World Footy News

In the run to the Northern Territory Football League finals this year, Wanderers fell. Their Round 16 loss to the Tiwi Bombers by 108 points hammered their percentage. The loss in Round 17 to Nightcliff wasn’t as brutal on the scoreboard, but potentially devastating to their season. Going down by 21 points to the Tigers meant a final round showdown with the team above them to sneak a finals berth.

Everything depended on Round 18. Wanderers were equal on points to Palmerston, but would have to beat them to pass them.

They did.

Last year’s grand-finalists had found their own little miracle to get another crack at a flag – however remote. Their Elimination Final against the Tiwi Bombers would have to reverse the Round 16 result and then some to proceed any further through the finals.

They did.

To keep this dream alive they would now have to beat the same Nightcliff team that beat them in Round 17. Their season depended on another upset win against the more highly fancied Tigers in a game that few believed they could win.

They did.

So, through to tonight’s Preliminary Final against Southern District. This rapidly growing fairy tale had another chance to add a new chapter. Could Wanderers really come from sixth place a week from the finals and earn the right to tackle the St Mary’s behemoth in consecutive grand-finals?

They certainly did.

In a low scoring affair it was Wanderers who had dared to dream and pulled of yet another remarkable “against the odds” win by downing Southern District 11 10 76 to 8 10 58. This three goal win was a triumph of the spirit as Wanderers maintained the rage and catapulted themselves into the biggest match of the year.

They managed to live out their fairy tale another week…but will they reach the happy ending they deserve after such an extraordinary run?

To be totally fair, St Marys are in the grand-final because they have been by far the best team again in the 2014/15 season. They have dominated almost everyone at some stage. Wanderers met them first in the Round 1 grand-final replay and went down by 64 points. The next time the two teams met it was a 49 point win to the Saints. For Wanderers to take the next step they would have to defy even greater odds that they have to reach this point.

But it will be a fascinating match - the powerhouse St Marys up against the momentum of the rejuvenated Wanderers. Put another way, the competition will either see another three peat for St Marys or one of the most wildly improbable fairy tales in recent years.

Bring on the grand-final.