Darwin Buffettes defeat Nightcliff to win 2021/22 NTFL Women's Premier League grand final

The Darwin Buffettes have won the 2021/22 NTFL Women's Premier League grand final, defeating Nightcliff Tigers 4.10 (34) to 2.4 (16).

In a bruising contest on Saturday afternoon, Nightcliff could equal the toughness of the Buffettes, but were no match for their class and flair at TIO Stadium in Darwin.

A dashing goal from Buffette Tayla Hart-Aluni on the stroke of quarter time symbolised the difference between the two sides, with the Buffettes able to conjure moments of brilliance in a game played mostly in the clinches.

However, the premiership for the Buffettes could come at a cost – one the club will happily bear — with Dom Carbone and Molly Althouse putting in grand final performances that demand serious attention from AFLW clubs.

Carbone and Gwynne Medal winner Althouse formed a special one-two punch on the day. They were formidable in the air, in-and-under and in front of goal to key the victory for the Buffettes.

Carbone kicked two of the Buffettes' four goals. The second, when she used one hand to tap the ball back to herself off the turf, before fending off a Nightcliff defender, wheeling around onto her right foot and slotting the kick over the goal umpire's hat, was one of the goals of the season.

Carbone was the fitting winner of the Williams Medal for best on ground.

Nightcliff's Eliza Morrison, who kept her side in the contest all day, was the other stand-out player in the match.

She was in everything for the Nightcliff across all corners of the ground.

With the ball she was reliable and while defending she was ferocious, as best captured by a desperate second-quarter smother to save a certain goal.

Nightcliff kicked the first goal of the match, but the Buffettes led at every change.

A beautifully struck set shot goal