I’ve been looking forward to this round all season. After a long trip to Canberra last weekend and a good win, it’s great to be back for a home game and to play it in Alice Springs. It’s an exciting opportunity to get down and show off our Territory talent in the Red Centre.

It’s going to be a massive day of footy with a mix of women’s representative action when the Pinktails take on the best from the Top End, some local CAFL fixtures and the NEAFL.

Growing up and playing footy in Alice is something I cherish and I always enjoy returning home. The amazing MacDonnell Ranges provides the most beautiful backdrop and Tragaer Park has one of the best surfaces of any AFL ground in Australia. It’s made for Territory footy; it’s big and wide and gives us the opportunity to play our way. I have many fond memories of running around in the Red Centre and can’t wait to catch some local footy also.

We have an important job to get done, as Southport is a proud club and will be looking to spoil our home game. Our boys are extremely focused and understand the importance of this game in the context of our season. Every week is critical.  It’s another must win game in order to secure a spot in the finals.

But there’s some extra motivation to spur us on. Getting a win at home for our Alice boys in the side is extremely important to us. This will be the first and only game of the season Abe Ankers gets to sleep in his own bed post-game. Like Matt Rosier before him, Abe travels every weekend to play for Thunder. Our group is motivated to make this game is a memorable one for him and to get the win on home soil.

Don’t miss this week’s action when we take on the Sharks. If you can’t be there in person then get on ThunderVision from 4.30pm to support your team.