NT Thunder will travel to Melbourne looking to find its fifth win of the season as they face the winless Williamstown Seagulls at Point Gellibrand on Saturday in Round 8 of the VFLW.
Making her debut for Thunder is 2018/19 NTFL Women’s premiership player Rebecca Pryer. Pryer brings a depth of NTFL experience, combined with her ability to play anywhere on the ground and her huge running capacity as assets to the side.
AFLW listed Crow, Eloise Jones comes into the side this week to play her first game with Thunder for 2019, bringing with her the experience of winning an AFLW flag for the Adelaide Crows earlier this year.
Angela Foley is back alongside Alysha Healy who has recovered from her concussion, which has seen her on the sideline since Round 5, and the girls are joined by Deni Varnhagen who will line up in the midfield since her last outing in Round 4.
Back in the side after being omitted last week is Amy Chittick, and Kat Simmons comes off the emergencies list to take on the Seagulls, with key ruck Jasmyn Hewett out with a minor toe injury. It’s a loss for Thunder after Hewett kicked two majors and was named one of the best on ground in the big win over Essendon.
Machaelia Roberts didn’t pass her fitness test and will remain sidelined for another week with sore ribs while six more of Thunder’s big names are out this week due to unavailability in; Dayna Cox, Kylie Duggan, Jordann Hickey, Hannah Martin, Danielle Ponter and Stevie-Lee Thompson.
Youngster Mattea Breed looks to back up her outstanding debut last week as she lines up with the forwards this week.
NT Thunder will only play the Seagulls once this year and after a convincing win over Essendon at home last week are looking to keep the momentum on the road.
ThunderW Head Coach Heidi Thompson said the mix of experience and youth in the team has the capacity to get in and get the job done.
“It is great having three of the young Central Allies girls in the side in Shantel, Mattea and Alysha, especially with only a week out from the start of their Allies campaign in the Under 18 AFLW National Championships. The spark and excitement they bring can be felt around the group.
“Being halfway through the season it is crucial to be winning games, building confidence and getting those four points to set us up for the back end of the year,” Thompson said.
VFLW Round 8
NT Thunder vs Williamstown Seagulls
11:30am AEST, Saturday 29 June
Point Gellibrand, Melbourne
B: Shantel Miskin-Ripia, Tayla Thorn, Sharona Bishop
HB: Charlie Deegan, Lateesha Jeffrey (c), Kristy Irvine
C: Lisa Roberts, Morgan Johnston, Katie Streader
HF: Michelle Ellis, Jade de Melo, Tahlia Holtze
FF: Eloise Jones, Mattea Breed*, Janet Baird
FOLL: Gemma Cusack, Deni Varnhagen, Nikki Gore
INT: Kat Simmons, Rebecca Pryer, Angela Foley, Amy Chittick, Alysha Healy
EMG: Billie Byers, Madeline Gault
IN: Amy Chittick, Angela Foley, Alysha Healy, Eloise Jones, Rebecca Pryer, Kat Simmons, Deni Varnhagen
OUT: Dayna Cox (unavailable), Kylie Duggan (unavailable), Jasmyn Hewett (toe), Jordann Hickey (unavailable), Hannah Martin (unavailable), Danielle Ponter (unavailable), Stevie-Lee Thompson (unavailable)
NEW: Rebecca Pryer
*Indicates 23rd player