Tigers tear Buffs apart
Filo dominates through the midfield as Nightcliff prevails by 95 points
A CLINICAL Nightcliff clawed its way to a 19.15 (129) to 4.10 (34) win over a disappointing Darwin Buffaloes at Darwin Mazda Nightcliff Oval last night.
Keen to keep a hold on the top of the ladder, the home team was never troubled against a Buffalo side lacking drive from the midfield forward.
The Tigers started supremely, and through Kyle
Emery and Cameron Ilett they had two goals on the board in a heartbeat. However, Michael Coombes wove some special magic from the pocket to give Buffaloes their first six-point taste halfway through the opening term.
Ilett had the ball on a string up forward and, with Brodie Filo dominating through the midfield, the home side went to the first break in a commanding position.
Nightcliff started the second term in a blaze, with Liam
Holt-Fitz goaling inside the first minute and, when Dominic Brew and Trent Melville followed up soon after, the reigning premiers were in complete control.
With Buffalo midfield maestro Jarrod Stokes seemingly injured and resting across halfforward, his team was missing the normal drive he generates, and the home team was holding all the winning cards at the long break.
Buffaloes started the third strongly, but against the run of play Nightcliff youngster Andy Moniz-Wakefield took a courageous mark at centre-half forward and kicked truly.
However, the double-blues continued to attack and were rewarded with a goal each from key forwards Brodie Foster and Daniel Kaipara.
Nightcliff eased up in the final term, but did enough to retain top spot and give its already healthy percentage a boost.
NIGHTCLIFF 6.3 13.6 17.11 19.15 (129)
BUFFALOES 1.0
4.10 (34)
GOALS
Nightcliff: T Melville 3 C Ilett 3 D Brew 2 B Filo 2 L HoltFitz 2 R Mu 2 A Moniz-Wakefield 2 A Jorgensen K Emery K Riley
Buffaloes: B Foster 2 M Coombes D Kaipara 1.3 3.5
Nightcliff: B Filo J Budarick K Riley C Ilett N Brown
Buffaloes: B Stokes K Maroney M Kennedy L McKenzie R Pendlebury