Coach’s Column Round 7

13.05.16 15:48

Another week another opportunity to get things right. Each week football throws different challenges and this weekend is no different.

Last weekend’s bye gave players the opportunity to freshen up mentally and physically. For some players this would have been their first break since the busy NTFL season. It also came just before we head into our next five-week block of games, staring with the Southport Sharks this weekend.

Southport pose a serious treat to the competition and will be disappointed from last weekend’s result after they gave up a 33 point lead at quarter time to lose the game by five points. With key forward Jack Anthony, midfielders Glenn Screech, Jason Burge, Hayden Kiel and key defender Matthew Sully, the Sharks will be on the hunt to get back in the winner’s circle.

Southport is a hard contested ball team and if we can match them in this area it will help us get the result we desire.

In-form forward Julian Lockwood will be a loss for us after suffering a shoulder injury. King Jules provides us a contest in our forward 50 and was on the verge of breaking the game open against the GIANTS in Round 5. However, Daniel Lewis comes back into the team and will provide us with a target at center half forward.

It will be exciting to see 2015 premiership player and livewire Gibson Turner play his first game for Thunder in 2016. The Alice Springs product gives us great ground presence and has the ability to turn again by kicking multiple goals.

Today we will also see the launch of the women’s dry season competition, a great initiative by AFLNT. This will be the curtain raiser to our clash against the Southport Sharks, so get down early to cheer on the girls and stick around for the main game.

Go Thunder!