Hugo Drogemuller returns for Saturday's game

Thunder to take on old foes in final round

18.08.17 10:13

NT Thunder has predicted a tough challenge and made five changes for its Round 21 NEAFL clash with traditional rivals Aspley Hornets at Graham Road on Saturday afternoon.

The team will be looking to rejoin the winners’ list after a disappointing loss in their Round 19 game against Sydney University before the bye.

A Thunder victory this Saturday could mean the NT reclaims fourth spot on the NEAFL ladder and lock in a home elimination final in Darwin the following weekend, should the Gold Coast Suns fall short in their game against the Sydney Swans.

Coming back into the side is tall timber Hugo Drogemuller who has recovered from a virus along with the ever-reliable Jack Shannahan who was also struck down with an illness last round.

Exciting goal kickers Francis Kinthari and Davin Ferreira will strengthen the forward line when they join NEAFL leading goalkicker Darren “Boof” Ewing and youngster Beau Schwarze up front.

Experienced defender Daniel Weetra is also a welcome inclusion to play his thirteenth game for the season, which will be the most NT Thunder games he has played in the one year since joining the Club in 2015.

Going out of the side is Michael Hagan and Jonathan Peris both with injury concerns, along with Coen Hutt who is unavailable and Daniel Russell and Scott McLeod who will travel to Brisbane as the emergencies.

Coach Andrew Hodges said the team had enjoyed a good couple of weeks on the training track and wouldn’t let the result of their last game get them down.

“We’ve done the review from last round, and we know where opportunities were missed and where we weren’t clean or good enough, so we’ve worked on some of that the past few training sessions.”

“Players like Weeties (Weetra), Hugo (Drogemuller) and Jack (Shannahan) give us that steadfastness and skill, while Francis (Kinthari) and Davin (Ferreira) add some excitement and flair, “ he said.

Hodges also said he believed the games against Aspley were close encounters because the two teams played a similar style.

“It’s usually a tight affair when we play the Hornets because we match up well against each other. They’re also a side that never gives in, so we know they’ll be just as keen to thwart our plans as we are to win,” he said.

NEAFL Round 21
Aspley Hornets vs NT Thunder
1:30pm AEST
Saturday 19 August
Graham Road, Brisbane

Round 21 team vs Aspley

B: Sam Smith, Tom Davies, Kayle Kossack
HB: Ben Rioli, Justin Beugelaar, Daniel Weetra
C: Braedon McLean, Matthew Rosier, Sam Talbot
HF: Francis Kinthari, Hugo Drogemuller, Nick Yarran
F: Shannon Rioli, Darren Ewing, Beau Schwarze*
FOLL: Ryan Smith, Cameron Ilett, Abraham Ankers

INT: Jack Shannahan, Davin Ferreira, Richard Tambling, Tony Olango, Josh Cheek

EMERGENCIES: Daniel Russell, Scott McLeod, Justin Cooper

IN: Hugo Drogemuller, Francis Kinthari, Davin Ferreira, Jack Shannahan, Daniel Weetra
OUT: Michael Hagan (injured – groin ) Coen Hutt (unavailable), Jonathan Peris (injured – hamstring), Scott McLeod (omitted), Daniel Russell (omitted)

Indicates 23rd player

You can live stream this game thanks to Tatts on ThunderVision