World Footy News

As most competitions across Australia reach their finals time and begin to wind down for 2014, the people of the Top End are just waking to the pre-dawn of their new 2014/15 season. Whilst many are unaware of the “off-season” competition based in Darwin, the locals certainly are well aware and don’t see it as the “off-season” at all. To them it is GAME ON.

And far from being a small local competition, the NTFL boasts a very high standard, and can we watched via live streams right throughout their season. When a competition boasts a history of names such as Rioli, Long, Motlop and Davey you can be sure the quality will be electric.

The new season starts in just over three weeks, with a first up rematch of last season’s premiers, St Mary’s and Wanderers, to get the ball rolling in a triple header at Darwin’s TIO Stadium. That match will be followed by Southern Districts against Tiwi Bombers and Palmerston Magpies taking on Waratah. Nightcliff will take on the Buffaloes on the Sunday.
After two seasons experimenting with the development and inclusion of possible future Premier League clubs (Central Australian Redtails & Banks Bulldogs), this season neither will appear, providing a much simpler format of eight teams playing across 18 rounds.

The new season brings a clean slate and each of the eight clubs has their wishes and dreams. For St Mary’s, the reigning premiers, the lure of winning three flags in a row (they won in 2012/13 and 2013/14) and a 31st flag in total would be irresistible. For Wanderers it would be all about redemption and a chance to achieve the premiership they narrowly missed last season.

The Tiwi Bombers will be out to prove last year’s slump was an anomaly and put themselves back into flag contention. Southern Districts, Nightcliff and Waratah, last season’s other finalists, will come out again to find the consistencies that eluded them at crucial times last season and give the flag a crack.

Palmerston will look to capitalise on a stronger second half of the season last year and push towards finals whilst Buffaloes will look to put last season behind them and start the climb back up the ladder.

Whatever may happen, the new season kicks off on Saturday, October 4th. Get ready for one hell of a show for 2014/15. As the pre-season winds down, and the training ramps up, the new NTFL season is about to explode.