2023/24 TIO NTFL Wrap: Men's Premier League - Round 10

Nightcliff burst the St Mary's bubble on the same day Southern Districts declared themselves genuine premiership contenders in a big round of Men's Premier League football.

The Tigers rebounded from a heart stopping loss to Waratah only seven days earlier by recording their second win over St Mary's this season.

On a night when Lewis Rinaldi's stopping role on dangerous St Mary's midfielder Dylan Landt worked a treat for Nightcliff, the Tigers won the game in the all-important third quarter.

The big scoring Saints forward line was kept scoreless in the term while Tiger speedster Tristan Singh-Lippo snapped two crucial goals to give his side a match winning 20-point lead at the last change.

The Tiger defence led by Ryan Nyhuis and Mitch Norton showed patience and a cool head were crucial in beating a powerhouse like St Mary's when 18 green jumpers are running at you.

Nightcliff coach Leigh Crossman noted his side's 11.9 (75) to 8.10 (58) win lifted them to third on the MPL ladder in a top five log jam where four sides have recorded six wins after 10 rounds.

"It's really critical to beat those sides around us after we dropped a couple of games we should have won earlier in the season,'' Crossman said.

"We've learned a few things from those losses and other close game and have been able to implement new things, so full credit to the players.''

Southern Districts came from five goals down midway through the second quarter to beat Waratah at Gardens Oval and avenge their first-round thrashing.

The red and whites dominated the first 45 minutes with their smart possession game, before a late run of goals by Districts closed the game up.

The scores were level at the last change before a four-goal to three last term played in finals-like intensity secured an important 14.11 (95) to 13.8 (86) win for Districts.

There was some bad news for Districts when youngster Mitchell Burgess copped an errant knee to the face that left him with facial injuries.

On the field the Crocodiles produced one of their best comebacks against a quality side like Tahs, who looked on track for a confidence boosting win until Districts turned things around.

Coach Shannon Rusca was impressed with the standard of the game with the Christmas break less than a week away.

"It was a hotly contested game with Tahs' transition in offence super clean and very quick, meaning we had to go with them to slow them down to try and negate their uncontested possessions,'' Rusca said.

"It turned into a game of tactics and a game of will at the end of the day, setting a really good standard for the rest of the competition.''

Beau Schwarze, in his best season in a Districts jumper, was his side's best player in an on-ball, half forward role, while the returning Nakia Cockatoo in a midfield-forward role showed why he was so highly rated in his AFL days at Geelong and Brisbane.

Reliable defender Matt Mazzini was again a key player for his side, Jed Anderson found a lot of the ball and Terrel Rigney's pace on a wing was a big weapon for the Crocodiles.

PINT kept themselves in the finals hunt with a gutsy 25-point win over the Darwin Buffaloes.

Lionhearted ruckman Connor McDonald, defender Brad Ryan and midfielder Luke Partington stood out in a win that lifted the Greenants a game clear of closest rivals the Darwin Buffaloes in the race for the top five.

Coach Shannon Motlop said the way he had moved his side around had changed the dynamics of the team.

"We're definitely playing some better footy as a result, without the lapses that cost us in some earlier games and the players are responding as a result of it.''

The Greenants' 12.10 (82) to 8.9 (57) lifted them over 100 in percentage points and a game clear of the Buffaloes, who lost their third successive game since beating Nightcliff in Round 7.

Wanderers beat a desperate Palmerston at Cazaly's Arena to record only their second win of the season, both at the expense of the Magpies.

The Eagles flew out of the nest and shot to a five-goal lead at half-time before a spirited Palmerston comeback saw them snatch the lead in the last quarter.

Ashton Hams in a utility role and Myles Poholke were instrumental in the Magpie revival before Wanderers produced a five-goal burst to win the game.

Coach Aaron Motlop watched his side stumble then recover against a Palmerton side searching for its first win of the season.

"We did let things slip in the second half after having the game under our control, but credit to the players for composing themselves and getting back in front on the scoreboard,'' he said.

Veteran Shane Thorne on a wing and through the midfield was Wanderers' best, with Max Johnson in the ruck, Braedon McLean down back and five-goal forward Michael Mummery other good contributors.