Former AFL players Jed Anderson and Steven Motlop have capped off outstanding individual seasons by leading Southern Districts to a Northern Territory Football League premiership.

The Crocs claimed a hard-fought 9.12 (66) to 8.3 (51) victory over St Marys in Saturday's NTFL grand final at TIO Stadium.

Despite carrying a groin injury Anderson played a crucial role – particularly during the tense final stages – finishing with 20 disposals, half of which were contested, and nine ground-ball gets.

Motlop finished with one goal from 11 disposals in a frustrating outing that included conceding six free kicks.

The premiership was a fitting reward for Anderson and Motlop, two of the competition's most influential players this year.

Anderson was one of the competition's standout midfielders across the season, his tenacity and aggression a key feature of his game.

He entered the NTFL's Nichols Medal count as one of the favourites, ultimately finishing in the top three.

Across the season the tough on-baller averaged 26 disposals per game and posed a constant scoring threat, kicking 25 goals in 18 matches.

Motlop played multiple roles early in the season before settling into a more familiar forward-line position.

The former Geelong and Port Adelaide star finished with 41 goals, ranking second in the competition.

The Crocs have been perennial finalists over the past decade but have often fallen short at the last hurdle.

This time, they broke through.

Captain Michael Bowden described the relief he felt when the final siren sounded.

"It's unreal, we started off the season knowing we had to get up early and we just went hard the whole season and here we are now as premiership winners," Bowden said, the NT News reports.

"In the past six years we've been in two losing grand finals, it's tough when you lose but to be back on top of the pile and to get Shannon Rusca and these boys another flag is unreal."

Coach Shannon Rusca, a former AFL player with Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs, praised his side's resilience.

"Contest after contest both sides were very willing, they've been there so many times but for us to step up and even the contest was a big winner for us," Rusca said, the NT News reports.

"It's unreal, this has been in the making for a few years, we lost the grand final a couple of years ago and probably weren't ready and then the prelim last year, which really hurt.

"We came back and reassessed and the boys all bought in for this common goal and to get there now is really sweet."