Score:

Waratah: 3.3 4.4 7.4 8.6 (54)

Saints: 3.5 7.5 11.6 15.10 (100)

Goals:

Waratah:

Joel Hillis 2, Clay Shadforth, Arnold Kirby, Adam Govers, Mitchell Jorgensen, Timothy Kerinaiua, Liam Odea

Saints:

Jack Landt 5, Dylan Landt 2, Jackson Calder 2, Connor West 2, Josh Smithson 2, Chad Harris, Thomas Dewsbury

Best:

Waratah:

Bailey Scott, Nick Hoare, Toby Hutt, Jack Bambury, Arnold Kirby

Saints:

Dylan Landt, Jack Landt, Thomas Dewsbury, Connor West, William Robinson

PREVIEW

St Mary’s and Waratah are the winners of the past two NTFL premierships, but this year it’s a battle of survival with only one able to reach the semi-finals.

The NT News and KommunityTV will stream every moment of this clash from 4.15pm on Saturday.

Waratah would be in the other final if not for a forced draw against the Buffaloes, but instead they’re required to go through the knockouts the hard way.

An on song Waratah outfit is a dangerous prospect with Scott Carlin, Tanner Lovell and Ricky Monti among those able to lay on the hurt with their possessions.

Brodie Carroll is always dangerous at half-forward while Dan O’Dwyer is the perfect foil for Saints’ prime goal scorer Jackson Calder.

Crucially, for the side though they will hope their past couple of blowout wins will have helped their ability to close out games, having lost three times since Christmas in the final quarter.

Brodie Carroll playing for Waratah in the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Celina Whan / AFLNT Media

St Mary’s are always a side to look out for when it comes to finals and that won’t be different this time around.

Dylan Landt and Connor West are on form at the moment and almost played their side back into the top three after their mid-season slump.

Calder is the league’s leading goal kicking and plenty of traffic will be coming his way, and Saints will top of with likes of Joel Garner and Kaelan Bradtke too.

Waratah are the only side to have beaten the reigning premiers twice this season, and that’s something Saints need to change if the grand final is their 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 Waratah men’s elimination final