Dion Munkara celebrates the match winner

Thunder take down Lions in nail biter – Match Report: Round 1

07.04.18 23:23

by Murray Silby

NT Thunder has sent a warning through the NEAFL by defeating reigning premier Brisbane by a single point at TIO Stadium in Darwin on Saturday night, 16.9 (105) to 15.14 (104).

The Lions’ Jake Barret had the opportunity to snatch victory in the final seconds of the match, but missed a tough shot from deep in the pocket, close to the boundary line.

It was one of the Tiwi Islands’ favourite sons, Dion Munkara, who put Thunder ahead in the final term, kicking the final of his four goals for the match at the 26th minute mark of the quarter after fellow Tiwi islander Ross Tungatalem delivered a timely handball at the end of some swift NT movement from defence to attack.

Playing his first game for Thunder since 2010, the 26-year-old said it was a nerve-wracking final term.

“Hodgey just said we’ve got to press on. We knew Brisbane would come hard. They were the premiers last season with their quality and their AFL players,” he said.

“I was a bit nervous. I thought Brisbane had the game, but I knew we’d come hard and I knew Rocco (Ross Tungatalum) would handball it (to me) and I was a bit scared too and I didn’t know where to go, luckily I kicked it, it bounced, goaled and I celebrated. A good win.”

The final quarter had been a see-sawing event with the Lions holding a four point lead as it got underway.

AFL-listed Tom Bell, who finished the match with a game-high 33 possessions, extended the visitors’ lead to 10 points inside two minutes with his second goal, but just a minute later Thunder captain Shannon Rioli pushed it back to four points with a great goal on the run from 50 metres.

The two sides then traded goals with a major from Lions captain Ryan Bastinac followed by one to Munkara.

Brandon Starcevich for Brisbane then kicked the first of his two final quarter goals, split by majors to NT’s Chris Williams and Jarrod Stokes.

Both teams missed opportunities to grab the match with a series of behinds as the pressure mounted, before Munkara’s instincts for a goal gave his side the edge.

It was a great win for Thunder given the squad lost some key playmakers, and defenders in particular, during the off-season, but it was served well by the inclusions that replaced them.

One of the best was former North Melbourne and current Darwin Buffaloes player-coach Matt Campbell. With only eight disposals – five kicks and three handballs – Campbell’s numbers weren’t huge, but his second and third efforts were.

Starting in the forward line, the former Pioneers star in the Central Australian Football League, played his part helping Thunder off to a lightning start in the first term with his pressure in the front half.

Champion full forward Darren Ewing opened the match with two goals in three minutes and had three within 15 minutes.

It helped the hosts to a seven goals to four first quarter and a 19-point lead at quarter time.

The second quarter turned into a grind as the professionalism of an AFL club began to show in the way the Lions worked to counter Thunder’s run and carry, but the visitors only managed to close the margin to 13 points.

They started the third with a blast though, kicking four goals in eight minutes, including a first to Territorian Zac Bailey, who was drafted by the Lions at number 15 in the 2017 AFL Draft.

That flurry turned the deficit into a nine-point lead and gave the sense the professionals were taking charge, but the home side didn’t flinch.

“We made a structural change,” coach Andrew Hodges said.

“Most of the night Brisbane had a plus one behind the ball and we decided to take that away, which went well for us and got the momentum going back our way, which was pleasing and the boys just stayed calm and they knew if we kept the pressure on opportunities would come and they did, so that was great.”

Goals to Patrick White and Campbell ensured that for all Brisbane’s effort, it only led by four points at three quarter time.

Hodges said the result is pleasing beyond getting the four points, but also from the aspect of the players combining so well given the number of times they’ve actually trained together.

“It was really good,” he said. “You wouldn’t have known we’ve only trained a handful of sessions together as a full group so structurally they did what we asked and everyone played their role for the team.

“The pleasing part was that after half time Brisbane had the momentum going their way and our boys just found a way to get a win after we had such a good start to the game.

“It was really positive to see how we could dig deep and grind out a result.”

There was plenty for Thunder fans to get excited about for the season ahead with some of the big name ins such as Munkara, Tungatalum, Campbell and Jarrod Stokes playing vital roles.

Then there were the regular mainstays of the engine room such as Shannon Rioli and Abraham Ankers also giving the Lions plenty of runaround while in defence Cameron Ilett and Ben Rioli were their solid selves.

“They were all outstanding,” Hodges said. “I thought Kaine Riley was outstanding down back. At times he played on players that were a lot taller than him and he just found a way to bring the ball to the ground and bring his teammates into the game and so I thought his debut was very impressive.

“Those guys you mentioned, and especially Jarrod Stokes. His ability to get the ball and take the game on was really important to us and he just did it at the right times in the game so I think it was great.

“We had contributors right across the board tonight. I thought Abe Ankers was great at the stoppages and the same with Jarred Erlandson. Yes, pleasing to get away with the win.”

NT Thunder 7.2, 9.3, 11.6, 16.9 (105)
Brisbane Lions 4.1, 6.8, 11.10, 15.14 (104)

GOALS: NT Thunder – Dion Munkara 4, Darren Ewing 3, Shannon Rioli 2, Patrick White 2, Chris Williams 2, Matt Campbell, Jarrod Stokes, Ross Tungatalum.
Brisbane Lions – Ben Keays, Brandon Starcevich 3, Zac Bailey, Tom Bell 2, Connor Ballenden, Ryan Bastinac, Claye Beams, Corey Lyons, Jesse Quint.

BEST: NT Thunder – Cameron Ilett, Patrick White, Jarrod Stokes, Dion Munkara, Kaine Riley, Matt Campbell, Chris Williams.
Brisbane Lions – Tom Bell, Liam Dawson, Ben Keays, Ryan Bastinac, Jacob Allison, Archie Smith, Zac Bailey.