by Murray Silby

With the addition of the Thunder women’s team that will play in the VFL W competition from this weekend, there are so many ways NT Thunder could be referred to as “the family club”.

There are two sets of brothers and sisters playing across the men’s and women’s teams – Rodney and Janet Baird and Joe and Jasmine Anderson.

Jasmine says the women have been warmly welcomed into the Thunder fold by their male colleagues, who play in the NEAFL.

“It’s definitely a family,” she said. “Obviously having Joe, my own brother in the men’s team, it just shows the brother-sister relationship and the connection and I think as we go on and as we get the season started we’ll get the motivation from them and they’ll back us and they’ll come and watch our games when they can, and we’ve already watched a few of theirs, so we’ve definitely got that support system.

“Having brother and sister relationships already, it starts it there, and I think it will just continue to grow and in the end, everyone will be close and united and a big family. One big happy family.”

Her brother Joe has welcomed the development of a Thunder women’s team and the decision for it to play in the VFL Women’s competition because of the pathway it provides young women who’d like to play in the AFLW.

“Yes, it is, it’s actually a great opportunity that the women have to play at a higher level than the NTFL,” he said. “It’s great that the AFLNT have decided to enter the VFL Women’s comp. It gives them more exposure and more of an opportunity, so it’s really good.”

Jasmine was on the Crows’ list in the first AFLW season last year, but didn’t get to play a game and was delisted for this season, but she’s drawing on inspiration from her brothers, especially North Melbourne’s Jed, who almost died due to illness, to drive her back onto an AFLW squad.

“He’s been through so much,” she said. “At one stage we almost lost him, and for him to not give up and to come back bigger and better and stronger, that’s probably motivated me the most and got me through to actually not giving up the game after the Crows season.

“It was pretty hard for me not to get a game and not to be reselected, but I looked at his experience, and he’s doing so well this year.

“He’s had so many crossroads but now he’s actually in it and doing better than ever, and that’s really motivated me.”

Jasmine is also a mother of young Isaac and says the pregnancy and motherhood have also given her strength.

“It makes you stronger and more motivated, and you want to be a good mentor, and you want your kids to look up to you and be able to follow in your footsteps one day, and after having him (son Isaac) I was more determined than ever actually,” she said.

“Before him, I didn’t have that motivation, but now I do.”