Sunday night's Darwin Buffaloes v Southern Districts Men's Premier League match has been declared a draw after the game was abandoned minutes before half-time following an injury to Southern Districts footballer Nicholas Weightman.
Under AFLNT By-Law 3.24.1 (b), if a match has commenced but is stopped for any reason before the half time interval and is unable to recommence within a period of 30 minutes, the match will be deemed a draw after being abandoned. Weightman crashed to the ground following a marking attempt and looked to have injured the neck-back region when he landed awkwardly.
One concern was the amount of time it took an ambulance to arrive at Cazaly's Arena in Palmerston where the incident occurred late in the second quarter. The time taken was more than 30 minutes, bringing rule 3.24.1 into play and forcing the match to be abandoned with the Buffaloes, inspired by the presence of former Carlton and Brisbane midfielder Mitch Robinson, holding a 24-point lead.
Districts president Joanne Burgess said Weightman was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital for precautionary scans on his neck and back region.
In other games, Waratah's rise from perennial finalists to genuine premiership contender continued at Gardens Oval on Friday night when they beat Palmerston by seven points in their top-of-the-table Men's Premier League clash. The Round 4 game looked like a one-horse race in the first quarter when Waratah skipped to a 39-point lead midway through the second quarter in front of their adoring fans.
Waratah's captain Brodie Carroll and utility James Arratta reached the 100-game mark on a night where the Magpies showed they are the real thing by kicking seven goals to three in a second half comeback that just fell short of a win.
Carroll was left to reflect on a game his side had to work hard to grind out a win after looking world beaters in the first half. "They've definitely done some good recruiting and gave us a big challenge, so we'll remember the game and the tough win we got out of the match,'' Carroll said.
"We started well, something we've been working on this season and in the end it got us home.'' Scott Carlin in defence, Abraham Ankers in his accustomed midfield role and clever full back Daniel O'Dwyer were standouts in what could be a season defining win for Tahs.
Wanderers held on to beat St Mary's in Saturday's late game at TIO Stadium, winning by three points in a contest where both sides kicked a match total of only 12 goals. Wanderers' short game and leg speed got them home despite only kicking one goal in the second half.
Coach Aaron Motlop was rapt with the win after early season losses to the Darwin Buffaloes and Southern Districts. "We've had some pretty strong sides out on the park in the first few rounds and haven't been able to get the chocolates, which probably meant from our point of view that the boys had forgotten how to win,'' Motlop said.
"So to grind out a win against a very good opposition like St Mary's was the most pleasing part of that game.''
Wanderers skipper Braedon McLean was a last minute withdrawal after straining a calf muscle in the warmup, meaning veteran defender Brenton Motlop was rushed into the side.
Geelong and Port Adelaide star Steven Motlop was affected by leg soreness, but still made a big contribution to the win despite the close attention of Saints defender Kieren Parnell.
A Brodie Filo special put Nightcliff on the road to a big 94-point win over the struggling Tiwi Bombers at Darwin Mazda Nightcliff Oval. The dual Nichols medallist was everywhere with his superb kicking to position a highlight as the Tigers built on a five-goal to nil first quarter to kick 18 goals to four. Nightcliff had nine goalkickers in the 18 they kicked, with inaccuracy preventing a cricket score on the beachside oval.
