Week One of the 2018/19 TIO NTFL finals in the Men’s Premier League and Women’s Premier League divisions have been set.
In a repeat of yesterday, Waratah and the Darwin Buffaloes will play the elimination final at 2pm on Saturday 23 February at TIO Stadium. So far this season the teams have one win each apiece with the Tahs coasting home by 76-points on Saturday.
That game will be followed by a qualifying final between Southern Districts and the Tiwi Bombers at 4:30pm. These two teams have met three times this season and it’s the Crocs who have the edge with two wins to one. However, the Bombers have won six of their seven games after the Christmas break and one of them was a 22-point victory over Districts.
After enjoying an emphatic 90-point win over Southern Districts yesterday, Nightcliff claimed top spot on the ladder for the first time since the 1964/65 season, the same season it last won the premiership.
As a result of their Round 18 victory the Tigers have now earned a week off and will next play in a semifinal against the winner of the Southern Districts and Tiwi Bombers game on the weekend of the 2/3 March.
Although there is still one game to be played in the Women’s Premier League home and away season, the final six has been determined, and today’s game between PINT and St Mary’s will not change the match-ups for next weekend.
Reigning premiers, Waratah enjoyed a solid win yesterday to take out the minor premiership and start its defense of the title in the best possible way.
The qualifying final will be decided from 12pm next Saturday 23 February at TIO Oval 2 when the Tahs come up against a red-hot Palmerston outfit who has won six on the trot, every game since the Christmas break. One of those games was a two-point victory against Waratah, meaning the teams are two wins each for the season.
It means Waratah fans will get a double-header with their women and men playing in successive games.
Meanwhile, at 2:30pm the women’s second elimination final between Southern Districts and St Mary’s. The Crocs have enjoyed a turn in fortune this season, working hard to go from cellar dwellers to playing in its first finals campaign. The Crocs have the wood over the Saints this season, enjoying two big wins but the Saints have overcome injury and setback to make its third finals series in a row.
Next up at 4:30pm Saturday on TIO Oval 2 will be the first elimination final between the fourth-placed PINT and the Darwin Buffettes, who finished the season in fifth, will be played on TIO Oval 2. The two teams met at the start of the month, with the Queenants leading at every change to take a 12-point win. It was a great turnaround from the previous encounter between the two teams back in Round 3 when Darwin romped home by 71-points.
The women's elimination games have been ordered as such to allow the men's and women's teams from Southern Districts and the Darwin Buffaloes to support each other.
It will be a great celebration of women’s footy, culminating in Round 4 of the NAB AFLW when Adelaide host Fremantle at 8:05pm on TIO Stadium.
Those unable to get to the games will be able to tune into the AFLNTv YouTube channel to watch the Women’s Premier League qualifying final between Waratah and Palmerston (no commentary), before the Men’s Premier League elimination final between Waratah and Darwin Buffaloes and the Men’s Premier League qualifying final between Southern Districts and the Tiwi Bombers.
On Sunday afternoon TV channel 7Two will show the replay of the Waratah vs Darwin Buffaloes game and NITV will have a replay of the Southern Districts vs Tiwi Bombers game.
There will also be free entry to TIO Stadium from 7pm this Saturday for the AFLW clash between Adelaide and Fremantle.
Keep across the SportsTG website or the AFLNT website for when all the Finals Week One/Round 19 junior fixtures are published.
Men’s Premier League – Finals Week One
Saturday 23 February 2019
2:00pm – TIO Stadium – Elimination Final
Waratah vs Darwin Buffaloes
4:30pm – TIO Stadium – Qualifying Final
Southern Districts vs Tiwi Bombers
Women’s Premier League – Finals Week One
Saturday 23 February 2019
12:00pm – TIO Oval 2 – Qualifying Final
Waratah vs Palmerston
2:30pm – TIO Oval 2 – Elimination Final 2
Southern Districts vs St Mary’s
4:30pm – TIO Oval 2 – Elimination Final 1
PINT vs Darwin Buffettes
