NT Thunder will be hoping history repeats itself against the Gold Coast Suns in Round 7 at TIO Stadium on Saturday night as it sets about snapping a three game NEAFL losing streak.
In the corresponding round last year Thunder ended a run of two successive losses with a 30-point victory over the Suns.
Thunder’s 2018 season opened brightly enough with two victories, which had them comfortably in the top six, but the three losses that have followed, have seen them slip out of the six.
Canberra is in sixth place with eight points, the same as Thunder, but has the benefit of a superior percentage.
The gap between Thunder and the top two teams – Southport and Sydney University – has stretched to 12 points, or three wins, and coach Andrew Hodges won’t want it to expand any further.
The Suns hold down fifth place with a 3-3 record, but that includes an embarrassing 92-point loss to Brisbane last weekend in which Gold Coast wasn’t able to score a single goal.
Meanwhile, at Southport, the Sharks were handing Thunder a 73-point loss.
It all amounts to two teams desperate to get their seasons back on course.
“Really disappointed after the last few losses, but the mood’s positive and the boys are working hard to turn it around,” Hodges said.
“It’s really important we get a win this week, both of us had big losses on the weekend so it’s a critical game and we treat any opponent like, every game’s a challenge, so this week’s no different and obviously we’re trying to come away with a win so we want to tick all the boxes this week to make sure we’re prepared and ready to go.”
The Suns game also marks a milestone for the former Richmond and Adelaide on-baller, Richard Tambling, who’ll play his 50th game for Thunder.
“I’ve played pretty proudly and warn the jumper ever since primary school days so to get 50 games with the Thunder seniors is fantastic,” he said.
“I was in the premiership team with Thunder as well and played with some champions in Cameron Ilett and Darren ‘Boof’ Ewing so to get 50 games is something pretty close to my heart so very proud.”
Tambling works with the Clontarf Foundation coaching and mentoring boys and young men and using football as a conduit.
“Part of my role with the Clontarf at the moment is helping young men develop into strong, proud indigenous people,” he explained.
“So we’re not only trying to find great footballers with Thunder, we’re trying to develop young men as well and trying to give them a pathway where they can choose which direction their life turns.”
Tambling said Thunder didn’t exist when he was drafted into the AFL by Richmond, but as it got underway towards the end of his career, he developed a desire to join the cause.
“Proud to say I was looking forward to coming home and playing footy and luckily enough Thunder and AFL Northern Territory gave me an opportunity to come back to the Territory, both with work and a footy contract,” he said.
“So I’m quite grateful for that and the club supported me and my family all the way through the last couple of years.
“Through my injuries, so yeah the club is also there to help develop all these talented juniors we have in the Territory so it’s much more than just a senior football club, it’s a family club and hopefully in the future it develops some strong leaders within our community, not only great AFL players, but strong leaders within the Northern Territory itself,” said Tambling.
Thunder will need all its leaders firing to turn the ship around this weekend. Key defender Tom Davies is to be assessed for concussion while Hugo Drogemuller has a quad injury and will also have to be tested.
If either, or both, miss, it will leave a hole in Thunder’s tall stocks. On the positive side though, small forwards Dion Munkara and Ross Tungatalum are likely to return to the team after recovering from ankle and back injuries respectively.
It’s also possible that two-time premiership ruckman Ryan Smith could be re-called.
Smith retired at the end of last season, but like former captain Cameron Ilett, has had a change of heart and is a chance to be selected to play the Suns.
“Potentially,” Hodges said. “He’s put his hand up and we’ll take a look at him as well.”
The Suns have had another difficult season with injury, but could find some relief with veterans Michael Barlow and Matt Rosa to be tested and with the senior team playing in China this weekend, the pair might find themselves on a plane to the Top End rather than the Far East.
Apart from celebrating Tambling’s 50 games, Saturday night’s match will follow the Thunder women’s VFL W match against Essendon.
The Thunder women won their first game at their first attempt in the VFL W competition two weeks’ ago in Melbourne and Saturday night will be their first home game.
“It’s an important weekend for the club,” Hodges said. “It’s the first time we’ve had an NT Thunder men’s side and women’s side playing on the same day in state league competitions so a big day and hopefully both teams can come away with a win.”
NEAFL Round 7: NT Thunder vs Gold Coast Suns – Saturday 6:30pm, TIO Stadium, Darwin