On their Women’s Premier League bye in the TIO NTFL this weekend, the Wanderers Football Club will play a Challenge Match against the Alice Springs based Pinktails.
The game will be live streamed on AFLNTv and is set to commence at 10:30am on Saturday 2 February at TIO Stadium, ahead of the NTFL’s Round 16 Waratah vs Nightcliff clash in the Women’s Premier League.
The objective of the game is to continue the growth and development of women’s football in the Territory as well as provide the Pinktails players with an extra opportunity to be sighted by talent identification scouts.
Pinktails Coach Rob Clarke is excited about the potential these games hold for the next generation of talented footballers from the Red Centre.
“This weekend’s game against Wanderers gives another opportunity for Centralian players to be identified for state league competitions like the VFLW.
“And it will provide the Under 18 players who are playing in the senior Pinktails team with the chance to be identified for the NT Thunder Academy Programs as well as national programs, namely the Central Allies and AFL Under 18 Women’s National Academy.
“And hopefully some of these players will be the next Jordann Hickey, who’s now with the Melbourne Football Club, and go onto the AFLW,” said Clarke.
AFLNT Manager of Talent and Pathways Wally Gallio said this game sets up the perfect environment for the talent scouts.
“The exhibition game this weekend gives the Talent and Pathways staff alongside Women’s Academy Manager Heidi Thompson a good chance to view Central Australian women’s players in a competitive environment.
“Thompson and her selection team are in the process of finalising the VFLW and Under 18 NT Thunder Academy list,” said Gallio.
Wanderers Women’s Premier League coach Rod McLean said the opportunity to have a game on the club’s bye weekend was a welcome one.
“As a footy club, we are always trying to promote the development of our talent and support AFLNT and their programs.
“This opportunity provides continuous improvement and learning for us and the more game time and experience our players get, the better they will be for it,” said McLean.
AFLNT would like to thank Wanderers for forgoing their bye round to play this match.
Livestream link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGVScOK4Cts (please note no commentary)
Challenge Match
What: Territory Challenge Match
Who: Wanderers vs Pinktails
Where: TIO Stadium
When: 10:30am, Saturday 2 February
