Southern Districts celebrated Shannon Rusca's 200th game as senior coach with a superb 58-point win over the previously unbeaten Darwin Buffaloes in the TIO NTFL's Men's Premier League.
The Round 6 clash turned into one of the games of the season when the lead changed on five occasions in the leadup to three quarter-time.
But a last-quarter eight-goal blast by Districts broke the game open when former West Coast and GWS Giants forward Jarrod Brander kicked three of his seven goals to seal a 19.13 (127) to 10.9 (69) win.
Brander and Jonathan Ross were big targets up forward, while lionhearted big man Wyatt Ryan rucked all day against a quality opponent in Buffalo Nathan Stewart.
Matthew Mazzini's clearance work in defence and Jed Anderson's ability to clear the ball from contests were other big factors in Districts' fourth straight win.
Reaching the coaching milestone after 187 games as a player meant a lot to Rusca, who went through a range of emotions before his side broke free in the last term.
In-form ruckman Matthew Dennis added to his worries when he was a late withdrawal with ankle and knee soreness.
"We had to work very hard after losing Jake (McQueen) in the first six minutes of the game with a concussion and when you lose a prime mover like him you've to rearrange your side quickly,'' he said.
"Jarrod was super up forward, he could have got a few free kicks that didn't go his way, but he continued to present as a big target and a wonderful talent.''
The Buffaloes lost no friends despite their first loss in five matches, Stewart in the ruck and defenders Kelvin Williams and Kevin Maroney tremendous contributors to their side.
PINT beat Wanderers by two points in Saturday night's game at Marrara's DXC Arena.
The Greenants looked set for a big win when they led by five goals early in the second quarter, but to the Wanderers' credit, they fought their way back into the contest to fall agonisingly short of their first win since Round 1.
PINT skipper Matt Ryan led from the front with a five-goal haul, closely followed by another five-goal forward in Liam Holt-Fitz and midfielder Warwick Williams.
Greenants coach Shannon Motlop was happy to get the four points in a performance he rated as "not very exciting'' despite his players snapping a two-game losing streak.
"We've got some work to do, but there were signs we're getting back to playing our best footy,'' Motlop said.
The Eagles were best served by big man Ed Simpson and their captain Mitchell Taylor in a key defensive role in a performance that would have pleased coach Aaron Motlop.
Waratah recovered from a slow start to beat the Tiwi Bombers by 10 goals in a game relocated to TIO Stadium due to the poor condition of the Bombers' home ground on Bathurst Island.
The Tiwis booted three goals without a reply in the first 10 minutes, including a long bomb from skipper Brendan Kantilla, to grab the early ascendancy.
But the reigning premier woke from their early snooze to boot six of the next seven goals to lead at quarter time, a lead they increased to 36 points at half-time through a five-goal to one-second term.
Tahs coach Ryan Ayres said his mature, experienced players had shone through on a day when the Tiwi side came to play a game of footy.
Toby Hutt's three goals in a forward-ruck role stood out for Tahs, while former Sydney Swan Ryan Clarke impressed on debut with some clever touches and Jack O'Sullivan up forward was the best for the winners.
Tiwi coach Patrick Bowden praised his side's competitiveness against the premiers while expressing his disappointment at a drop-off in intensity after their fast start.
"We had a chance to be closer than that, we let it slip in the second quarter when we let them get away, and once they got the momentum we couldn't quite get it back,'' Bowden said.
Nightcliff dominated Palmerston in Friday night's game at Darwin Mazda Nightcliff Oval, winning by 102 points after a big first quarter left the Magpies wingless.
The Tigers' 18.17 (125) to 3.5 (23) win was their fourth in five starts this season under new coach Leigh Crossman.
Dual Nichols medallist Brodie Filo was in superlative form on a night where their use of the football and ability to run in numbers overwhelmed the young Magpies.
Fully fit after a season with Ovens and Murray powerhouse Wangaratta Rovers, Filo liked what he saw from his teammates after the Tigers' week off with the Round 5 bye.
"It was a good effort from the boys, Palmy were a bit undermanned and they're a very young side, but I'm sure they'll be all right come later in the season,'' he said.
"In my case, I think it's always easier coming off a big season down there. I'm kicking a few goals and getting a few touches, so it's happy days I guess.
"We've got a big test over the next month (Buffaloes, Southern Districts, Waratah, and St Mary's) so hopefully we can keep ticking the right boxes.''
Waratah unveiled new recruit Ryan Clarke, the former Sydney Swan, in its 50-point win over the Tiwi Bombers in Saturday's early afternoon game at TIO Stadium.
Toby Hutt across half-forward and tall man Jack O'Sullivan both kicked three goals in impressive performances and Clarke was busy around the ball despite encountering Darwin's heat and humidity.