Southern Districts coach Shannon Rusca points to his side's hard work and matchday consistency as the basis for their lofty perch on top of the NTFL Men's Premier League ladder.
The Crocodiles won their ninth start in 10 outings in the 2024-25 season when they beat the Palmerston Magpies by 86 points on Saturday.
That win delivered the Christmas premiership to Districts, having played a game less than the chasing pack, even if the old timers say top of the ladder at the halfway point of a season can be a poison chalice.
Rusca has played down any talk of the club's fourth senior flag, saying only that his players are "trucking in the right direction".
"We're very pleased with the way we're travelling, we've put a very good side out there with a lot of returning recruits back up here," he added.
"Matt Shannon, Jack Sexton, Matt and Jordan Johnston and Wyatt Ryan are part of the Darwin community now and will be around the NTFL for a long time."
Shannon, former Hawthorn, North Melbourne and Gold Coast utility Jed Anderson and Geelong and Port Adelaide forward Steven Motlop have shone in a season where the Crocodiles have consumed opposition sides in one swallow by recording some big wins.
A 10-point loss to old rivals St Mary's is the only blot on the season after Districts looked to be in control of the Round 8 game at TIO Stadium.
Defending premier St Mary's suffered a surprise loss to Wanderers in the second last game before the break, a defeat watched by players from the 1994-95 premiership side.
That loss was compounded by an enthusiastic Tiwi Bombers side in Saturday's clash at TIO Stadium.
The black and red jumpers ran over a Saints side without injured skipper and Nichols Medal favourite Dylan Landt to record their sixth win of the season and stay in fifth position on the league ladder.
The Tiwis' second year coach Patrick Bowden said the addition of experienced players. particularly in defence, had given his side some good structure.
"Getting Marlon Pickett from Richmond after he retired was really nice, he's a great fella who has added some great leadership to the team."
Back-to-back losses have only put a small dent in Saints' season, with the seven-point loss meaning they still go into the break in second position.
Landt is expected to return from a wrist laceration for the big Round 12 game against fourth-placed Waratah at Marrara in the first week of January.
Nightcliff has gone about its business with a minimum of fuss and that trend continued on Saturday night when the Tigers beat a disappointing Wanderers by 47 points.
Wanderers had won three of its last four games coming into the game but found the class of Tiger skipper Brodie Filo, former AFL Cat Brandan Parfitt, Lloyd Bailey, Jonathan Lanyon, four-goal forward Kye Declasse and Sean Hunter too big a hurdle to clear.
It means Leigh Crossman's side sits in third position on the ladder and within reach of the coveted double chance with seven rounds left in the all-important post Christmas season.
Waratah climbed to six wins, two losses and a draw from nine matches after beating PINT by six goals in their clash at DXC Arena.
Tahs have had great service from midfielder and Nichols Medal contender Scott Carlin all season and that continued against the Greenants, who made the red and white jumpers work hard for the 37-point win.
New coach Rick Nolan has marked his side with an A- after nine games in charge, losses to Districts and beachside rivals Nightcliff overtaken by six wins and an unlucky draw with the Darwin Buffaloes.
"We should be 7-2 if you look at Darwin's season where they've run into a lot of big losses," he said.
"The ambulance too long to get to Gardens Oval when a player in a women's game broke her leg and they called the men's game off," he said.
Meanwhile, Palmerston and the Darwin Buffaloes have struggled for wins and scoring opportunities.
The Magpies did beat the Phillip Wills coached Buffaloes in a Round 3 match where utility Nayef Hamad was in sensational form.
The Buffaloes are winless and face a big rebuilding program when the 2024-25 season is over.