By Murray Silby
NT Thunder has ended its 2018 NEAFL season with a 109-point loss to Sydney University in Round 21 at the Blacktown International Sportspark, 19.19 (133) to 3.6 (24).
The match summed up Thunder’s fortunes this season, only losing out to the Students by five goals to two in the second half, but being hammered in the first by 14 goals to one.
And broken down even further, it was the second quarter where most of the damage was done, with Sydney University kicking nine goals to Thunder’s one.
“Obviously a really disappointing way to finish the season,” Thunder coach Andrew Hodges said. “We had a fairly young side out there today and they got a pretty good education from a really good team on just what it takes to play at this level. The work rate to be competitive at this level.
“Obviously disappointing and the boys are pretty disappointed with their effort today.”
Hodges admitted Sydney University was a class above his own side on the day.
“At times Sydney Uni were outstanding, amazing, the way they spread from contest and the way they claimed the ball and at times our fumbles and our mistakes really cost us. Especially early in the game,” Hodges said.
“The young players we’ve got in our side need to learn how costly those mistakes can be.
“You need to take your opportunities, even if they’re half opportunities, you need to convert them and Sydney Uni they did an amazing job of that today.
“Those half opportunities turned into a score for them so obviously Sydney Uni is a very good side.”
Thunder was held goal-less in the first quarter and only managed the single behind, when Ryan Smith hit the post from a set shot inside two minutes.
The visiting side was finding it difficult to get the ball past half-forward when running the ball out of defence. The long kick in wasn’t working with the Students’ defenders like Aaron Day picking it off in the marking contest or Ryan Hebron running it out if it found its way to ground.
Attempts to take the ball beyond half-forward using the run and carry method were also falling down as Sydney University’s pressure caused Thunder to cough up the ball.
At the other end of the ground Sydney University was suffering from some wayward kicking, but still managed to put five goals on the board with two to the former Collingwood and Western Bulldogs backman Tom Young – one on each of the left and right feet.
Tristan Davies, Damien Bonney and Lewis Stevenson were the other goal-kickers for the students to give them a 37-point lead at quarter-time.
What seemed a huge challenge for Thunder in the first quarter just grew bigger in the second.
Young kicked his third goal of the day within a minute of the second quarter getting underway and Callum McFadden followed up with another after two-and-a-half minutes and within five-and-a-half minutes the margin was out to 50 points.
Full forward Jacob Derickx then kicked two in quick succession before Austin Lucy, Ned Reinhard, Craig Bird and Adam Gulden followed.
Smith was reported in his last game for Thunder in the 22nd minute mark after apparently throwing himself into the contest with a little too much zeal, but he received the benefit of an umpiring decision late in the quarter to kick Thunder’s first goal of the game from a tight angle.
That major saved Thunder from going through the first half without kicking a goal, but Derickx’s third of the term a few minutes earlier ensured the home side would take an 88-point lead into the long break.
Greater vigor from Thunder in the third term evened out the contest though and the visitors were able to hold the Students goal-less while kicking one themselves.
That came off the boot of Chris Williams after he climbed into the Sydney skyline to grab one of the marks of the year.
Sydney University had its chances in the quarter, as kicking seven behinds suggests, but greater pressure by Thunder meant easy opportunities became as rare as unified Australian political parties.
None of the high pressure efforts by the Thunder players were typified more however, than by the effort of Abraham Ankers to run down Jack Hiscox as he seemingly strolled into an open goal.
Ankers’ effort turned a certain goal into a behind and typified the tenacity he’s displayed all season.
An effort by defender Tom Davies’ up on the wing was also noteworthy as he repeatedly fought for front position in order to gather a rolling ball before it unfortunately found its way into the hands of the Students.
The momentum shifted back to Sydney University in the final quarter however, as the finals-bound Students put on five goals to one.
A snap by Craig Bird at the six-minute mark of the term pushed the margin out to 104 points with Jack Dimery, McFadden, Young and Lucy kicking the others.
Young Thunder hope Michael Mummery kicked his side’s only major of the term late in the quarter.
There’ll be some level of generational change for Thunder next season with premiership stars Darren Ewing and Ryan Smith announcing their retirements.
Hodges paid tribute to them and others for helping ensure the club was made of the right foundations to be successful on the field, but also in improving the people who move through it.
“There’s a whole group of guys who’ve done an amazing job with a young club building a culture and a legacy,” Hodges said.
“We’ll be sad to see them hang the boots up, but it also provides opportunities for some other guys to step up and really fill that void and take the club forward into the future. Obviously sad to see them go, but it’s also exciting to see those young guys put their hands up.”
Thunder has finished ninth on the ladder, five wins outside the top six and Hodges said the club will have to review recruitment as one means of planning a return to the finals.
There’s been a proliferation of big-bodied midfielders in the league, who are also quick, which has made it difficult for Thunder’s smaller players to compete.
“There’s definitely been a massive improvement in the competition,” Hodges said. “A lot of big-bodied midfielders and even big-bodied players outside the contest.
“Our bigger players like Cammy Ilett and those bigger bodied players in our side are actually quite small against some of the opposition teams so Sydney Uni were very impressive.
“We’ve got to be better going forward in our recruitment and making sure that we improve and get better as well,” he said.
The club’s focus over the next few weeks will now be solely on the women’s side, which, in its inaugural season, is preparing for a VFL W finals campaign.
“We’re very excited they’re playing finals in a couple of weeks and really proud of the way they’ve gone about it this year,” Hodges said. “We hope they go really well and we’ll be right behind them supporting them throughout the finals series.”
SCORES
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY: 5.8, 14.11, 14.18, 19.19 (133)
NT THUNDER: 0.1, 1.1, 2.4, 3.6 (24)
GOALS: Sydney University – Tom Young 4, Jacob Derickx 3, Craig Bird, Austin Lucy, Callum McFadden 2, Damien Bonney, Jack Dimery, Adam Gulden, Tristan Davies, Ned Reinhard, Lewis Stevenson.
NT Thunder – Michael Mummery, Ryan Smith, Chris Williams.
BEST: Sydney University – Craig Bird, Tom Young, Jack Hiscox, Tristan Davies, Aaron Day, Ryan Hebron.
NT Thunder – Ben Rioli, Jarrod Stokes, Ryan Smith, Sam Smith, Izaak Wyatt, Tom Davies.