The upcoming release of the Gods of Thunder book was announced today in Darwin at the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre.

Written by former NT News journalist, Jessica Webster, and the foreword composed by AFLNT Team of the Century captain and AFL Hall of Fame member, Andrew McLeod, Gods of Thunder traces the formation of the NT Thunder Football Club stemming back to the conquering NTFL representative teams of the 1980s.

The book took four years to put together and features interviews from the likes of former NTFL administrators Darryl Window, Tony Frawley, Bob Elix, Stuart Totham and Wayne Jackson, past NTFL representatives Mark Motlop and Russell Jeffrey, former players McLeod, Jarred Ilett, Aaron Motlop, and Bradley Palipuaminni, and modern day NT Thunder stars Cameron Ilett and Shannon Rioli.

Webster said she was inspired to write the story after witnessing NT Thunder’s historic NEAFL premiership victory in 2011 while on assignment for the NT News.

“What began as a bit of a hobby for me trawling through the archives to learn more about NT football history in my spare time quickly turned into a huge send of purpose – the more I learned and uncovered, the more I realised this story wasn’t just about winning and losing,” she said.

“I was incredibly inspired by NT Thunder and the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre’s aim to harness a passion for football in the Northern Territory to create better lives for NT people on and off the field.

“The courage and bravery it took for some of the players to share their stories had a profound impact on me, and I am hopeful others can be inspired from this story aswell.”

Gods of Thunder traces the Northern Territory’s quest to create a team of the their own over a 20-year period, including two failed bids to join the SANFL before landing in the QAFL/NEAFL.

The book sheds light on the many challenges facing the club since its formation in 2009, with its formative years rife with tragedies stemming from the effects of living in a territory with the highest youth suicide rate in Australia, and more than half of their Indigenous population falling into the lowest quintile for socio-economic disadvantage.

But the success of NT Thunder led to the construction of the $15million Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre to further talent identification, health, and leadership through education and sport, opening the doors to a new and exciting chapter of Northern Territory football.

AFLNT CEO, Michael Solomon, said he is looking forward for the public to learn more about the club.

“It was wonderful for someone who has not been here for the entire journey to read the book and get a real understanding of the ethos and commitment it took to create NT Thunder,” he said.

“It highlights what a privileged position we are in as caretakers of this great Club and game.”

Gods of Thunder will be officially released on January 20, 2017 at the Bookshop Darwin and is also available to purchase online.

Pre-orders are currently open, and can be purchased at www.godsofthunderbook.com.au