NT Thunder Football Club is pleased to unveil its 2017 coaching panel for the upcoming NEAFL season.

The assistant coaches, who along with Head Coach Andrew Hodges are all sponsored by McDonald’s, will be a big part of the NT Thunder campaign this year.

Hodges described the coaching group as an eclectic but experienced group.

“Some of the team have been involved in Thunder for many years in a coach or player role, while others are on this journey with me for the first time.

“We’re all excited to get to work and bring out the best in each other and the playing group,” Hodges said.

The 2017 NT Thunder coaching panel consists of:

James Debono – Line coach
DeBono is the coach of the National Army side who won the 2016 and 2017 Championship. He is a two-time premiership captain for Collingullie in the Riverina AFL and also a premiership player for the Banks Football Club in the NTFL Division 1 competition. He is an all-around passionate football person, and 2017 will be his third year in a coaching role at the Club.

Brent Renouf – Line coach
A 2008 AFL Premiership player with the Hawthorn Football Club, Renouf played 68 games in total with Hawthorn and Port Adelaide Football Clubs before his career was cut short due to rupturing his patella tendon. He brings extensive football knowledge from the highest levels to NT Thunder. 2017 will be Renouf’s second-year assistant coaching at the Club after furthering his experience with NTFL 2016/17 Premiers, St Mary’s.

Jason Roe – Line coach
A former AFL player, Roe played 50 games for the Brisbane Lions between 2006-2009. He got his break playing in the SANFL for North Adelaide before being drafted to Collingwood and on to the Brisbane Lions. Upon returning to Darwin, Roe was a 2011 NT Thunder premiership player and amassed 37 Club games to his name. He has been an assistant coach at the Nightcliff Tigers for the past two NTFL seasons, and his experience and leadership will be invaluable in his first year as a coach at NT Thunder.

Aaron Motlop – Specialist coach
Motlop is a former NT Thunder premiership captain, who has a wealth of experience playing at both NEAFL and NTFL level. Under Andrew Hodges as Wanderers head coach in the 2014/15 NTFL season, Motlop also became an NTFL premiership captain. For the past few years, he has coached NTFL Under 16 and Under 18 level and is now making the transition to senior coaching. Motlop retired from NT Thunder at the close of 2016 after playing 84 games and this year will be his first year in a coaching role at the Club.

Colleen Gwynne – Bench coach
A prolific figure in NT footy, Gwynne has an impressive coaching record that speaks for itself, having never lost a game as an NTFL coach and steering the Waratah Football Club to five consecutive NTFL women’s flags. In late 2016 she was named as the Darwin-based assistant coach for the Adelaide Crows women’s team, where she joined Andrew Hodges, at the helm for the inaugural season of the AFL Women’s League. The women’s best and fairest medal in the NTFL is named in her honour, she has experience coaching at AFLNT State Academy level, and we look forward to her involvement in the NT Thunder senior program.

Josh Heath – NTFC Analysis
The South Korean born Heath brings great experience to the coaching panel, having spent time with Academy NEAFL and AFL teams (most notably the Sydney Swans), being exposed to the best minds in the business. Heath also has local knowledge, having played and coached for St Mary’s Football Club in the NTFL since 2009. During this time he was a Premier League Assistant Coach for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 NTFL Premierships. Heath has also travelled as a coach for the U15 All Nations Squad for the Northern Territory from 2014-2017.

David Crane – Strength and Conditioning Coordinator
Crane grew up in Darwin and has achieved a Master of Exercise Science (Strength and Conditioning). He is also a Level 2 accredited professional coach through the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association. Crane works closely with the players to help monitor their physical wellness and workload and provide guidance with their rehabilitation and strength training. 2017 will be his second full-time year with the Club off the back of further development he experiences as part of the Adelaide AFLW program.

Peter Leonard – Runner
The premiership runner in Thunder’s 2011 year Leonard does everything from running to coaching and working one-on-one with players in particular areas of the game. He is heavily involved with Wanderers FC in the NTFL and is a general all-around club man. Affectionately known as “Scrubber” he is also always happy to offer some free advice.Leonard was recognised for his hard work and commitment to NT Thunder by being awarded the 2016 Thunderstruck Unsung Volunteer of the Year. 2017 will be his ninth year involved with the NT Thunder program.