NT Thunder return to the Red Centre to take on the Aspley Hornets in its Round 12 NEAFL match after a week off with the bye and are looking to kick start the second half of the 2019 season at TIO Traeger Park on Saturday night.
Exciting midfielders Cohen Thiele and Nate Paredes return to the team after missing Round 10 with injury and suspension respectively, along with Jess Budarick who has recovered from broken ribs sustained in round 6.
Josiah Farrer is also back after getting the all clear from his hamstring injury along with defender David Johnston and small forwards Dylan Barry, Nicholas Yarran and Chris Williams.
Thunder loses club stalwarts Joe Anderson and co-captain Shannon Rioli with respective foot and hand injuries which unfortunately could take a number of weeks to recover from.
Joining them on the injured list are Hugo Drogemuller (groin), Trent Melville (foot), Dean Staunton (back) and Jacob Templeton (back) while youngsters Brendon Minkulk and Beau O’Connell will be rested. It is the first game of the season that Melville will miss.
With Rioli out, Abraham Ankers will get the opportunity to captain Thunder on his home turf at TIO Traeger Park and will lead out fellow Centralians; Dylan Barry, Ethan Liddle and Nigel Lockyer.
The two teams met only five weeks ago when the Hornets came away the victors at TIO Stadium and NT Thunder Head Coach Darren Reeves said key changes and the incentive of playing in Alice Springs should lead to an improved performance from the team.
“We are pumped to be going to Alice Springs to play in front of our home crowd especially with four Centralians in the team.
“Aspley have been pretty solid over the last month with some impressive wins so we have to be at our best to counter their attack and we are looking forward to the challenge.
“We have some key ins including Josiah Farrer who was extremely important in our win against Redland earlier in the year and Nate Paredes and Cohen Thiele are important midfielders who come back in as well.
“Jess Budarick is one of our exciting young kids who returns after having broken ribs however Joe Anderson and Shannon Rioli are key outs for us but that’s footy,” he said.
Reeves said the bye gave the team the opportunity to mentally refresh while still training in small groups away from the club.
“The goal now for us is to improve and we have put a real focus on playing four quarters of high intensity football and know if we do that we’ll be in the game when it matters,” he said.
NEAFL Round 12
NT Thunder vs Aspley Hornets
6:00pm ACST, Saturday 22 June
TIO Traeger Park, Alice Springs
B: Phillip Wills, Nigel Lockyer, Kieren Parnell
HB: Ben Rioli, David Johnston, Daniel Weetra
C: Brodie Carroll, Nathaniel Paredes, Ethan Liddle
HF: Abraham Ankers, Kieran Delahunty, Nicholas Yarran
F: Adam Tipungwuti, Chris Williams, Dylan Barry
FOLL: Jack Hannath, Cohen Thiele, Jess Budarick
INT: Joel Stevens*, Josiah Farrer, Clinton Gallio, Ben Taylor, Jack Monigatti
EMERGENCIES: Brandon Rusca, Beau O’Connell
IN: Dylan Barry, Jess Budarick, Josiah Farrer, David Johnston, Nathaniel Paredes, Nicholas Yarran, Chris Williams
OUT: Joe Anderson (foot), Hugo Drogemuller (groin), Trent Melville (foot), Brendon Minkulk (rested), Beau O’Connell (rested), Shannon Rioli (hand), Dean Staunton (back), Templeton (back)
*Indicates 23rd player