Game 1
Tiwi Bombers 0.3 3.10 9.13 12.13 (85)
Wanderers 4.4 6.7 10.8 11.19 (85)
GOALS
Tiwi Bombers: Dion Munkara 3, Simon Munkara 3, Patrick Heenan 2, Gary Puruntatameri 2, Austin Wonaeamirri 2
Game 2
Palmerston 1.2 7.3 9.6 12.8 (80)
Darwin Buffaloes 3.6 8.9 13.12 18.16 (124)
GOALS
Palmerston: Ezekiel Frank 4, Mishai Perry 3, Desmond Ugle 2, Heath Brown, Nigel Lockyer Jnr, Gibson Turner
Darwin Buffaloes: Lee Mununggurr 3, Bradley Stokes 3, Jarrod Stokes 3, Tai Martin-Page 2, Matt Campbell, Jackson Clark, Leslie Maroney, Peter Reid, Malcolm Rosas, Cameron Stokes, Chris Williams
GAME ANALYSIS
Buffs came out flying leading Palmerston 3.6.24 - 1.2.8 at quarter time at TIO Stadium. It was all Buffs until Palmy kicked a goal at the 18-minute mark. Alwyn Davey oversaw the Magpies while usual coach Tav Perry was the runner. Buffs playing coach Matty Campbell implored his team not to take this game easy at the quarter time huddle. At half time, Palmerston 7.3.45 trailed Buffs 8.9.57. Jarrod Stokes dominated for the Buffs, but two quick goals right before the siren to Magpies’ Nigel Lockyer and Justin Cooper drew the margin to 12-points at the major break. Pies forward Gibson Turner dominated the forward line in the third quarter having many shots on goal but missed crucial opportunities. The Stokes cousins were performing well for the Buffs who took a comfortable 30-point lead into the final quarter. The Magpies got to within six points in the last quarter before the Buffs ran away with the win 18.16.124 – Magpies 12.7.80. The win combined with St Mary’s loss pushed the Buffs up to third on the ladder.
Game 3
Waratah 1.5 5.8 6.13 9.16 (70)
St Mary’s 1.2 3.2 4.3 8.3 (51)
GOALS
Waratah: James Wray 3, Jamie Smith 2, Abe Ankers, Matt Blake, Brock Orval, Kim Kantilla
St Mary’s: Henry Labastida 3, Peter MacFarlane 2, Beb Rioli, Josh Heath, Denny Musgrove
GAME ANALYSIS
With one of their less glamorous sides for the season-to-date, St Mary’s opened the scoring when Henry Labastida roved a pack perfectly and threw it on the boot. It wasn’t long though before Abe Ankers threw one on the outside of his boot and put the Tahs up. Both sides seemed to be missing rather gettable goals but it was good kick-in practice for Jack Long, who made his Premier League return for the Saints after last playing in the March grand final and undergoing a shoulder reconstruction. Long didn’t miss a beat and in the second quarter the Saints were first to fire, again through Labastida and then Peter MacFarlane. The Tahs kept pressuring and were a touch quicker, finishing with four unanswered goals, including three to James Wray and an 18-point lead going into half time. The lead extended to 25-points six minutes into the third quarter when Brock Orval hit the scoreboard and the Tahs continued to assert themselves in the key stats; centre clearances, stoppages and inside 50s. Josh Heath pegged one back in the 11th minute but going into the last quarter it was going to be the Tahs match to lose. Jamie Smith had peppered the goals all game and in the last quarter converted two, while Kim Kantilla added his name to the list before the Saints rolled home with three of their own, a little too late though. It is the first time since Round 4 of the 2011/12 NTFL season that Waratah have taken the four points against St Mary’s, and just in time for Christmas.
Game 4
Southern Districts 4.0 8.1 11.1 16.2 (98)
Nightcliff 4.0 5.2 5.5 5.8 (38)
GOALS
Southern Districts: Will Farrer 4, Ed Barlow 3, Beau Schwarze 3, James Bell, Callum Currie, Matt Duffy, Jake Roe-Duggan, Nik Rokahr, Matt Rosier
Nightcliff: Daniel Bowles 2, Zackary Derksen 2, Ryan Mu
GAME ANALYSIS
The first ever A Chance for Change Manning Up Cup, was set to be an exciting contest with first versus second on the ladder. Nightcliff entered the match undermanned and were missing important midfielders in Brodie Filo, Troy Coates and Paul Scanlon. Southern Districts opened the scoring with a goal to Ed Barlow, before it was all Nightcliff for the majority of the first quarter. Nightcliff had all the answers early and were playing at a frenetic pace, however, a lack of concentration by the Tigers during red-time saw Southern Districts kick two late goals to level the scoring at quarter time. The first quarter was what most expected in a predicted close match, however, after quarter time, Southern Districts settled into the match and their class was far too much for the Tigers. They held Nightcliff to one goal for the last three quarters, kicking 12 of their own. They slowed the match down and held possession of the ball. Although they were dominant with the ball, the Crocs struggled to translate it into high scoring for the second and third quarters. The margin stayed relatively close for most of the match, but Nightcliff did not look threatening enough to narrow it. The Crocs went into cruise control for the last quarter and blew the margin out to a 10-goal victory. A player from each side was awarded a best on ground medal in honour of the ACFC Manning Up Cup with the message of brotherhood and togetherness, with Southern Districts’ Nik Rokahr and Nightcliff’s Paddy Kossack receiving the awards.
