Game 1
Southern Districts 5.6 10.9 13.12 14.17 (101)
Palmerston 1.1 2.2 5.3 7.4 (46)
GOALS
Southern Districts: Dylan Barry 2, Josiah Farrer 2, Leroy Jetta 2, Pierce Liddle 2, Henry Armour, Ed Barlow, Matthew Duffy, Jake Roe-Duggan, Nikolaus Rokahr, Matthew Rosier
Palmerston: Broderick Church 2, Justin Cooper, Shannon Charlie, Nathan Deans, Nigel Lockyer Jnr, Desmond Ugle
GAME ANALYSIS
It was top of the ladder vs bottom of the ladder when Southern Districts tooks on Palmerston at TIO Stadium for Friday night footy. Crocs went in without key players Willie Farrer, Kane Davis and Jared Brennan whilst Palmy had Aaron Davey out but it was all Crocs early with Nik Rokhar opened the scoring for the Crocs who then slammed on five in the first quarter with Pierce Liddle kicking truly on the siren. Nigel Lockyer scored the Magpies only major with Alwyn Davey working hard in and under. In the second quarter Crocs kicked five goals to one to take a 55 point lead into the main break with Dylan Barry and Callum Currie in the Crocs best while Rowan Smith and Rodney Baird was trying hard for the Magpies. The third term was better for the Magpies kicking three goals holding the Crocs to an even term. Big Mark Jamar dominated the ruck for Crocs while Rodney Baird was once again good for the Magpies. Another even term in the last but Crocs set up the win early to remain undefeated on top of the ladder.
Game 2
Tiwi Bombers 1.1 6.2 8.4 10.6 (66)
Nightcliff 1.2 4.4 6.5 12.7 (79)
GOALS
Tiwi Bombers: Albert Tipungwuti 3, Gary Puruntatameri 2, Michael Dunn, Patrick Heenan, Dionysuis Munkara, Ross Tungatalum, Austin Wonaeamerri
Nightcliff: Julian Lockwood 4, Matthew Bicknell 2, Cameron Ilett 2, Patrick White 2, Ryan Althouse-Cooper, Troy Coates
GAME ANALYSIS
The much anticipated commencement of this game was delayed due to lightning with Nightcliff coming in as the tipped favourites being second on the ladder whereas Tiwi Bombers were sixth. With the wet weather settling in over TIO Stadium Tiwi thrived in these conditions using their fast feet and teamwork to gain the lead from the first centre bounce. It was a real team effort with many goal kickers such as Albert Tipungwuti, Gary Puruntatameri and Michael Dunn contributing to Tiwi Bombers goal tally. Tiwi lead by 28 points heading into the final term however Nightcliff never gave up and were able to make an impressive six-goal comeback. Tigers scored the same amount of goals in the last quarter as the did in the first three quarters to come away with a 13 point win over Tiwi in the final 10 minutes of the game.
Game 3
Darwin Buffaloes 1.2 4.2 6.5 8.8 (56)
St Mary’s 5.4 10.7 16.9 21.11 (137)
GOALS
Darwin Buffaloes: Lee Mununggurr 2, Matthew Campbell 2, Caleb Hart, Nyaburu Kelly, Jarrod Stokes, Christopher Williams
St Mary’s: Peter Macfarlane 7, Jack Musgrove 5, Francis Kinthari 3, Nathaniel Paredes 2, Anthony Wilson 2, Jaryd Cachia, Jackson Geary
GAME ANALYSIS
St Mary’s showed their dominance during the entire game, getting the result that they had been searching for in previous rounds. In just his second game out of retirement Peter ‘Noodles’ MacFarlane slotted seven goals for the Green and Gold. Buffs did show moments of brute force in the defence with Nyaburu Kelly and Lucas Hibberd coming up with stinging bumps respectively. St Mary’s had an extra layer of class join them against Darwin Buffaloes ion Round 8 with ex-AFL player, Shaun Edwards, playing his first game back for the the club since he was a junior. Darwin Buffaloes Coach/player Matthew Campbell kicked two goals for his team however it wasn’t enough to get the the team over the line with Saints running away with an impressive 81 points.
Game 4
Waratah 6.7 8.12 14.20 16.23 (119)
Wanderers 0.0 1.1 2.2 7.2 (44)
GOALS
Waratah: Kim Kantilla 6, Abraham Ankers 3, Andre Ellis 2, Brock Orval 2, Jamie Smith 2, Jare Krnjic
Wanderers: Brett Eddy 3, Simon Bates, Isaac Bukulatjpi, Kye Chapple, Neil Vea Vea
GAME ANALYSIS
Waratah came out firing at Gardens Oval, piling on 43 points to zero in the opening quarter, including three goals to Kim Kantilla. It was the Eagles worst quarter of the season and things only got worse for the Muk Muks as it took them until the 11th minute of the second quarter to register a score and if it wasn’t for Neil Vea Vea slotting a goal on the run in the 15th minute they would’ve gone into the major break goalless. Kantilla added another two goals in the third term, while Central Australia prospect Abe Ankers asserted his dominance around the ball and Sam Weddell was cutting everything off in the Wanderers forward half. Going into the last quarter the Tahs had an 80-point lead and so it didn’t make too much of a difference when the Wanderers finished the game off better, scoring five goals to two, with three going the way of Brett Eddy. In the end, it was a solid 75-point win to Waratah who move to three wins for the season.
