Game 1
Palmerston 4.4 5.6 9.8 9.15 (69)
Waratah 0.2 3.4 6.8 7.9 (51)
GOALS
Pamerston: Kyle Emery 4, Aaron Lonergan 2, Noel Collins, Locky Dhurrkay, Sam Talbot
Waratah: Brock Orval 2, Cameron Barrett, Lachlan Collihole, Samuel Godden, Jack Hatcher, Zach Westerberg
GAME ANALYSIS
The first game to kick off the season was at Asbuild Oval in front of a great crowd eager to get their fix of the footy action.
Returning to his junior club, Magpies recruit Kyle Emery lit up the forward line in the opening quarter taking full advantage of his strong marking and goal kicking abilities. Ralph Dhamarrandji was another exciting player for the Magpies while Brock Orval used the ball skillfully through the middle of the field for the Tahs.
Heading in the half time, the Magpies had hung onto the lead but the Tahs staged a mini comeback in the second quarter to trail by only 14 points. The ball was moving quickly and turning the game into a fiery contest.
It was a high scoring third quarter with Kyle Emery once again finding the big sticks for the Magpies along with a great snap by Noel Collins and Sam Autio also kicking truly. The goal kickers for the Warriors throughout the game were Jack Hatcher, Brock Orval, Cameron Barrett, Sam Godden and Zach Westerberg.
Matt Dennis, Aaron Davey, Kyle Emery, Sam Talbot and Rodney Baird starred for the home team while Brock Orval and Justin Beugelaar tried hard for the Red and White in the final term and all night.
Game 2
Wanderers 3.2 7.7 13.11 16.16 (112)
Tiwi Bombers 6.4 7.8 11.8 14.9 (93)
GOALS
Wanderers: Beau O'Connell 4, Patrick Fairhead 3, Liam Patrick 3, Simon Bates 2, Joel Jeffrey 2, Braedon McLean, Jobastin Priest
Tiwi Bombers: Albert Tipungwuti 2, Jake Best 2, Austin Wonaeamirri 2, Keiran Apuatimi, Michael Dunn, Kim Kantilla, Dion Munkara, Jack Munkara, Simon Munkara, Harley Puruntatameri, Ross Tungatalum
GAME ANALYSIS
Wanderers came out on top in the end, sealing their first win of the season by 19-points over the Tiwi Bombers.
In a free flowing first quarter, Wanderers got the jump early with debutant Beau O’Connell kicking the first goal. Tiwi took a bit of time to settle, but once they did they used their trademark speed to score quickly. Dynamic Wanderers forwards, Patrick Fairhead, Beau O’Connell and Joel Jeffrey kicked a goal each, whilst Ross Tungatalum, Michael Dunn, Kim Kantilla, Jake Best and Albert Tipungwuti kicked truly for Tiwi.
By the second quarter Wanderers managed to slow the game down, which restricted Tiwi’s scoring. The ball sat in Wanderers’ forward half for most of the quarter with goals to Simon Bates, Beau O’Connell, Joel Jeffrey and Liam Patrick. Adam Tipungwuti provided a great highlight for Tiwi starting from halfback to go on and kick a goal.
Tiwi scored the first two goals of the second half to open up a comfortable lead, but Wanderers then went on to kick the next three. Liam Patrick was very lively in the forward line for Wanderers kicking two goals, while Ross Tungatalum provided first use for the Bombers in the midfield. Braedon McLean kicked a goal after the siren after a costly 50 metre penalty from Tiwi.
In the final term Tiwi got to within two goals but couldn’t keep up with the Muk Muks’ forward line in the end. Beau O’Connell finished with four goals on debut to be the leading goal kicker for the match. While, Ross Tungatalum and Kim Kantilla were industrious for the Bombers.
Game 3
St Mary’s 0.1 1.2 5.4 5.6 (36)
Nightcliff 1.2 1.6 4.7 6.10 (46)
GOALS
St Mary’s: Kieran Delahunty, Mathias Liddy, Tylah Saunders, Ryan Smith, Keenan Smith Thompson
Nightcliff: Liam Holt-Fitz 2, Trent Melville 2, Jonathan Peris 2
GAME ANALYSIS
Nightcliff started the season like they did last year, with a win over St Mary’s in a scrappy affair. With six players on debut, it was a resounding team performance.
It was an intense start for both teams, the only goal of the quarter not coming until the 13th minute mark and going the way of Liam Holt-Fitz. Saints defender Jack Long laid a big tackle that took two Tigers down, while younger brother Jacob has looked fast in his senior debut.
It was the Tigers who missed some gettable opportunities in the opening 10 minutes of the second term, as the ball stayed mostly in their half. And the first time the ball went forward for the Saints it wasn't too much longer before new recruit, Tylah Saunders bombed one from on the 50 to get his side on the board. At half time, only 20 points had been scored between the two teams.
The Tigers were first to strike after half time with Liam Holt-Fitz kicking his second, this time from long range, before the Saints kicked two-in-a-row through Kieran Delahunty, who they swung from the back and then Ryan Smith. Jonathan Peris put the Tigers back in front with two almost identical goals in 30 secs before Mathias Liddy got things back in favour of the Saints.
The Tigers were the only one to goal in the final quarter to seal the game, both majors going the way of Trent Melville in his first Premier League game for the club.
Game 4
Southern Districts 1.1 4.7 7.8 9.11 (65)
Darwin Buffaloes 3.3 5.5 5.6 8.11 (59)
GOALS
Southern Districts: Bradley Vallance 3, William Farrer 2, Lee Dale, Rory O’Brien, Charles McAdam, Sam Smith
Darwin Buffaloes: Jarrod Stokes 2, Matt Campbell, Jackson Clark, Jalen Clarke, Ishmael Palmer, Malcolm Rosas, Chris Williams
GAME ANALYSIS
It was a thrilling grand final rematch, with the Crocs displaying their dominance once again on TIO Stadium.
The Crocs goaled first, with a 50m penalty setting up Sam Smith before the Buffs' cleaner work and faster pace around the ground handed them the next three goals, through the likes of Jarrod Stokes, Jalen Clarke and Matt Campbell.
At the five-minute mark of the second quarter the Buffs led by 20 points but the Crocs went on to pepper the goals as the Buffs got scrappy in their defence. After a string of behinds, the Crocs had the next three, through Lee Dale, Rory O'Brien and Brad Vallance to give them the lead but Jackson Clark ensured his turning goal on the run swung things back in the Buffs favour just before half time.
Some undisciplined play from the Buffs in the third term starved them of opportunity and gifted the Crocs their first two goals from 50m penalties, going the way of Will Farrer and Charlie McAdam before Brad Vallance popped up to kick his second for the night.
In the final term, it was a stalemate for the first nine minutes but the Buffs came out with pace, led by young gun Malcolm Rosas whose persistence, speed and skill led to the first goal before his same effort set up trademark Jarrod Stokes brilliance for the second (and his second for the game). By now the Crocs margin was cut to three. Enter Sam Smith with a brilliant mark in defence and then captain, Will Farrer who marked and kicked truly for his second and to extend the lead back to nine. Two minutes later Brad Vallance’s third goal sealed the Crocs win and good thing he did because moments later Chris Williams kicked a brilliant goal from the boundary and a 50m penalty and wayward shot on goal had the Buffs stampeding.
