While one of NT Thunder’s favourites, Ben Rioli will reach the special milestone of 100 games when he runs out in Sydney this weekend, the newest members of the club, midfielders Patrick Boles and Tylah Saunders, will make their debut.
Boles and Saunders have been training with the team for several weeks now after both players relocated from South Australia to Darwin for work purposes.
Also in to face an undefeated Sydney University outfit is handy defender Tom Davies and tall forward Hugo Drogemuller, who have recovered from concussion and quad complaints, respectively.
Shaun Wilson will also come into the line-up as a straight swap for Braedon McLean who will miss the trip due to family commitments. It will be Wilson’s fifth game for the 2018 season.
Speedy small forward, Matt Campbell will miss out to coach the Central Australian Redtails in their big AFL curtain-raiser game against the Top End Storm in Alice Springs on Sunday.
Also absent due to work commitments is Ryan Smith, meaning primary ruck duties will fall to Thunder’s 23rd player, Jack Monigatti.
Jarrod Stokes will miss his first game of the season due to an illness that has kept him away from training this week, and Phillip Wills is still awaiting final assessment on the knee injury he sustained during last week’s win over the Gold Coast Suns.
NT Thunder Head Coach Andrew Hodges said he’d been thoroughly impressed with Boles and Saunders and believed their inclusion to the team would excite the players.
“Pat and Tylah are two quality players who, from the moment they stepped foot into the club have bought into our program and show great intent on the training track. I’m sure the rest of the boys will get a kick out of having them pull on the Thunder jumper alongside them.
“We played Uni only a few weeks ago, and it was a close encounter tainted by early injuries, but the last time we played them in Sydney, it didn’t go so well, so we’re wary of that. They’re a clean, hard-working team who are top of the ladder for a reason but we’re hoping to cause an upset,” he said.
On his milestone player, Hodges said he believed the team would want to turn in a performance worthy of the occasion.
“Ben is everything that is great about our club, he has sacrificed plenty and always gives his all. He’s a highly skilled player but an even greater guy so the team will get plenty of motivation out of that and hopefully we can harness it to get the win.”
NEAFL Round 8
Sydney University vs NT Thunder
12:00pm AEST
Saturday 26 May
Blacktown International Sports Park, Sydney
B: Ben Rioli, Sam Dyke, Tom Davies
HB: Cameron Ilett, Kaine Riley, Sam Smith
C: Sam Talbot, Abraham Ankers, Shaun Wilson
HF: Shannon Rioli, Hugo Drogemuller, Chris Williams
F: Adam Sambono, Darren Ewing, Dion Munkara
FOLL: Jack Monigatti*, Joe Anderson, Richard Tambling
INT: Patrick Heenan, Scott McLeod, Tylah Saunders, Patrick Boles, Patrick White
EMERGENCIES: Beau Schwarze (Academy), Bradley Stokes
IN: Patrick Boles, Tom Davies, Hugo Drogemuller, Tylah Saunders, Shaun Wilson
OUT: Matt Campbell (work commitments), Braedon McLean (family commitments), Ryan Smith (work commitments), Jarrod Stokes (illness), Phillip Wills (knee injury)
NEW: Patrick Boles, Tylah Saunders
* Indicates 23rd player
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