Making changes to your side on a weekly basis is a given, in my time as coach at Thunder there was only one week we never made a change to the side and that was last year’s preliminary final heading into the grand final. This is rare!

This week we have five changes in total, some forced through injury and unavailability but some have been made to benefit the players.

The players coming into the side will add value to our structure; the Thunder family favorite Liam Patrick comes back into the team after wrist surgery, Daniel Lewis will pull the boots on for his first run in Thunder colours, while Ben Rioli, Tim Eldridge and big man Seb Guilhaus are all welcomed returns.

Our State Academy team headed up by Andrew Hodges and Wally Gallio take the under 18s to Melbourne this weekend to play the Sandringham Dragons in preparation for the Under 18 National Championships.

Our role as coaches and talent mangers is to make decisions that are in the best interest of the players. No doubt we will miss Michael Hagan, Ezekiel Frank, Patrick Taban and Michael Mummery but we look at the bigger picture and make decisions on what’s best for their own development and future, as was the same case for Ryan Nyhuis last year.

This Saturday at 6:30pm we (Thunder) take on a determined Redland Bombers who have been in good form recently. The one thing I have learnt about Redland is that they are a proud club and that is highlighted by the passion of their coach Chris David.

With this weekend’s game played as our annual ANZAC Day clash against the Bombers, there is no doubt the game will be played in the ANZAC sprit of endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour, larrikinism, and mateship.

Get down to TIO to support the boys and don’t forget to buy your memberships! Go Thunder.