World Footy News

The NTFL season is beginning to get away from some of the teams in the lower reaches of the ladder. With just five rounds of eighteen completed, the Darwin Buffaloes and Tiwi Bombers are winless. They both sit three games away from the top five already. The Palmerston Magpies have fared little better with just one win – a narrow eight point first round win against the hapless Bombers.

It is way too early to be writing any team off, but history suggests that a 0-5 or even 1-4 start to a season is very hard to come back from. Most worrying has been the gulf in scores, and this weekend’s round illustrates that.

The Magpies went down to Wanderers by 67 points and the Buffaloes went down to the rampant Nightcliff by 73 points. Tiwi Bombers were gallant against the Southern District Crocs, going down in the end by 23 points after clawing back a bigger margin with a six goal last quarter in front of a home crowd.

Already the top five teams have a two game buffer from the bottom three and whilst none can afford to drop off the pace, each of the top five teams must be feeling confident already that finals are firmly on the radar.

The Nightcliff Tigers continued their charge to flag favouritism, hammering the Buffaloes and remaining undefeated. Only a narrow percentage advantage places Wanderers above the Crocs in second and third place, both boasting four wins from five starts. St Marys gave Waratah a nasty reality check with a 103 point walloping of the improved Tahs. They are both in the five with three wins each. Then there is daylight between them and the ‘Pies.

Next weekend’s round will answer more questions. In the battle for the bottom of the ladder, the Buffaloes and Bombers clash. Waratah have a tough encounter with the Tigers and Palmerston has to face the rapidly improving St Mary’s. The match of the round on paper shapes as the Wanderers match against the Southern Districts Crocs in a game which will certainly shape the makeup of the top five.

Weekend Results:

Nightcliff Tigers 20 13 133 d Darwin Buffaloes 9 6 60

Southern Districts Crocs 16 13 109 d Tiwi Bombers 12 14 86

St Mary’s Saints 17 21 123 d Waratah Warriors 2 8 20

Wanderers Eagles 14 12 96 d Palmerston Magpies 4 5 29