Mighty Nightcliff earns week off in flag hunt
NIGHTCLIFF has earned a week’s rest in the NTFL premiership hunt after beating wooden spooner Palmerston by 108 points in the last minor-round game.
The Tigers closed out their home-and-away season with a quiet show of class that again stamped them as flag favourites in the hunt for NTFL football’s Holy Grail.
Nine players kicked goals in their 21.16 (142) to 5.4 (34) win at Magpieland.
But the Magpies made them earn every kick, handball and mark, despite the big gap on the scoreboard when the final siren blew.
Nightcliff utility and assistant coach Cameron Ilett said his side had been made to work by a Palmerston side desperate to finish the season on a good note.
“Full credit ston,” Ilett said.
“They made us work extremely hard.
“The seven-goal difference to Palmerat halftime probably didn’t reflect how tough it was out there.
“That half was very competitive.
“And it was only in the second half when we found a lot more avenues to goal when the midfield started getting on top and the defenders began winning contested ball and getting it forward.’’
Nightcliff found another goalscorer in first-gamer Declan Singh-Lippo when he booted five goals in his first taste of senior football.
James Tsitas continued his late season surge through the middle and up forward.
Brad Arnold was also productive in a midfield role.
The Magpies found two ready-made players for next season.
University pair Jared Sellwood in the ruck and Isaac Andrade (midfield) made their NTFL Premier League debuts.
GOALS
BEST
GOLD Coast recorded their first AFLW victory with an 11point win over Richmond at Metricon Stadium.
The Suns’ strong running in yesterday’s hot and humid conditions was too much for the Tigers, with the home team claiming a 5.3 (33) to 2.10 (22) win. Gold Coast midfielders Jamie Stanton (20 disposals) and Lauren Ahrens (16) impressed in the engine room, with Kate Surman’s two goals also critical to the win.
Richmond competed strongly around the ground and edged the Suns for inside-50s, but poor conversion in front of goal proved costly.
The Suns started brightly to gain early ascendancy in front of a 7071-strong crowd on the Gold Coast. Stanton’s opening goal for the Suns meant Gold Coast, at 1.2 (8), had equalled their total from last week’s rain-drenched Round 1 clash.
Goals to crafty Tiger Tayla Stahl and Christina Bernardi kept Richmond in touch early, but the Suns jumped to an 11point halftime lead thanks to Surman’s goals and a dominant display from midfielder Leah Kaslar.