Article by Grey Morris
PINT won its second Women's Premier League premiership in three seasons when they outplayed semi-final conquerors Waratah in Saturday's 2022/23 TIO NTFL Grand Final.
The Queenants won 12.8 (80) to 6.4 (40) in a display coach Rick Nolan later described as the most professional he had seen in a playing and coaching career that has spanned three decades of Territory football.
PINT ruck Jasmyn Hewett repeated her grand final best on ground performance from two years ago by taking command of centre bounces and aerial contests and using her pace and strength to kick three vital goals.
That was after Waratah kicked the first two goals of the game to steal an early march on their rivals.
But any repeat of Tahs' semi-final triumph over the minor premiers failed to materialize when the PINT forward line fired in a prolific second and third quarter.
The Queenants kicked three goals in the second term and another four in the third while Tahs could only reply with a second-quarter Laura Smith goal.
Stephanie Lawrence and Casey Morris copied Hewett's three-goal performance to build the platform for the 40-point win, while Katie Streader on the wing, Amy Chittick, and a hard-working defence played their part in the win.
Nolan said he had some concerns when Waratah flew out of the blocks in the first two minutes of play with goals to Naomi Celebre and lightning fast half forward Jenna Singh.
"I was a bit worried when they kicked the first two goals of the game but we came back and played some really good footy which wins you grand finals,'' Nolan said.
"We had some very good players, Katie Streader who has come back from having a baby and an ACL injury hadn't played a lot of footy this year was absolutely outstanding on the wing.
"And Jas (Hewett) was just Jas in what is the most professional and hard training group I've ever coached.''
Article by Grey Morris for AFL Northern Territory
Dual premiership captain Cassie Henderson echoed Nolan's comments, saying all 22 players in green and gold jumpers had played amazingly well after Waratah's lightning-fast start.
"Plus we took every opportunity that presented itself in front of goals, something we didn't do the last time we played them.''
Waratah coach Heidi Thompson was gracious in defeat, saying her side did not have the class players to match up with the likes of Hewett, Streader, and Reni Hicks.
"Their key players really stood up when it counted and we just didn't have that in our game,'' she said.
Tahs missed ruck Stephanie O'Brien, the best player on the ground in the semi-final win over PINT, and were also hamstrung by the loss of goalsneak Lisa Miceli and veteran utility Lisa Roberts to short and long-term injuries.
Rewatch all the Grand Final action on NT News or via Kayo Freebies
