A sustained last-quarter goal blitz by Northern Territory eventually tamed Tasmania in a fluctuating AFL women's exhibition match in St Kilda on Sunday afternoon.

Trailing by eight points at three-quarter time, the match-hardened Territory girls slammed on seven goals to nil to surge to a 36-point win at the Peanut Farm Reserve.

An upset loomed when the Tasmanians, playing together for the first time this season, booted four goals to one in the third quarter of what had been an even duel.

More women’s football news

But Northern Territory, with a slight breeze advantage in the last term, kick-started the comeback with goals in the opening two minutes from imposing forward Krystle Rivers and Shaqkala Bading to grab back the lead.

With forward targets Abbey Holmes, who added two goals, and Rivers, the Territory took complete control against the gallant, if underdone, Tasmania team.

"We're coming off a full season and I knew our fitness would be there. We have so much pride in this playing group and we really wanted to come out and show the vast talent we have in the Territory,'' Holmes said after the game.

"We knew Tassie was going to come out strong and they're just as passionate about their footy as us. But I thought our commitment, effort to the ball and our support for each other were second to none. And we had more than one option to the ball all the time.''

Captain Zoie Crawford, Jacinta Limbrick and Jessica Whelan worked tirelessly to keep Tasmania in the contest and Daria Bannister, whose goal late in the third term put Tassie in front, always looked menacing up forward.

But the Northern Territory regrouped from a ragged third term when they lost control of the midfield after Tayla Thorn, concussed in a heavy knock to the head in the second term, was ruled out for the entire second half.

Adelaide Head of Football David Noble and Chairman Rob Chapman were among those in attendance.

 

NORTHERN TERRITORY        3.2    5.6    6.9    13.11 (89)
TASMANIA                               1.3    3.8    7.11  7.11 (53)

GOALS
Northern Territory: Rivers 3, Holmes 3, Nalder 2, Foley, Thompson, Bading, Johnston, Chittick
Tasmania: Stokely 2, Limbrick 2, Bannister, Manjerovic, Corrie

BEST
Northern Territory: Holmes, Barnett, Foley, Rivers, Johnston
Tasmania: Crawford, Limbrick, Whelan, Gamble, Bannister