TIGERS FLEX MUSCLES AS CROCS FALL WELL SHORT
NIGHTCLIFF flexed its collective muscle and overpowered Southern Districts by 53 points, laying down a marker with the NTFL Men’s Premier League finals around the corner.
Playing an uncompromising brand of footy, the Tigers led at every change, winning 15.19 (109) to 8.8 (56) on Saturday when they travelled to Norbuilt Oval.
Nightcliff started in the best possible manner when Bailey Edwards slammed a goal through inside the first minute and when Trent Melville twice repeated the dose, the Tigers were on the march.
Jonathon Ross was a saviour for Districts when he found space and goaled against the run of play, which had been dominated by the visitors at both ends of the ground.
Cameron Ilett iced the cake for an inaccurate Nightcliff when he strolled into an open goal late in the term.
Leigh Williams sparked the Crocs in the second with a solid mark and goal, and when Beau Schwarze and Chris Tout scored six-pointers, the home side was firing.
Jess Budarick finally broke through the bustling Districts defence led by Frazer Driscoll, Zach Zdybel and Ethan Maney, and ran in a clever goal that was followed soon after by Ilett (twice) and Nathan Brown, and the Tigers had stemmed the Croc attack at the long break.
A mark and goal to Melville early in the third set the visitors up for a solid term and although Districts had their share of the Sherrin, they could not finish and with Nightcliff dominating the high ball and Brodie Filo returning to his best in the midfield, the winning platform was set.
To their credit, Districts ran the game out but Nightcliff pretty much cruised to victory having Melville and Ilett up forward to pounce and score goals when needed.
With finals looming, Ilett, a threetime Nightcliff premiership player, would not be drawn on comparisons with past sides.
“This is a different group from past seasons and all the guys whether young or more experienced need to be accountable,” he said.
“We run almost 30 players deep, so we are all on notice and that’s the sign of a good footy club.
“We’ve got a bit of improvement in our goalscoring efficiency to correct – it could be crucial in crunch games during finals.”
DISTRICTS 1.1 4.3 6.6 8.8 (56) NIGHTCLIFF 4.7 8.10 14.13 15.19 (109)
GOALS
Sth Districts: B Schwarze 2 J Ross 2 L Williams C Tout T Carroll L Smith
Nightcliff: T Melville 5 C Ilett 4 B Edwards J Budarick N Brown N Howe Z Derkson B Filo
BEST
Sth Districts: C Ilett B Filo N Brown T Melville R Nyhuis
Nightcliff: F Driscoll Z Zdybel E Maney P Gallow B Schwarze