NT Thunder Women’s Under 18 squad locked in for 2019

The NT Thunder Under 18 Women’s Academy has named its squad ahead of their first-ever trip to Coffs Harbour next week for a development camp and games against the other AFL northern academy sides. 

Made up of 30 of the brightest football talents the NT has to offer, the team has come together from NT Thunder’s main training bases of Darwin and Alice Springs, with additions from Katherine and the Tiwi Islands. 

Three of the players are considered ‘bottom-agers’ as they were only born in 2003, but have been approved by the AFL to participate. While a number of the other players were in a similar position last year and have come back as experienced and senior members of the team. 

In addition to the five players on the emergency list, the camp next week will be the first step in NT Thunder Academy coaches, managers and talent staff in formalising the squad they will take to Round 1 of the NAB AFLW Under 18 Championships to play against South Australia at the end of May.   

NT Thunder Manager of Talent and Pathways, Wally Gallio described the players as dedicated, hard-working and talented.

“Approximately 20 per cent of the players in the squad played senior women’s’ football with their local clubs in the past year, so they’ve gained experience that they’ve been able to further develop in training over the last few months. 

“The focus for Coffs Harbour is to firstly, get the players into a camp-style situation, so staff can do some education and more focused one on one teaching and secondly, to prepare players for Round 1 of the national championships. 

“The experience will also allow coaching and support staff to practice their trade and get things ready for later in May,” he said. 

NT Thunder Women’s Academy Manager Heidi Thompson is raring to go. 

“After nine weeks of training we’re really excited to see the team in action and to have them test themselves against the other northern academy teams,” she said. 

The team has three training sessions until they depart for Coffs Harbour next Thursday and are expected to name its leadership group in the lead-up.

2019 Development Camp games:

Round 1
7pm Friday 10 May
NT Thunder vs Brisbane Lions
C.ex Coffs International Stadium, NSW

Round 2
3pm Saturday 11 May
NT Thunder vs Gold Coast Suns
C.ex Coffs International Stadium, NSW

Round 3
9am Sunday 12 May
NT Thunder vs NSW/ACT
C.ex Coffs International Stadium, NSW

2019 NAB AFLW Under 18 Championships

Round 1

2pm Friday 31 May
South Australia vs NT Thunder
Peter Motley Oval, Unley, SA

11am Sunday 2 June
South Australia vs NT Thunder
Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide, SA

*From these two games against SA, the NT Thunder members to represent the Central Allies in Round 2 of the AFLW Under 18 Championships will be selected.

Round 2

3pm Monday 8 July
Central Allies vs Eastern Allies
Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast, QLD

2pm Wednesday 10 July
Western Australia vs Central Allies
Southport, Gold Coast, QLD

2019 NT Thunder Women's Under 18 squad members: