by Murray Silby

NT Thunder has returned to the winners’ list in NEAFL’s Round 7 with a hard fought win over Gold Coast, 17.13 (115) to 11.12(78) at TIO Stadium in Darwin.

The victory snaps a three-game losing streak on a day when TIO Stadium hosted both the Thunder men and women for their first ever home game double header.

The home side trailed by 13 points at the first change, but set about dismantling the Suns at increments of five goals per quarter.

A five goals to four second term essentially maintained the status quo, reducing the deficit by three points, but another five goals in the third quarter while holding the Suns to one turned the game to Thunder’s advantage by 17 points at the final change.

That blew out to 37 points by the final siren as Thunder added another five goals to Gold Coast’s three.

Coach Andrew Hodges was relieved to see the win after the run of losses, especially last week’s 73-point defeat by Southport.

“Yes, good to get away with a 37-point win after last week’s result,” Hodges said after the match.

Despite the final margin, the victory didn’t come easily as Thunder had to gradually grind down its opponent.

“A positive win,” Hodges suggested. “Early in the game we were a little bit scrappy. We probably turned the football over a little bit too much when we were going inside 50, but we fixed that up in the second half and our pressure was a lot better.

“We turned that around a little bit in the second half and we were able to generate a score, which was good.

“We get the ball in enough to Boof (Darren Ewing) and Adam (Sambono) and the forwards enough and we can kick a score to win the game.”

Ewing (five) and Sambono (three) were keys to the victory again, contributing eight of the team’s 17 goals, but the fact there were 10 goal scorers also underlined the team-wide contributions.

Sambono’s brilliance included a successful snap for goal in the second quarter that took a split second for the ball to go from hand to foot. While Ewing’s ever present skill was best illustrated by a super shot in the final term from tight on the boundary on the grandstand side of the Michael Long Learning Centre end.

“They got some good supply and even when they didn’t they turned half chances into goals, which was really positive,” Hodges said.

“The more times we get the ball into them the better chance we are of kicking a score in a game.”

Supply to the forwards was aided by the ruck combination of Ryan Smith, in his first game since returning from retirement, and Jack Monigatti dominating the hit outs 54 to 17.

“Ryan gave us first use and then Jack did as well so Jack’s really feeding off Ryan at training and playing alongside of him is going to be great for Jack’s development,” Hodges said. “Both boys played really well for us tonight.”

Hodges also had high praise for rover Abe Ankers, who was Thunder’s leading possession winner with 30.

“He was outstanding,” Hodges said. “He had plenty of inside 50s and plenty of clearances and kicked two goals.

“Probably up there with the best game he’s played with the club in his young career. So really pleased to see him put in a performance like he did tonight.

“He works so hard week in week out, especially in Alice Springs training with the Redtails program and he travels on the weekend to play with us so no-one in Australia would do as many kilometres as Abe does on an off the field.”

Alongside Ankers at the stoppages was veteran former Richmond and Adelaide on-baller Richard Tambling, who managed to celebrate his 50th Thunder game with a victory.

“Through the midfield, Richard Tambling in his 50th game, in that third quarter, his tackling pressure and his willingness to get the hard ball just encouraged his team-mates to go on the journey with him and get the win so it was really good to see Richie in his 50th game perform like he did,” Hodges said.

Thunder’s defence also held up under pressure from the Suns with Kaine Riley’s return to the side adding balance and Sam Smith possibly playing his best game for the season.

The Suns’ best was veteran Michael Barlow, playing his first game after returning from injury on a likely path back to the Suns’ AFL side.

Barlow didn’t show any signs of having to build his fitness as he strolled to a massive 41 disposals, including 26 kicks and 15 handballs and one goal.

Kade Kolodjashnij chimed in with 32 disposals while Will Powell booted three goals.

NT Thunder 2.2, 7.3, 12.8, 17.13 (115)

Gold Coast 4.3, 8.7, 9.9, 11.12 (78)

GOALS: NT Thunder – Darren Ewing 5, Adam Sambono 3, Abraham Ankers 2, Matt Campbell, Patrick Heenan, Ryan Smith, Sam Talbot, Cameron Ilett, Dion Munkara, Chris Williams.
Gold Coast – Will Powell 3, Brodie Foster, Eddie Sansbury 2, Harrison Arnold, Michael Barlow, Joshua Gore, Fitzroy Greenwool.

BEST: NT Thunder – Abraham Ankers, Richard Tambling, Joe Anderson, Darren Ewing, Sam Smith, Ryan Smith, Adam Sambono.
Gold Coast – Michael Barlow, Kade Kolodjashnij, Jacob Dawson, Jack Scrimshaw, Josh Schoenfeld, Will Powell, Kwaby Boakye.