THE return of the familiar red and white Waratah jumpers and the rise and rise of major semi-final debutants Nightcliff highlight a big round of the TIO NTFL Women's Premier League finals matches this weekend.
Eight-time WPL premier Waratah missed the finals for the first time in a decade last season in a major transformation of fortune in the Territory's women's game.
But Tahs have bounced back with a vengeance under former Thunder women's coach Heidi Thompson, finishing fourth after the home and away fixtures before thumping traditional rivals St Mary's in the elimination final.
Captain and dual league best and fairest Lisa Roberts and forwards Lisa Miceli and Stephanie O'Brien have shone in recent weeks as the red and white chant has gone up again at finals time after a year's absence.
But Tahs will have their work cut out beating first semi-final opponents and reigning premier PINT in a game where the losers can start planning for next season.
Queenants coach Rick Nolan is a big student of the game and he will be working with his brainstrust on creating a forward line setup to beat Waratah and advance to the preliminary final a week later.
The Queenants started well against the well credentialled Darwin Buffettes in the qualifying final, kicking the first two goals of the match before double blue players like the smooth moving Kylie Duggan and workhorse ruck Molly Althouse got their side back into the game.
These two sides have only met once in a final, the 2019-20 semi-final when Tahs kicked the first four goals of the match before being forced into defensive mode as PINT came at them before losing by eight points.
Just around the corner from Waratah's base at Fannie Bay is the headquarters of beachside rivals Nightcliff.
The Tigress' have just completed a week's rest after a dominant 2021-22 campaign where they lost only one game - to the Buffettes - on the way to claiming their first minor premiership.
Coach Shannon Millar has her side playing no-nonsense accountable football with an emphasis on correct disposal and using teammates in better positions in hopes to win bragging rights and the short route to the March 19 grand final.
The Buffettes had a rough patch when they lost three matches in a row between rounds 12 and 14, but some serious form since, including wins over PINT (twice) and Southern Districts has them primed for a major finals series.
