Key defenders Jack Long and Neil Vea Vea headline the inclusions for NT Thunder who faces the Canberra Demons at Manuka Oval in Round 18 of the NEAFL this Saturday 30 July.

It is the first time a Thunder team will play in Canberra and a must-win match for the club against the bottom-placed Demons.

Head Coach Xavier Clarke said it is an important match for the Thunder ahead of the finals.

“The great thing about the NEAFL competition is that if you finish anywhere in the top six on the ladder you are still within a chance,” Clarke said.

“We need to start strongly and finish off as well as we know we can, we’re a finals team and we should be playing finals.

The Territory side has lost three of their last five matches, twice at home in Darwin.

It is the second time the Territory will meet Canberra this season after defeating the Demons by 98 points in their Round 8 clash at TIO Stadium.

“In our last match against Canberra, Darren Ewing kicked six goals, and after a quiet game last week, he’ll be ready to fire,” Clarke said.

“Cameron Ilett also had a standout game last time so we’re looking forward to seeing him out there.

“We have added some pace to the team with youngsters Michael Hagan and Matthew Bricknell returning and Michael Mummery is in for his fourth senior match,” Clarke said.

Gibson Turner also returns to the side, listed as an emergency.

Utility Jared Brennan will miss the game after suffering an ankle injury in the second term of last round’s clash against Aspley while Justin Cooper is unavailable.

Daly Shannon and Jack Shannahan will also remain home after sustaining similar foot injuries in last round’s match against the Hornets.

Round 18 NEAFL Team to play Canberra Demons
7:30pm Saturday 30 July 2016
Manuka Oval

B: Ben Rioli, Daniel Russell, Michael Bowden
HB: Raphael Clarke, Justin Beugelaar, Jack Long
C: Jonathan Peris, Cameron Ilett, Michael Hagan
HF: Shannon Rioli, Liam Patrick, Phillip Wills
F: Sam Talbot, Darren Ewing, Luke Bath
Foll: Sebastian Guilhaus, Matthew Rosier, Aaron Lonergan
Inter: Richard Tambling, Neil Vea Vea, Michael Mummery*, Tim Eldridge, Matthew Bricknell
Emer: Patrick Taban, Gibson Turner
In: Jack Long, Neil Vea Vea, Michael Hagan, Michael Mummery, Matthew Bricknell
Out: Jared Brennan (ankle), Justin Cooper (unavailable), Jack Williams, Daly Shannon (foot), Jack Shannahan (foot)