NT Thunder Football Club is pleased to release a list of more than 50 players who have been invited to be part of the VFL Women’s training squad ahead of the Club’s inaugural VFLW season in 2018.
The squad is made up of some of the best talent from right across the Territory, including NTFL joint Gwynne Medallists, Lucy Adam and Lisa Roberts, as well as young guns like NTFL Rising Star Janet Baird and last Saturday’s Williams Medallist, Madeline Gault.
With the VFL expected to release information on list size and lodgement dates in the coming days, the squad will be trimmed to the final playing list in mid-April.
That presents four weeks for the players on the training squad to impress and push for selection.
AFLNT Manager of Talent and Pathways Wally Gallio will now work with relevant NTFL clubs to clear and release the selected players, while Academy players from remote and regional centres, including the Pinktails in Alice Springs, have been in training since November.
Noticeable absentees from the training squad are Adelaide AFLW players, who will only be included once they have received clearance at the conclusion of the AFLW season.
NT Thunder VFLW Head Coach, Tim Weatherald said he worked closely with Gallio and AFLNT Director of Coaching, Andrew Hodges to assemble today’s list.
“Since applying for the role I have been watching all of the NTFL Women’s Premier League games and I have been very excited to see the talent and enthusiasm of so many players.
“Once I was appointed as coach I’ve had weekly list management meetings with Wally and Andrew, who have been closely connected to the remote areas and have the history and experience. We’ve discussed many players and gotten to the point where today we can reveal a talented training squad,” he said.
On the size of the squad, Weatherald said it was important that the process included players that showed talent and aspiration to play at a higher level.
“We have selected a large squad to give as many players as possible the opportunity to train for the next month and then be selected to represent the team.
“I believe with the inclusion of players from Alice Springs and the possibility of playing up to 12 AFLW listed players each week; we will have a competitive side in what will be a very strong VFLW competition.
“I look forward to starting training on Monday, and with our Round 1 game only 52 days away, they will be intense sessions as we look to become the best team we can,” Weatherald said.
Players invited to be part of the NT Thunder VFL Women’s training squad:
Surname | First name | Club | Position |
---|---|---|---|
Adam | Lucy | Darwin Buffaloes | Inside Midfielder |
Anderson | Jasmine | Darwin Buffaloes | Small Forward |
Attrill | Jennie | St Mary’s | Small Forward |
Baird | Janet | Palmerston | Small Defender |
Banner | Rhiannon | Wests/Pinktails | Utility |
Barnett | Samantha | PINT | Outside Midfielder |
Bebbington | Hannah | Waratah | Small Forward |
Bishop | Sharona | Waratah | Small Forward |
Bonde | Debra | Tracy Village | Inside Midfielder |
Brock | Jesse | Palmerston | Key Forward |
Browne | Crystal | Darwin Buffaloes/Katherine | Outside Midfielder |
Chevalier | Jaylene | Wanderers | Key Position |
Chittick | Amy | Waratah | Small Forward |
Coombes | Alana | St Mary’s | Small Forward |
Cusack | Gemma | Waratah | Defender |
De Satge | Shekeine | Wanderers | Outside Midfielder |
Duggan | Kylie | Darwin Buffaloes | Outside Midfielder |
Dunbar | Rebecca | Darwin Buffaloes | Ruck |
Dunn | Laelia | St Mary’s | Forward |
Ellis | Michelle | Pioneers/Pinktails | Key Position/Midfielder |
Engelhardt | Holly | Southern Districts | Small Defender |
Gault | Madeline | Waratah | Small Forward |
Henderson | Cassie | PINT | Inside Midfielder |
Hickey | Jordann | Rovers/Darwin Buffaloes/Pinktails | Utility |
Holtze | Tahlia | Southern Districts/Pinktails | Utility |
Iacono | Jemma | Darwin Buffaloes | Inside Midfielder |
Irvine | Kristy | Tracy Village | Inside Midfielder |
Jeffrey | Lateesha | Southern Districts | Utility Defender |
Johnston | Morgan | Wanderers | Midfielder |
Keeble | Madeline | PINT | Outside Midfielder |
King | Gabrielle | Palmerston | Small Forward |
Mauboy | Sophia | Wanderers | Inside Midfielder |
May | Tabitha | Palmerston | Small Forward |
Medbury | Natasha | Palmerston | Inside Midfielder |
Miller | Ebony | Pioneers/Pinktails | Key Defender/Ruck |
Moreen | Arthurina | Tiwi Bombers/Tiwi Islands | Utility |
Motlop | Lauren | Wanderers | Utility Defender |
Nalder | Sue | Waratah | Hit up Forward |
Niven | Lori | St Mary’s | Utility Defender |
O’Shea | Lauren | Waratah | Key Defender |
Petyarre | Viviana | Rovers/Pinktails | Small Defender/Forward |
Ponter | Danielle | St Mary’s | Inside Midfielder |
Pryer | Rebecca | Waratah | Utility Defender |
Puruntatmerri | Sherayn | Waratah | Small Forward |
Rapson | Isabella | Waratah | Midfielder |
Roberts | Lisa | Waratah | Utility Defender |
Roberts | Michaelia | Darwin Buffaloes | Small Forward |
Rosenberg | Lilli | St Mary’s | Defender |
Ryan | Ellie | PINT | Small Forward |
Scanlon | Aleshia | Southern Districts | Small Defender |
Sleeth | Indy | Southern Districts | Ruck |
Stanley | Alicia | Waratah | Small Forward/Defender |
Streader | Katie | PINT | Inside Midfielder |
Thorn | Tayla | St Mary’s | Key Forward/Defender |