The NT Thunder Women’s (Thunder W) team is back playing on home turf this weekend as they aim to make it four consecutive wins when they line up against the Western Bulldogs for Round 5 VFL W action.
This week’s clash will see four players make their VFL W debut, in front of a home crowd at 4pm at TIO Stadium.
Up and coming young gun, Madeline Gault joins the ThunderW team after a great performance representing the NT in the Under 18s last weekend, and with the best on ground medal in this year’s NTFL Women’s Premier League grand final under her belt.
2017 AFLW premiership players, Anne Hatchard and Justine Mules will also don the Thunder colours for the first time this weekend.
Exciting forward Ruth Wallace also comes in for her first game and will take no time at all fitting back into the Territory after she spent a week here earlier in the year training with the Crows’ Top End contingent.
The talented quartet will be joined by the likes of Eloise Jones, Lauren O’Shea and Deni Varnhagen as ThunderW’s ins for this Saturday. Jones makes her return after being out with an illness.
Meanwhile, Emma Swanson is resting her right hip after taking a hit during last week’s win against Melbourne Uni, while Jessica Allan, Sarah Allan, Sophie Armistead, Jemma Iacono, Chelsea Randall and Morgan Johnston have all been rested.
Johnston will miss her first game of the season after making her ThunderW debut in Round 1 against the Darebin Falcons.
ThunderW Head Coach Tim Weatherald said that preparations remain the same for any opponent, playing at home or away.
“Despite the Bulldogs still waiting to record their first win it doesn’t change our attitude towards our opponents. They’ve got a healthy list of AFLW talent and some aspiring elite players we are wary of.
“I’ve been impressed with how quickly and well the girls have all gelled as a team which has afforded us the ability to swap changes in and out based on our likely match-ups and to rest players who need it.
“I’m excited to be back at home for our second Thunder doubleheader and I love the support we receive from the crowd, so I hope we get good numbers to TIO Stadium again this Saturday,” said Weatherald.
VFL W Round 5
NT Thunder vs Western Bulldogs
4pm ACST Saturday 2 June
TIO Stadium, Darwin
B: Lisa Roberts, Lauren O’Shea, Sophia Mauboy
HB: Anne Hatchard, Tayla Thorn, Jessica Sedunary
C: Deni Varnhagen, Angela Foley, Eloise Jones
HF: Jordann Hickey, Marijana Rajcic, Justine Mules
F: Kylie Duggan, Ruth Wallace, Machaelia Roberts
FOLL: Jasmyn Hewett, Sally Riley, Renee Forth
INT: Jasmine Anderson, Sue Nalder, Samantha Barnett, Georgia Bevan, Madeline Gault*
EMERGENCY: Lucy Adam, Jemma Iacono, Morgan Johnston
IN: Anne Hatchard, Eloise Jones, Tabitha May, Justine Mules, Deni Varnhagen, Ruth Wallace
OUT: Emma Swanson (hip) Jessica Allan, Sarah Allan, Sophie Armistead, Jemma Iacono, Chelsea Randall, and Morgan Johnston (all rested)
NEW: Madeline Gault, Anne Hatchard, Justine Mules, Ruth Wallace
* Indicates 23rd player
You can live stream this game on ThunderVision