NT Thunder has held their season launch and jumper presentation tonight at the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre in front of sponsors, members and supporters.

Star full forward Darren Ewing will line up for his tenth year in the number 2 guernsey. The 177 game veteran has kicked over 700 goals for Thunder while wearing the lucky number 2 and will look to have another great season.

In 2017, he received his fifth NEAFL and ninth Thunder Leading Goal Kicker Award after finishing the season with 64 goals to his name – that is nine consecutive leading goalkicker awards since the Club’s inception in 2009.

Previously number 43, midfielder Jarred Erlandson prefers the lower numbers and has opted to go for a change this year taking over the number 8 guernsey which was worn by Kenrick Tyrell in the 2011 premierships.

Newly appointed Thunder leadership group member, Bradeon McLean will once again wear the number 19 guernsey which was the number his famous uncle Michael ‘Magic’ McLean wore at the Brisbane Bears during the 1990s and for his NT representative games.

It’s been over a decade since Joe Anderson wore NT Thunder colours when he captained the NT Under 18 side at national level, and he has chosen to play his first season for the seniors in the number 17 guernsey, which he has chosen as it was his grandfather’s number. Jimmy Anderson was a famous Darwin Buffaloes player who was named in the AFLNT Team of the Century.

“It will mean a lot to my family and me to run out in my grandfather’s number in front of our home crowd in Darwin and Alice Springs,” Anderson said.

With 23 new faces added to the NT Thunder list for 2018, it’s somewhat of a new-look lineup but with lots of familiar names for Territory footy fans – all listed players have played in the NTFL and/or CAFL.

A full list of 2018 player numbers and the full suite of player profiles have been updated here.