U16s to face NSW/ACT in National Champs opener named, while U18s play for experience
Friday 10 June 2016
The NT Thunder U16 State Academy team to play NSW/ACT in its first match of the 2016 NAB AFL U16 National Championships on Saturday has been announced.
Head coach Andrew Hodges said the team heads to Northline Oval in Palmerston this weekend with the right preparation behind them.
“The boys have had six months of strong training and getting to know each other. They have the right attitude and all the commitment you could ever ask of a squad.
“NSW/ACT are an impressive outfit. They’re bigger bodied and well drilled but we hope to use our pace, pressure and the familiar conditions to get on top,” Hodges said.
The team was selected from a squad of 30 and includes some mature-agers in Marcus Valastro, Ryan Mu and Matt Blake along with 15-year-olds Michael Mummery and Liam Holt-Fitz, who all played with the U18s last month.
NAB AFL U16 National Championships
NT vs NSW/ACT
6:30pm, Sat 11 June
Northline Oval, Palmerston
Prior to the U16s game, the Thunder U18s will get another development opportunity with a match against NSW/ACT scheduled for 4:00pm.
Hodges said the U18s team includes players who missed out on making the final squad for the U18s National Championships last month and does not include those selected to play in the Division One Allies team.
Three of the players; Jackson Renzi, Tim Torzsok and Braydon Weily will make the trip from Central Australia. All three played in a TAC Cup game in Melbourne and will likely get selected to play in at least one U16s National Champs game.
“The boys are still training and putting in the work on the track, so when NSW/ACT asked if we were interested in playing against its 18s team we jumped at the opportunity.
“It’s another game where we get to try out our structures and gain the experience against quality opposition. They’re missing quite a few boys to the Allies team as well, so we’re looking forward to seeing how we stack up,” Hodges said.
U18 Development Match
NT vs NSW/ACT
4:00pm, Sat 11 June
Northline Oval, Palmerston
NT THUNDER UNDER 16's
Backs 1. James QUINN 25. Mitchell RIELLY 12. Keegan NYHUIS
H Backs 13. Matthew GREEN 26. Thomas BROWN 14. Kane EDWARDS
Centres 16. Nathan MU 7. Matt BLAKE 10. Joel STEVENS
H Fwds 8. Beau SHCWARZE 18. Max DAVIES 22. Louis KOSSACK
Fwds 9. Jarrod CAMERON 23. Michael MUMMERY 29. Jack PALMER
Followers 30. Marcus VALASTRO 31. Ryan MU 15. Liam HOLT-FITZ
Interchange 2. Chase RYE 5. Zac BAILEY 19. Robbie CAMPBELL
4. Timothy SMITH 27. Elijah MURRAY 20. Ben JUNGFER
17. Ryan ALTHOUSE-COOPER
NT THUNDER UNDER 18's
Backs 4. Cody NYHUIS 14. Kevin MARONEY 3. Jackson RENZI
H Backs 16. Kris CLEMENTS 8. Tim TORZSOK 18. Jake JACKSON-COLE
Centres 22. Marcus TOTHAM 15. Keenan WATERBURY 1. Braydon WEILY
H Fwds 9. Zac DERKSON 35. Jordan JEFFREY 10. Jess BUDERICK
Fwds 5. Bryson NABEGEYO 23. Matt BRICKNELL 19. Jasper HUTT
Followers 32. Tony OLANGO 11. Josh O’BRIEN 21. Patrick FAIRHEAD
Interchange 7. Zac SMITH 12. Moses AKENA 24. Coen HUTT
25. Matt CHESTER