NT Thunder has gathered a top-quality coaching team to lead its NEAFL team in season 2018.

Head Coach Andrew Hodges will oversee the direction of the Club for his second season and will be joined by a high calibre of NT football and sporting experts.

Most recent NTFL Men’s Premier League premiership coach, Shannon Rusca comes back into the Thunder fold after a successful tenure as player and coach.

An inaugural player in 2009 Rusca went on to play in the 2011 premierships and was the midfield coach in 2015 when Thunder took out the NEAFL honours.

An extensive playing career that covers, AFL, SANFL and NTFL make Rusca the ideal candidate to act as this year’s senior assistant coach, with his role primarily focused on team strategy and team offence.

Also assisting Hodges and Rusca will be 2017 NT Thunder coaching team members, Josh Heath, Peter Leonard and Jason Roe.

Heath has strong local knowledge, having played and coached for St Mary’s Football Club in the NTFL since 2009.

During this time, he was a Premier League assistant coach for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 premierships. Heath has also travelled as a coach for the Under 15 All Nations squad for the Northern Territory from 2014-2017.

In 2018 Heath’s primary role with Thunder will be working with the midfield.

Leonard, affectionately known as ‘Scruba’ is a no-nonsense all-rounder who has been involved with the Club for all ten of its years.

The premiership runner in Thunder’s 2011 year he does everything from running to coaching and working one-on-one with players in particular areas of the game.

Never one to shy away from offering advice Leonard’s task this season is to oversee the coaching box dynamics.

A former AFL player, Roe played 50 games for the Brisbane Lions between 2006-2009.

Upon returning to Darwin, he was a 2011 NT Thunder premiership player and amassed 37 Club games to his name.

He has been an assistant coach at the Nightcliff Tigers for the past three NTFL seasons, and his experience and leadership will be invaluable in his second year as a coach at NT Thunder, where he will mentor the team’s defenders.

Fellow Darwin-based coaches are newcomers Ryan Ayres and Nick Lenoir.

Ayres was an assistant coach under Rusca for the 2017/18 Southern Districts NTFL premiership and has been involved in a coaching level with Districts, and before them, Waratah for some years.

An AFL rookie selection in 2001 for Melbourne, Ayres spent a couple of seasons in the elite environment which has seen him as a valuable contributor to Territory footy.

In 2016 and 2017 he was an assistant coach with the NT Thunder Under 18 Academy, and 2018 marks his first year working with the senior team and particularly, the forwards.

Lenoir is no stranger to professional sporting environments with a background in playing, coaching and administering elite hockey.

He coached and played professionally in Belgium for seven years, was the High Performance Manager at Hockey South Australia for four years and the Northern Territory Institute of Sport Head Coach for four years also.

Lenoir is well versed in guiding young athletes, and his football experience includes a couple of seasons spent with Nightcliff in the NTFL.

His role with Thunder in 2018 is to analyse the opposition teams.

Another new addition to the coaching panel in 2018 is Alice Springs-based, Jackson Ankers.

The older brother of Thunder vice-captain, Abe, Jackson is a premiership coach for Federal Football Club in the CAFL and is known for his ability to analyse and motivate.

From Central Australia, Jackson will work closely with the Redtails Football Program and will act as an assistant midfield coach for Thunder.

Keeping the family connection going, this year’s primary team runner Shane Hodges is the younger brother of Head Coach, Andrew.

Shane was a reliable and fast delivering messenger when Andrew coached Wanderers to their NTFL premiership in the 2014/15 season and laces up for his first stint with Thunder.

In charge of the players’ fitness will be AFLNT’s newest Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, Robbie Butcher.

Born in Darwin, he brings a wealth of knowledge with a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science, Master in Exercise Science (Strength and Conditioning) and Bachelor of Education.

Butcher is also a talented rugby union player whose accolades include; the Craig Leach Mosquito MVP which he won in 2017 and 2009, the Eric Johnston Medal for being NT Rugby’s Best & Fairest in 2014, and he was the Willie Ellison Medallist in 2009 for Best on Ground in the Grand Final.

In 2012, he did his internship with NT Thunder and the Academy programs and is now back to keep the players on their toes.

Assisting Butcher with strength and conditioning but focusing more closely on the injured or rehab players is experienced Program Rehabilitation Coach, Rob Moore.

Moore most recently assisted with strength and conditioning for the NT-based Adelaide Crows women’s players, keeping them fighting fit throughout the 2018 season.

He also has an impressive resume, which includes four years of industry experience with both team and individual sports and includes stints with weightlifting and rugby in Belfast, Ireland.

A friendly face around the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Gym, Moore is in his final year of completing a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science.

Overseeing the NT Thunder NEAFL coaching team and Chairman of Selectors is AFLNT Talent and Pathways Manager, Wally Gallio.

Gallio has established himself as one of the leading local experts and nationwide has become a name synonymous with Territory footy.

With experience playing and coaching right across the Territory, the NT Thunder Football Club and Academy report through to Gallio.

Hodges said he was excited by the group of coaches who had signed up for Thunder this year.

“It’s a real positive to have this calibre of coaches involved in our program.

“All coaches are very experienced in NT Footy and will play an important part this year in guiding the group of talented Territory footballers we have on our list.

“I’ve been lucky enough to work with all coaches in the past, and know they’ll each bring their uniqueness to the coaching group,” he said.

2018 NEAFL coaches
Head coach  – Andrew Hodges – Level 3 High Performance
Senior assistant coach – Shannon Rusca – Level 2
Midfield coach  – Josh Heath – Level 2
Assistant midfield coach – Jackson Ankers (Alice Springs) – Level 2
Defensive coach  – Jason Roe – Level 2
Forwards coach – Ryan Ayres – Level 1
Opposition analyst coach – Nick Lenoir – Level 1 (AFL), Level 3 High Performance (Hockey)
Coaching box dynamics – Peter Leonard – Level 2
Strength and conditioning coach  – Robbie Butcher
Program rehabilitation coach  – Rob Moore
Team runner  – Shane Hodges
Chairman of selectors  – Wally Gallio