NT Thunder has recalled six premiership winning players and three league best and fairest performers from the local and AFLW level for its highly anticipated Round 6 clash with Richmond on Saturday afternoon in Darwin.

The side’s ever-reliable vice-captain, Waratah premiership captain and past NTFL best and fairest winner, Lisa Roberts returns to the team fighting fit after an infection forced her to withdraw late last weekend.

Dual AFLW premiership player Stevie-Lee Thompson is ready for her first VFLW outing of 2019, back in the place where it all began for the 2019 AFLW leading goalkicker.

Thompson will be joined by Crows premiership teammates Dayna Cox, who is also in for her first game of 2019 and Hannah Martin, who was named in Thunder’s best the last time the team played in Darwin in Round 2.

In a delight for locals, one of the NT’s favourites and another AFLW premiership star, Danielle Ponter is also in for her second outing of the season, her versatility no doubt to be called upon once more.

NTFL and CAFL premiership player Sharona Bishop is also back, while talented Alice Springs-based forward and CAFL best and fairest winner (Margaret Liddle Medallist), Michelle Ellis joins the NTFL’s reigning Gwynne Medallist, Janet Baird as the seventh and eighth inclusions for Round 6.

Shantel Miskin-Ripia, one of the Thunder Academy players to debut against Carlton, retains her position after an impressive first senior outing that saw her named in the side’s best players.

Alysha Healy, who along with Miskin-Ripia was earlier today announced as an NT representative in the Central Allies squad, will miss after a knock saw her out with a concussion in the early stages of her first VFLW game on Saturday.

Also out with injury is Marijana Rajcic whose quad strain is expected to sideline her for a short period and Samantha Hoogeveen-Hill who is unwell.

After her desperate efforts in the fourth quarter helped Thunder to Saturday’s win, Chelsea Randall will miss the next few rounds due to unavailability, while Billie Byers, Tishara Davern and Katrina Simmons have all been omitted from this Saturday’s line-up; Byers and Simmons listed as this weekend’s emergencies.

ThunderW Head Coach Heidi Thompson said the team was anticipating a tight contest against the Tigers.

“Richmond is yet to drop a game this season and have been an attacking, aggressive side so we know they’re one of the benchmarks of the competition and we expect a tough challenge.

“We were really pleased that we were able to grind out the win against Carlton; each player stood up and played their role, the young girls that had never been exposed to this level before were particularly impressive. But we also discussed the need to get better in and around the contest, so have focused on that at training this week.

“The team will get a lift out of having Robbo, Ponter and Stevie-Lee back in the side, along with Hannah Martin, who was superb in Round 2.

“All that’s left is for us to put on a good show for our family and friends,” Thompson said.

VFLW Round 6

B: Shantel Miskin-Ripia, Tayla Thorn, Dayna Cox
HB: Morgan Johnston, Lateesha Jeffrey (c), Kristy Irvine
C: Lisa Roberts, Angela Foley, Katie Streader
HF: Sally Riley, Stevie-Lee Thompson, Jordann Hickey
F: Amy Chittick, Danielle Ponter, Machaelia Roberts
FOLL: Gemma Cusack, Hannah Martin, Nikki Gore
INT: Tahlia Holtze, Charlie Deegan*, Michelle Ellis, Janet Baird, Sharona Bishop

EMG: Jade de Melo, Billie Byers, Katrina Simmons

IN: Janet Baird, Sharona Bishop, Dayna Cox, Michelle Ellis, Hannah Martin, Danielle Ponter, Lisa Roberts, Stevie-Lee Thompson
OUT: Billie Byers (omitted), Tishara Davern (omitted), Alysha Healy (concussion), Samantha Hoogeveen-Hill (illness), Chelsea Randall (unavailable), Marijana Rajcic (quad), Katrina Simmons (omitted)

*Indicated 23^rd player