Team Announcement Round 12

A touch of ‘magic’ looking to expel Demons

16.06.17 09:20

A versatile NT Thunder outfit will travel to Canberra to face the Demons on Saturday afternoon, in Round 12 of the NEAFL.

In exciting news, lively small forward Francis Kinthari will make his debut for the Club, after the Wadeye prospect, often referred to as having a touch of ‘Wadeye magic’, signed for the remainder of the season.

Kinthari kicked 47 goals in his 15 NTFL Premier League games for St Mary’s and is best known for his fast pace and impressive goal sense.

Captain Shannon Rioli returns to the field after serving a two-week suspension, while experienced on-baller and inaugural NT Thunder player, Cameron Ilett is back from work duties.

Matthew Rosier, a Thunder player since 2010, has recovered from a fracture in his right hand and will line up for his second outing this season, his 100th NEAFL game in total.

The team is eager to reverse the result from Round 6 after NT Thunder went down to the Demons by five points after some wayward kicking in front of goal proved costly in the final minutes.

Damian Williams will miss after sustaining a shoulder injury in the first quarter of Thunder’s last game against Sydney Uni, while Jake Roe-Duggan and Daniel Weetra are also omissions due to injury.

Head Coach Andrew Hodges said Kinthari was a good replacement for Adam Sambono, who was unavailable this weekend.

“We have known Adam might have to miss a game or two so to have someone of Francis’ calibre come into the side is great. And we believe those two guys would just as easily complement each other as they can alternate, which is a bonus,” Hodges said.

As for the trip south to the colder climate, Hodges said his troops were unfazed.

“The boys have come back from the bye mentally and physically refreshed and are eager to keep our winning record on the road intact. The expected cold hasn’t been raised as an issue, and I expect they will approach the game with the tenacity we need to match the Demons and put ourselves in a winning position,” he said.

NEAFL Round 12
Canberra Demons v NT Thunder
12:00pm AEST Saturday 17 June
Manuka Oval, Canberra

B: Tom Davies, Justin Beugelaar, Jonathan Peris
HB: Ben Rioli, Neil Vea Vea, Sam Smith
C: Sam Talbot, Abraham Ankers, Braedon McLean
HF: Shannon Rioli, Hugo Drogemuller, Nick Yarran
F: Lachlan Collihole, Darren Ewing, Tony Olango*
FOLL: Ryan Smith, Cameron Ilett, Matthew Rosier
INT: Michael Hagan, Michael Coombes, Francis Kinthari, Jack Shannahan, Jarred Erlandson

EMERGENCIES: Daniel Russell, Scott McLeod, Beau Schwarze

IN: Francis Kinthari, Cameron Ilett, Matthew Rosier, Shannon Rioli
OUT: Jake Roe-Duggan (injury – quad), Adam Sambono (unavailable), Daniel Weetra (injury – groin), Damian Williams (injury – shoulder)
NEW: Francis Kinthari

* Indicates 23rd player

You can live stream this game thanks to Tatts on ThunderVision from 11:30am NT time