The two matches in the NTFL Premier League finals series on Saturday have again seen the agony and ecstasy of a season finished or a season on a roll. Waratah kept their flag hopes alive and the Tiwi Bombers continued to be the form team in the league. Last year’s grand finalists, the Darwin Buffaloes, had an early exit and end to their season whilst the Southern Districts Crocs lost but can fight another day.

The Nightcliff Tigers watched on and learned as the other teams battled before them.

The first match of the finals at TIO Stadium saw Waratah and Darwin battle for the second successive week. Last weekend it was jostling for finals positions – this weekend it was sudden death to the loser. Remarkably, the script was eerily similar. A tight first quarter was followed by a big Waratah second quarter. At half time, Waratah were five goals up, also similar to last week.

North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos triumphed to a four-point win over Melbourne at Casey Fields in the South East of Melbourne in the humid conditions. 

It was North's first real test of this years competition in what was one of the best AFLW matches skill and pressure wise.

Hope and King guided North to the tough victory.

Image Source: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

The GWS Giants secured their first win of AFLW 3.0, as they narrowly defeated Collingwood by nine points in warm conditions at the Morwell Recreation Reserve.

It was the first ever AFLW match at Morwell.

Image Source: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

The Adelaide Crows were unstoppable against the Fremantle Dockers at the TIO Stadium, as they demolished the Dockers by 41 points in steamy and hot conditions in Darwin.

Image Source: Michael Wilson

The Brisbane Lions outclassed the Western Bulldogs at the VU Whitten Oval, as they demolished them by 33 points in great conditions in Melbourne.

It just was not the Dogs night with their sloppy disposals and skills compared to the Lions that were cleaner in all facets of their game.

Image Source: Scott Barbour

The Geelong Cats pulled off a hard fought five point win over Carlton at the GMHBA Stadium in a fine day in Geelong.

It was a top of the table Conference B clash between the Cats and Blues and the contest lived up to it all match long. 

Rochelle Cranston led the way in the midfield with her pressure for the Cats. 

Image Source: Darrian Traynor

 

Conor Walsh from the Essendon Football club website www.essendonfc.com.au looks at the rise of the Tiwi Bombers during the 2018.19 NTFL season. Early in the season, the Bombers were in a battle to even reach the finals, yet this weekend they are playing in a Qualifying Final as the form team in the NTFL. 

The Tiwi Bombers are flying and ready to explode in the TIO NTFL Finals on Saturday, entering the campaign as the form team of the competition.

The Bombers have won six of their last seven outings leading into the weekend’s qualifying final against Southern Districts, coming off the back of an 87-point thumping of St Marys last week.  

The dominant victory helped the side secure a second chance for the finals series, lifting them into third place by percentage, just 1.28 per cent clear of Waratah.

Image Source: AFL Women's 

Round 4 team lists have been released below

Geelong vs Carlton, Saturday 23rd February 4:45pm at GMHBA Stadium

Geelong Squad

Position	Name	#	Name	#	Name	#
Backs	A.Teague	40	R.Goring	44	M.McMahon	24
Half Backs	M.Hickey	18	M.McDonald	11	D.Taylor	27
Centreline			R.Cranston	30
Half Forwards	D.Orr	2	M.Boyd	26	S.Van De Heuvel	27
Forwards	R.Garing	12	P.McWilliams	23	J.Ivey	5
Followers	A.O'Connor	45	M.Keryk	16	O.Purcell	16
Interchange	E.Hoare	46	M.Clifford	7	G.Clarke	17
	J.Crockett-Grills	6	C.Blakeway	4
Emergencies	G.Rankin	10	K.Darby	8
	EMG4	EMG4_NO

 In: - C.Blakeway, A.O'Connor

Out: - R.Webster (injured), K.Darby

Carlton Squad 

Position	Name	#	Name	#	Name	#
Backs	J.Edwards	25	J.Van Dyk	36	S.Hosking	10
Half Backs	N.Stevens	21	K.Harrington	9	G.Pound	6
Centreline			K.Loynes	2
Half Forwards	M.Prespakis	4	R.Watt	22	T.Harris	7
Forwards	D.Vescio	4	B.Davey - C	1	G.Gee	19
Followers	A.Downie	30	A.Mullane	8	C.Dalton	15
Interchange	A.McKay	5	N.Plane	32	L.Brazzale	12
	J.Hosking	11	B.Walker	14
Emergencies	R.Hicks	24	T.Lucas-Rodd	18
	EMG4	EMG4_NO

 In: - R.Watt, A.McKay

Out: - B.Moody, K.Bentley

The round three NAB AFL Women's Rising Stars nominees are North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos Courteney Munn and Melbourne's Eden Zanker.

With Round 18 being the final home and away round of the NTFL season, some clubs made sure they imposed their will to either secure finals berths or avoid wooden spoons. With the victors winning by a combined total of almost 300 points, it was probably the most one-sided round of the season.

The Tiwi Bombers hammered St Mary’s by 87 points, Waratah took down the Darwin Buffaloes by 76 points, Nightcliff thrashed Southern Districts by 90 points and Wanderers also enjoyed a 44 point win over Palmerston.

The carnage started at Tracy Village where the Tiwi Bombers jumped out of the blocks with a seven goal to one opening term. From there they were never seriously challenged, extending their lead at every break. It was a huge result for the Bombers as they secured third place on the ladder and a double chance in the first round of the finals. The loss was painful on many fronts for the Saints, earning the wooden spoon to complete a fall from grace which has seen them drop from a premiership in 2017 to fourth in 2018 and now last. It promises to be a big off-season for the Saints.