World Footy News

For the first time in the club’s short history the Tiwi Bombers will miss out on finals action as the home and away season wrapped up in Darwin on the weekend.

In a season that did not go according to script for the boys from the Tiwi Islands, their final round defeat at the hands of Southern Districts saw the team say farewell to what has been a disappointing 2013/4 season. Premiers two seasons ago and runners up to St Mary’s last season, the Tiwi Bombers will watch on from the stands over coming weeks as the NTFL finals series plays out.

After the Round 18 round, the ladder saw St Mary’s finish the season undefeated. In an ominous show of strength from last year’s premiers, no club was able to find a way past their tight defensive structures, powerful forwards or run and carry from the middle. A betting person would have them locked in as premiership favourites – deservedly.

But footy is a funny beast, and four other clubs remain convinced that this party isn’t over yet.

Wanderers finished in second place. Three of their losses were to St Mary’s, whilst their other was an upset at the hands of Palmerston. Wanderers know that if they can find the formula to challenge St Mary’s then they have what it takes to beat the rest.

Nightcliff and Southern Districts finished in third and fourth spots respectively. Both have been consistent for most of the year, but also struggled against the heavyweights. Not without a chance of getting to the Grand Final, but both would find it a tough ask to knock over St Mary’s for a flag.

Waratah did all in it’s power to throw away a finals berth approaching the business end of the season, but two steadying wins in the final two rounds have corrected that and have the ‘Tahs back in the hunt.

The finals begin this weekend with two huge games. The double-header, to be played at TIO Stadium, sees the Qualifying final being played between Wanderers and Nightcliff. Immediately following is the Elimination Final between Southern Districts and Waratah.

St Mary’s get to sit back for a week, nurse any lingering injuries, and await their next outing when the semi finals come around the following week.

They certainly look the goods for the 2013/4 flag, but the other teams will be pulling out all stops to ensure that this is no one horse race to premiership glory.