ST MARY'S fired out another reminder of their blue ribbon finals credentials when they crushed a lacklustre Nightcliff in the Men's Premier League preliminary final.
Given a 50-50 chance to end the reigning premier's season and bid for four senior flags in a row, the Saints held Nightcliff goalless in the last half on the way to a 58-point win.
That result catapaulted them into Saturday night's grand final against Waratah in a rematch of the 2007-08 decider when the green jumpers destroyed a Tahs side that had reached the last game of the season from the elimination final.
Saturday night's win over Nightcliff was also sweet revenge for the Anthony Vallejo coached St Mary's, who had lost the last two grand finals to the Tigers.
St Mary's led Nightcliff at every break, only giving up the lead briefly in first the second quarters when spearhead John Butcher kicked his three goals for the Tigers.
Every St Mary's player contributed to the win, their backline restricting Nightcliff to five goals in the first half and none in the second as their back six and midfield took control.
Tennant Creek born Matthew Green was his side's best player, lining up on the dangerous Butcher and providing a springboard for attack from the last line of defence.
Add the work of Lucas Jellyman-Turner, Kieran Parnell down back, Justin Robinson across half forward and Jack Kluske and Nate Paredes through the middle and the Saints had a formula that worked.
Vallejo told the AFLNT post match the game had been a lot closer than the scoreboard had indicated, with Nightcliff working hard to get their game going despite his side's efficient use of the football.
"It was definitely a lot closer than the scores indicated, Nightcliff is a quality side, really well coached with some good leaders like Cameron Ilett, Willsy (Phillip Wills) and Brodie Filo,'' Vallejo said.
"Matty Green has been excellent for us all year, he's a really shy, quiet kid who lives in Katherine now, who was a superstar for us tonight.
"Now we focus on Waratah in the grand final, who played some good footy to beat us in the first week of the finals.''
The loss ended Nightcliff's pursuit of a rare fourpeat of league premierships.
Only St Mary's and the Darwin Buffaloes have reached those heights in 106 years of Top End football and after Nightcliff fell at the fourth hurdle it will be a long time until it happens again.
Nightcliff's assistant coach Cameron Ilett said St Mary's had shown the energy, enthusiasm and willingness to compete and scrap for the football that was needed to win big finals.
"They thoroughly deserved the win and the opportunity to win a premiership for this year's group,'' he said.
"It was a combination of things for us, players down on form and confidence and the team hit by Covid at the wrong time.
"That's no excuse, but we had a lot of flat players as a result of that and some off-field stuff with the passing of a club legend and a friend of many.''
Ilett said the Tigers will be back to challenge for next season's flag.
"I'm proud of the whole club and the efforts of our under-18 and women's side to make the grand final and the Premier League and Div 1 teams getting to prelim finals.''
