Ben Rioli against Sydney Uni

Thunder face the toughest of tests at University – Round 8

24.05.18 10:01

By Murray Silby

It’s a popular mantra for NT Thunder coach Andrew Hodges, that there aren’t any easy games in the NEAFL, well this week he could be excused for modifying it a little to there aren’t any harder games in the NEAFL than taking on Sydney University at home.

Thunder managed to get its season back on track with a 37-point victory over Gold Coast at TIO Stadium last weekend, but this Saturday afternoon has an almighty challenge to keep that winning feeling going in Round 8.

“Sydney University, they’re a really good side,” Hodges said. “They’re undefeated so far. It’s going to be a big challenge.

“We played them in Round 3 and they got the better of us up here (in Darwin) so any game in the NEAFL’s difficult, let alone having to travel and play them on their home turf, so they’re a good side and it’s going to be a big challenge.”

Sydney University has six wins from six matches and sits alone at the top of the NEAFL ladder, unbeaten and a win clear of Brisbane and Southport.

Thunder is in sixth place with three wins and three losses.

The Thunder squad can take heart though, that it defeated Brisbane – the reigning premier – in Round 1 and so can compete with the best when it all comes together.

Thunder will also be encouraged by that Round 3 match, when it was defeated by the Students by just 15 points after losing two players in the first half.

Experienced defender Joe Anderson had to leave the field due to concussion and tough on-baller Jarred Erlandson also missed the second half after suffering concussion and a broken hand.

He’s still out injured, but Anderson is a likely starter.

Hodges said the win over Gold Coast had also given the players a lift after a few difficult weeks of losses.

“It was good to get the 37-point win,” he said. “We had a really good review after the Southport game and had some good conversations around what we needed to do better and to the boys’ credit they ticked those boxes for the most part of the game, but we still have plenty to work on.

“We didn’t play our best footy and we’ve got to make sure we do if we’re going to be competitive against a side like Sydney University.”

Sydney University is brimming with talent, much of it with AFL experience.

Apart from a list of high profile stars though, the Students also have others that can fly under the radar a little, including the Round 7 NEAFL rising star nomination – Nathan Cooper.

A former Sydney Swans academy member, Cooper was nominated for his performance in shutting down Aspley forward Jono Freeman in Sydney Uni’s narrow victory.

The Students had to work hard for their win over the Hornets and inaccurate kicking for goal didn’t help, having 10 more scoring shots for the 10-point margin.

“We need to first and foremost get own game sorted out and understand what we want to achieve and play the way we want to play and concentrate on that, but we definitely have to take a look at the opposition and get an understanding of how they play and move the ball,” Hodges said.

“Our guys, we just want to play our brand of footy and kick a score that can win a game.”

To do so, quick ball out of the centre will be an enormous advantage as the Students are masters at setting up behind the ball and turning defence into attack.

Thunder vice-captain Abraham Ankers will be vital to that cause and fortunately he’s in sparkling form, recording a game-high nine votes in the NEAFL MVP award last weekend.

Thunder’s engine room also received a boost last week with the return of ruckman Ryan Smith from retirement.

He’s added support to Jack Monigatti and the pair look as though they’ll form and reliable partnership through the remainder of the season.

While forwards Darren Ewing (five goals) and Adam Sambono (three) will be ready to pounce on anything that comes there way and managed to turn plenty of half chances into goals against the Suns.

Ewing is in third place on the NEAFL goal-kicking list and Sambono fourth with 19 and 18 goals respectively. They trail Redland’s Matt Hammelmann, who has 30.

Thunder announced during the week that it had signed two new recruits to give depth to its on-ball division.

Tylah Saunders is a 28-year-old on baller/ruck rover, who’s played with SANFL club Glenelg alongside former Thunder player current West Coast Eagles star Willie Rioli.

He moved to Darwin in April for employment with AFL Northern Territory and has been training with the club since then.

While 23-year-old Patrick Boles has also signed and is a former teammate of Thunder’s Anderson at North Adelaide in the SANFL.

Boles is a hardworking and fast utility/inside mid who can also play half back.

It will be interesting to see whether the pair are brought in to try and counter Sydney University’s renowned midfield muscle.

Someone with a somewhat longer association with the club is Ben Rioli and he plays his 100th game for Thunder on Saturday.

A vital run and carry player in defence, the 24-year-old said he’s loved his time with the club.

“I’ve been in it since I was 18-years-old,” he said. “There’s a lot of people who’ve gone and done this and that and I’ve stayed and played footy with Thunder and go to work and the only reason I do it is because I love it.

“If I didn’t love it I wouldn’t do it that’s for sure because there’s a fair bit involved with travel and all that other stuff.

“Most of the people I’ve played with make it all worth it.”

Rioli said the combination of playing against the best players and the camaraderie within the Thunder set up are the main attractions.

“Getting to play against AFL-listed players is really special especially in a quality side like Sydney Uni,” he said.

“I guess it’s the mateship you make with people as well. Playing in the NTFL, you go from taking each other’s heads off to three weeks later you’re on the same team so that’s a good thing to also play with some of the players you play against in the NTFL.

“You get along with people you didn’t expect to get along with.”

Rioli is confident the Thunder squad has a great future ahead of it.

“The current crop look like one of the most talented groups we’ve had come through,” he said.

“We’ve definitely got a lot of good locals like Jarrod Stokes and Matty Campbell and Joey Anderson and the likes of those boys who bring lots of class, but also that NT flavour, which we’ve always tried to do is have NT players play for the NT Thunder side, but for some reason this year it just looks like it’s got a lot of NT-based people and that’s exciting.”

He also expects Thunder’s inconsistent form will steadily improve during the season.

“We didn’t play our best footy (against the Gold Coast), but to take the four points is what we need at the moment and hopefully it’s put us on the right track,” Rioli suggested.

“We’ve shown in patches what we’re capable as a team, but we haven’t put a four quarter effort together just yet and there’d be no better time than against Sydney Uni this weekend.

“It’ll be a big challenge, but I always find we play our best footy against the best sides so I’m really looking forward to this weekend. For some reason we seem to be able to rise against those better sides, so fingers crossed we’re ready to and we should be.”

NEAFL Round 8: Sydney University vs NT Thunder – Saturday 12:00pm, Blacktown International Sportspark, Rooty Hill