Game 1
Waratah 2.1 5.3 8.5 15.8 (98)
Tiwi Bombers 5.3 8.5 15.8 20.8 (128)
GOALS
Waratah: Ryan Bulluss 5, Thomas Maddocks 4, Brodie Carroll, Lachlan Collihole, Samuel Howard, Henry Kerinaiua, Brock Orval, Zach Westerberg
Tiwi Bombers: Jake Best 7, Adam Tipungwuti 4, Liam Jurrah 3, Gary Puruntatameri 2, Jack Munkara, Shane Tipuamantmirri, Ross Tungatalum, Austin Wonaeamerri
GAME ANALYSIS
The end margin is probably closer than it should’ve been, with Tiwi Bombers taking its foot off the gas in the last quarter, to allow Waratah to kick seven goals and end with only eight-points shy of their entire tally for the first three quarters. The Bombers were much faster and cleaner all game, winning the ball in the midfield and using the full length and width of Gardens Oval. Every time they went forward they looked dangerous, with new Victorian import Jake Best proving a reliable target for the Bombers. Adam Tipungwuti kicked a couple of typical Bombers-style goals, dodging would-be tacklers and snapping on the run, while ex-AFL player Liam Jurrah picked the club to resume his NTFL career with and didn’t disappoint. Ryan Bulluss was the stand out performer for the Tahs with captain Justin Beugelaar and last season’s Nichols Medallist, Tim Mosquito missing from action.
Game 2
Palmerston 1.3 6.4 9.9 9.11 (65)
St Mary’s 2.2 5.5 8.9 14.14 (98)
GOALS
Palmerston: Shannon Charlie 2, Gibson Turner 2, Desmond Ugle 2, Samuel Autio, Noel Collins, Jacon Lampton
St Mary’s: Peter Macfarlane 5, Francis Kinthari 2, Jaden McGrath 2, Jack Musgrove 2, Anthony Wilson 2, Raphael Clarke
GAME ANALYSIS
It was an even game for the first three quarters. St Mary’s saw the return of eight-time premiership player and former captain Pater MacFarlane who kicked five goals. They also celebrated league record holder Iggy Vallejo’s 350th game. Olwyn Davey and big Matthew Dennis tried hard all game for Palmerston while Nate Paredes and Jaden McGrath were in St Mary’s best. Palmerston had a six-point lead heading into the final term however Saints dominated and came back to win by 33-points.
Game 3
Southern Districts 4.1 6.3 9.5 10.10 (70)
Wanderers 2.2 3.6 5.7 6.11 (47)
GOALS
Southern Districts: Ed Barlow 2, Dylan Barry 2, Pierce Liddle 2, William Farrer 2, Jake Roe-Duggan, Beau Schwarze
Wanderers: Kye Chapple 2, Samuel Arthur, Jyron Dobson, Braedon McLean, Thomas Motlop
GAME ANALYSIS
Southern Districts had a pretty rough week leading into this game being stripped of their Round 5 points for playing an unregistered player against Darwin Buffaloes. This just provided the Crocs with more fire to take on the Muk Muks on home turf. The Crocs came out strong with four unanswered goals before Wanderers pegged back two late goals before the quarter-time siren. Former AFL player, Ed Barlow and CAFL Everingham medalist (best on ground Premier League) Dylan Barry were among Crocs best slotting two goals each. Despite the efforts of Neil Vea Vea and Justin Maher for Wanderers they weren’t able to recover from the Crocs early lead and things just went on. In the final term, Wanderers didn’t capitalise on their scoring opportunities only kicking one out of their five shots on goal. But other than the incident in Round 5 Wanderers are the team to have come closest to the dominating Distrcits outfit so far, this season.
Game 4
Nightcliff 4.3 8.5 11.10 12.16 (88)
Darwin Buffaloes 0.3 2.5 2.9 2.9 (21)
GOALS
Nightcliff: Cameron Ilett 4, Matthew Bicknell 2, Julian Lockwood 2, Patrick White 2, Tyson Kidney, Gareth Smith
Darwin Buffaloes: Timothy Eldridge, Leslie Maroney
GAME ANALYSIS
A match between second and third was a mouthwatering prospect before the game, but the match was essentially over by quarter time. Nightcliff capitalised on a strong start by kicking the first four goals of the match. Darwin became more competitive for the first half of the second quarter and would kick their second (and final) goal of the match to narrow the margin to fifteen points, however, from then on Nightcliff went into cruise control and dominated their opponents for the remainder of the game. Brodie Filo was influential in the midfield for the Tigers and set up most of the play which gave Nightcliff their strong start. Cameron Ilett kicked four goals, and easily could have kicked more bar some wayward kicking in front of goal, and showed strong leadership in a young Nightcliff forward line. The Stokes cousins played well for the Buffs, but the whole team couldn't match the class of Nightcliff.
