In what may shape up to be a David and Goliath type battle, NT Thunder has named its most youthful and enthusiastic side of 2017 to face the Sydney Swans in NEAFL Round 17 action at the SCG on Saturday.
Seventeen-year-old Coen Hutt will be Thunder’s fourteenth debutant for the season after the rookie was rewarded with a call-up to the seniors after his hard work at training and strong performances in the 2017 Under 18 State Academy Series.
Hutt will be joined by fellow Academy graduate and exciting prospect Matthew Bricknell, who will play his first game for the season after debuting for the club last year.
All three NT Thunder army representatives Josh Cheek, Scott McLeod and Daniel Russell have also been named for the clash with the AFL-equipped side.
Meanwhile, flashy goal sneak Adam Sambono is back from representative duties and will be looking to add to the 26 majors he has amassed in the eight games he has played so far this season.
And Neil Vea Vea and Michael Coombes, who was a late withdrawal with a back complaint last week, also return to help hassle the opposition.
Amongst the eight changes for the week is Centralian Abraham Ankers, Davin Ferreira and the experienced heads of Ryan Smith and Richard Tambling.
Tambling was just one player to sustain an injury in Thunder’s Round 16 win and has succumbed to a calf strain, while Jake Roe-Duggan picked up a foot injury and Jarred Erlandson an elbow complaint.
Hugo Drogemuller has been ruled out with signs of concussion, and captain Shannon Rioli has family commitments, along with brother Ben.
And in the same week as announcing his retirement, inaugural NT Thunder player Cameron Ilett is the sole leadership group representative and will once again have the duty of captaining a young side.
Thunder Head Coach Andrew Hodges said he had been thoroughly impressed with his side’s attitude.
“It’s far from ideal to come up against the best side in the competition and have to make so many changes, but the boys are no less hungry to put on a good showing.
“I have been especially impressed with some of the younger guys who have been training week in, week out not knowing when their opportunity would come and are now set to play on an AFL stage against a well-drilled, professional outfit,” he said.
Hodges also echoed the words spoken earlier this week by retiring Thunder champion, Ilett and said each game was something to get excited about.
“We trained well on Thursday night; we get on that plane tomorrow focused and we get to have a real crack on Saturday.”
NEAFL Round 17
Sydney Swans vs NT Thunder
3:45pm AEST Saturday 22 July
SCG, Sydney
B: Sam Smith, Tom Davies, Coen Hutt*
HB: Daniel Weetra, Neil Vea Vea, Kyle Emery
C: Braedon McLean, Matthew Rosier, Sam Talbot
HF: Francis Kinthari, Daniel Russell, Nick Yarran
F: Adam Sambono, Darren Ewing, Beau Schwarze
FOLL: Tony Olango, Cameron Ilett, Michael Coombes
INT: Jonathan Peris, Scott McLeod, Matthew Bricknell, Joshua Cheek, Jack Shannahan
EMERGENCIES: Marcus Valastro, Justin Cooper
IN: Matthew Bricknell, Josh Cheek, Michael Coombes, Coen Hutt, Scott McLeod, Daniel Russell, Adam Sambono, Neil Vea Vea
OUT: Abraham Ankers (unavailable – work), Hugo Drogemuller (injury – concussion), Jarred Erlandson (injury – elbow), Davin Ferreira (unavailable – work), Shannon Rioli (unavailable – family), Jake Roe-Duggan (injury – foot), Ryan Smith (unavailable – family), Richard Tambling (injury – calf)
* Indicates 23rd player
You can live stream this game thanks to Tatts on ThunderVision