After many months of talent scouting, invitations have now been sent to young female players to train for a chance to represent the NT as part of the 2019 NT Thunder Women's Academy.
Depending on where the player is based their invite will see them join the Under 18/Under 16 Top End or Pinktails Women’s Academy, based in Darwin and Alice Springs respectively. Both academies will be filled with talent and will also include players from Katherine and remote communities.
This year is the first time that there will be a Territory-based program for the Under 16s Women’s Academy. The squad will play intra-Territory matches and participate in camps, with the date of these to be advised in due course on the Women’s Under 16s page.
Meanwhile, the dates for Thunder's games at the 2019 AFLW Under 18’s Academy Series are known and listed below.
NT Thunder Women’s Academy Manager Heidi Thompson is thrilled to be part of this new pathway for the Territory’s future female footy stars.
“It’s a unique time for women’s football in the NT with talent pathways not only in the Under 18s space but also for the first time we will be naming an Under 16 Women’s Academy.
"I am extremely excited to be managing both academies, allowing me to oversee the most talented youth girls in the Territory,” Thompson said.
AFLNT Manager of Talent and Pathways Wally Gallio said it’s great that the female pathway now matches that on the male side.
“This will provide talented female players with a clear pathway all the way up to the elite high performance programs in the Thunder VFLW program and the AFLW.
"These academies will be developed and delivered in conjunction with the National Academy Curriculum and Guidelines, therefore, providing NT players with the best chance to compete at the highest level,” Gallio said.
For a full list of players invited to try out for the NT Thunder Women’s Academy please head to Women’s Under U18s page or the Women’s Under 16s page.
For the team’s results head to the AFLNT website for the Women’s Under U18s once the games have begun.
2019 AFL Under 18s Women’s fixtures
Academy Series for the Northern States (NT Academy selection)
Game 1
7pm (AEST) Friday 10 May
NT Thunder vs Brisbane Lions
C.ex Coffs International Stadium, NSW
Game 2
3pm (AEST) Saturday 11 May
NT Thunder vs Gold Coast Suns
C.ex Coffs International Stadium, NSW
Game 3
9am (AEST) Sunday 12 May
NT Thunder vs NSW/ACT
C.ex Coffs International Stadium, NSW
2019 AFLW U18 Championships
ROUND 1 (Central Allies selection)
Game 1
Time TBC Friday 31 May
South Australia vs NT Thunder
location TBC, SA
Game 2
Time TBC Sunday 2 June
South Australia vs NT Thunder
location TBC, SA
ROUND 2
Game 1
Time TBC Monday 8 July
Central Allies vs Eastern Allies
Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast, QLD
Game 2
Time TBC Wednesday 10 July
Central Allies vs Western Australia
Yeronga Oval, Brisbane, QLD
Game 3
Time TBC Friday 12 July
Central Allies vs Vic Country
Fankhauser Reserve, Southport QLD