Palmerston’s return to finals football after a 10-year absence seems assured after the NTFL Magpies swooped on an unsuspecting Southern Districts in Saturday's Round 9 clash at Norbuilt Oval.
An airtight defence, running midfield, and an Eddie Betts led forward line outsmarted a woefully inaccurate Southern Districts side that had only lost one match coming into the annual Berrimah Line Cup game.
The Magpies hit the ground running after losing to St Mary's last week with Gary Ablett Jr on board.
Betts kicked the first two goals of the match through a big mark and customary snap on the way to a five-goal haul and the Magpies took flight on a slippery surface at Fred's Pass.
Palmerston was also well served down back where Sam Clohesy and Lennon Marlin formed a brick wall the Crocodiles could not climb over.
The Magpie midfield of Eric Guthrie, Baxter Mensch, and Ashton Hams is as good as any in the league and proved it on the wide-open spaces of Norbuilt Oval.
Guthrie, last season's joint Nichols medallist with Nightcliff's Daniel Bowles, told the AFLNT website post-match it was good to get a win against a top side.
"We've got good cover on most parts of the ground and with blokes like (Neville) Jetta and others down back it builds a backbone for the rest of us to putin some hard work.''
Districts coach Shannon Rusca has ordered goal-kicking practice from set shots and on the run for his troops this week after the 8.8 (56) to 4.15 (39) loss.
Waratah climbed back to the top of the ladder after a hard-earned 13-point win over a courageous PINT at Marrara's DXC Arena.
Tah's looked set for a comfortable afternoon when they led by six goals at half-time on the back of ball getters Edward Morris, Scott Carlin and defender Daniel O'Dwyer.
But this Greenants side is made of stern stuff and they showed that with a seven-goal to three second half, including five in a morale-boosting third term that got them to within 20 points at the last change.
Wanderers added to Nightcliff's slow start to the new campaign when they tamed the Tigers by 11 points in Saturday night's clash at TIO Stadium.
Brodie Newman, West Perth recruit Thomas Boyes, and Glenelg premiership captain Chris Curran in his first game for the Eagles all found plenty of the football in a game where Wanderers led all night.
Ryan Nyhuis did his Nichols Medal chances no hard with another strong performance in defence for Nightcliff, but the Tigers were left to ponder on a goalless first half that only improved after halftime when they kicked seven goals to four.
St Mary's won their fourth game in a row by beating a spirited Darwin Buffaloes in the twilight game at TIO Stadium.
Ruckman-forward Brandyn
Brandyn Grenfell's seven goals was his best performance in a Saints jumper, while Matthew Green's season in defence continues to leap forward along with prolific on-ballers Harrison Ling and Dylan Landt.
The game threatened to develop into a shootout after a 12-goal first quarter before St Mary's took control by kicking eight goals to two in the second and third terms to lead by 47 points at the last change.
The Buffaloes showed they are genuine finals contenders by booting six goals to three in the last term to minimise the damage.
Saints coach Anthony Vallejo had mixed feelings after his side's 28-point win lifted them to fourth position on the ladder, half a game short of Southern Districts and St Mary's and a game behind leaders Waratah.
"I wasn't too happy with the first quarter when we kicked seven goals and they kicked five before we tightened up in the second and third quarters,'' Vallejo said.
"I was disappointed how it ended when we were ready to kick away in the last before they responded with six to our three goals.''
