Central Allies selection about to get underway in the NT

Round 1 of the 2018 NAB AFL Women's Series where players will vie for Central Allies team selection kicks off in Darwin this Friday when NT Thunder Academy take on South Australia at TIO Stadium.
 
There are two games that will be played, 8:00pm Friday 25 May and 8:30am Sunday 27 May. From these games a combined team will be selected to form the Central Allies. *Note: Friday night was originally scheduled for an 8pm start but has since been changed to 8:30pm.
 
The Central Allies will be heading to the Gold Coast in July to participate in rounds 2 and 3 of the NAB AFL Women’s Under 18 National Championships. 
 
A squad of 30 Northern Territory players (see below) will participate in the two games aiming to secure a Central Allies spot. 
 
The NT Thunder Under 18 Women’s Academy consists of players from Alice Springs (Shoneeka Abbott, Rachel Hartung, Shaquille Swan), Gove (Shanita Garrawurra), Katherine (Billie Byers, Mavis Dunn) and the Tiwi Islands (Arthurina Moreen, Michaline Mungatopi, Freda Puruntatameri).
 
There is also plenty of Darwin-based talent, with all players being given guidance under the direction of NT Thunder U18 Women’s Academy coach and NTFL Nightcliff Men’s Premier League coach, Chris Baksh. 
 
Overseeing the program is AFLNT Development Coach, Jimmy Driscoll who said he is pleased with the number of second year academy players that have been named in the NT squad. 
 
“A lot of girls named this year played last year and I believe the experience they already have will prove invaluable. 
 
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our young Territory footballers to showcase their talent in the hope that they make it into the Central Allies squad.
 
“This year we’ve a talented pool of players to choose from and I can’t wait to see what they’ve got,” said Driscoll.  
 

The 2018 NT Thunder Under 18 Women's squad