Darren ‘Boof’ Ewing and Ryan Smith will take up their usual positions on Saturday night in what will be their last home game representing NT Thunder when the team plays Southport in Round 20 NEAFL action.
Five changes in all have been made to the team who defeated Redland last weekend, with midfielder Jarred Erlandson due to return for his first game since fracturing his hand in Round 3.
Erlandson had been close to returning in Round 17 but pulled up short just before the game.
NT Thunder Head Coach Andrew Hodges said he had been putting in the hard work and deserved a comeback before season’s end.
“A couple of times the past few weeks we’ve gone to play Erlo but he hasn’t felt 100% so in consultation with the medical staff we haven’t risked it.
“He’s been working hard in the gym and back on the track, and given the momentous occasion of a final home game with some of our retiring club greats I’m sure he’s eager to run out there tomorrow night, and we’re excited to have his experience back,” he said.
Youngsters Coen Hutt (concussion) and Michael Mummery (calf) have also recovered from injury, while versatile swingman Kaine Riley has pushed his way back into the lineup and Ryan Smith has finished with coaching commitments in time for his final Thunder outing in Darwin.
In a pleasant surprise for Thunder fans, high-flying and hardworking youngster Sam Smith has been named in the forward line, where his marking prowess will be put to good use.
Ben Rioli, who the NEAFL previously advised was issued a one-game suspension by the Match Review Panel was misinformed and later issued a reprimand but is unfortunately unavailable now due to commitments.
Sam Talbot will also miss due to commitments, while Tylah Saunders was handed a one-game suspension for striking in last week’s game against Redland and is a forced out.
Richard Tambling has a calf niggle that will keep him sidelined for at least this week and Alice Springs youngster Dominic Forbes has been rested to line-up for the Feds in Round 1 TIO CAFL finals action.
Hodges said the team was concentrating on making sure the final home game for the season was a great one.
“All the boys just want to get out there and put in a good performance, for their retiring teammates, their families and friends, fans, sponsors and the volunteers who have all supported us this season.
“The challenges don’t come much harder than Southport though. Twice this year they’ve schooled us when we’ve had those lapses in concentration so a big focus will be on playing our brand of footy and doing it consistently for four quarters.
“We might be out of the finals race, but we want to ensure our last couple of weeks are enjoyable and set the tone for season 2019, and if we get to claim a big scalp along the way and impact the finals makeup for any of the others, then that would be a bonus,” Hodges said.
NEAFL Round 20
NT Thunder vs Southport Sharks
6:30pm ACST
Saturday 18 August
TIO Stadium, Darwin
B: Matt Campbell, Sam Dyke, Matthew Green
HB: Joe Anderson, Tom Davies, Kaine Riley
C: Patrick Boles, Abraham Ankers, Shannon Rioli
HF: Malcolm Rosas*, Hugo Drogemuller, Chris Williams
F: Jarrod Stokes, Darren Ewing, Sam Smith
FOLL: Jack Monigatti, Cameron Ilett, Jarred Erlandson
INT: Izaak Wyatt, Tim Brook, Coen Hutt, Ryan Smith, Michael Mummery
EMERGENCIES: Beau Schwarze, Patrick Heenan
IN: Jarred Erlandson, Coen Hutt, Michael Mummery, Kaine Riley, Ryan Smith
OUT: Dominic Forbes, Ben Rioli, Tylah Saunders, Sam Talbot, Richard Tambling (injury – calf)
* Indicates 23rd player
You can live stream this game on ThunderVision thanks to Tatts