It could be too early to tell.

Then again, it could be the four points Northern Districts or Shellharbour need to earn a place in the new AFL South Coast top tier, when the competition splits in three after nine rounds. It’s one of the quirks, but also a major incentive, for clubs to finish in the top six, with the Tigers and Suns likely to battle it out with Bomaderry and Figtree.

And while, like most clubs, Northern Districts have suffered at the hands of the big three – the Lions, Kiama and the Bulldogs – in recent times, president Pat Woodley believe a resurgence is already underway.

“We’d love to remain up there with the big three and qualify for the top tier,” he said.

“It would be a huge reward for the young players who have really committed to the club’s direction and professionalism this year.

“We’ve had a boost in numbers this year and you can see the commitment there.

“We like to think we’ll be competitive against most teams this year, as much as we’ve had two or three clubs who have been head and shoulders above the rest in the last couple of years.”

The Tigers won just one game last year, but avoided the wooden spoon by finishing above Nowra-Albatross on percentage.

This season they’ve already beaten Port Kembla, as Daniel Forsyth kicking eight in a 16.14 (110) to 4.2 (26) win, with Owen Kocyan, Jai McPhee and Oscar Scown part of an emerging group of talent.

Woodley also praised the introduction of a women’s competition, as a major boost for the Tigers’ club culture.

Elsehwere, Wollongong arch-rivals Bulldogs and Lions meet to be the last unbeaten team standing.

Round four

Men: BOMADERRY v NOWRA-ALBATROSS at Artie Smith Oval, FIGTREE v PORT KEMBLA at Figtree Oval, WOLLONGONG BULLDOGS v WOLLONGONG LIONS at Keira Oval (2.10pm); NORTHERN DISTRICTS v SHELLHARBOUR at Hollymount Park (6.10pm)

Ladder: WOLLONGONG BULLDOGS 12 (538.10), WOLLONGONG LIONS 12 (506.41), KIAMA 8 (234.59), NORTHERN DISTRICTS 8 (82.88), FIGTREE 4 (95.17), BOMADERRY 4 (42.40), Shellharbour 4 (37.89), Port Kembla 4 (36.89), Nowra-Albatross 4 (25.95).

Women: WOLLONGONG SAINTS v ULLADULLA at North Dalton Park (11am), BOMADERRY v NOWRA-ALBATROSS at Artie Smith Oval, WOLLONGONG BULLDOGS v WOLLONGONG LIONS at Keira Oval (12.30pm), NORTHERN DISTRICTS v DAPTO CITY at Hollymount Park (2.30pm).  Ladder: Wollongong Lions 12 (1047.83), Bomaderry 8 (280), Kiama 8 (213.16), Ulladulla 8 (188.24), Wollongong Saints 8 (85.42), Northern Districts 8 (57.83), Nowra-Albatross 4 (11.06), Dapto City 4 (0.76), Wollongong Bulldogs 0 (21.74). 

Women’s division one

WOLLONGONG SAINTS v EAST COAST EAGLES at North Dalton Park (1pm)