Written by Grey Morris for AFL Northern Territory
St Mary's won a Men's Premier League arm wrestle against Southern Districts on the same day a rejuvenated Tiwi Bombers presented first years coach Patrick Bowden with his first win. Other highlights of Round 3 included PINT's last-gasp one-point win over reigning premier Waratah and Nightcliff's convincing 57-point triumph against Wanderers.
St Mary's bookends Jackson Calder and Darcy Chirgwin steered their side to a 12-point win over Districts at Fred's Pass in what could prove to be an early finals rehearsal between the two sides.
Saints' premiership coach Anthony Vallejo equalled Ted Liddy's 316-game mark for coaching and playing at league level.
Districts lead at quarter time but only kicked another seven goals in the next three quarters against the disciplined St Mary's defence in a 13.6 (84) to 10.12 (72) loss.
Calder and goalkicking teammate Jack Landt combined for seven of the Saint's goals, while Chirgwin's run out of defence, Tex Korewha's work in the ruck and up forward and a smart running game by youngster Xavier Vallejo were keys to the win.
Saints skipper and Nichols medallist Dylan Landt said his side knew the 4pm clash meant a lot of hard work against a Districts side strengthened by the return of several key players.
"The focus for us this season is to have an even spread of players rather than relying on a couple of blokes and we got the job done this time,'' he added.
PINT snubbed its nose at the critics by inflicting a second consecutive defeat on reigning premier Waratah in Friday night's clash at Gardens Oval.
The Greenants went into the match without playmakers Ethan Penrith, Liam Holt-Fitz and Silver Yousif but still played the better football in the first two and a half quarters to lead by 25 points with three-quarter time looming.
But an unanswered six-goal rush by Tahs before and after the break with their captain Brodie Carroll and Scott Carlin prominent turned the match fortunes around.
PINT responded by kicking the last two goals of the match through a clever Steven Motlop snap and a soccer goal in the middle of an angry pack by Elliot Chalmers that won them the game.
Greenants boss Shannon Motlop pointed to his side's late comeback as the big positive to come out of the game.
"We gave up a five-goal lead that wasn't good, but the beauty of it was we told ourselves we're not going to let you beat us and we've held on to win,'' Motlop said.
"That shows a bit of maturity among the players and that we're a better side this year.''
Steven Motlop's smart work around the ball despite Tahs putting a last-half tag on him was crucial to PINT's win, while Thomas Motlop across half-forward and full-back Ben Smyth opposed to Tahs spearhead Darcy Hope were good players for the Greenants.
Tiwi coach Patrick Bowden was all smiles after his side ended a three-year hoodoo on the mainland by beating Palmerston by 43 points at TIO Stadium.
A five-goal to nil first quarter set up the win in a game where midfielder Kim Kantilla booted four goals and skipper Brendan Kantilla, Brock Orval around the ball and exciting youngster Thaddeus Puautjimi were key contributors.
"That's our first win in Darwin for two years or more and this result is the first reward for all their hard work,'' Bowden said after his first win in charge.
"They get to have a win and the islands get to celebrate their first win, so I'm really happy with that.''
Nightcliff rebounded from last week's loss to PINT by beating Wanderers by 57 points in Saturday's night game at TIO Stadium.
The Tigers charged out of the blocks with a seven-goal to-one first quarter and were never headed after leading by 10 goals at the main break.
Nightcliff youngster Adrian Scott had the football on a string in his wing-half forward role, while Port Adelaide recruit Cody Szust's five goals from a forward flank and Zach Moody were important players in the win.
Coach Leigh Crossman said the Wanderers' five goal-to-four last quarter had taken a little bit of gloss off the win.
"Wanderers kept coming and credit to them, but when the game was there to be won in the first two and a half quarters we were on the top of our game,'' he added.
"It was good to bounce back from a loss and with a few guys back the players started to connect and play some really good footy.''
