Young guns return for captain’s century

07.07.17 09:05

NT Thunder will welcome some of its young brigades back into the line-up to face the Redland Bombers in NEAFL Round 15 action this Saturday afternoon in Darwin.

Defender Daniel Weetra has recovered from his concussion troubles and will line-up alongside classy midfielders Michael Coombes and Braedon McLean and dynamic forward Nick Yarran, who have all returned from personal commitments.

While big men Tony Olango and Ryan Smith are handy ruck inclusions, replacing Scott McLeod who has been named as an emergency.

Small forward Justin Cooper, who played higher up the ground in Thunder’s four-point win over the Giants in Round 14, has also been listed as an emergency along with Kyle Emery.

Francis Kinthari, the clutch goal hero from last weekend, is unavailable to play along with Jarred Erlandson who tweaked his hamstring at training during the week and Katherine’s Kayle Kossack who has been omitted.

Head Coach Andrew Hodges said this week at the selection table had been one of the most difficult yet.

“Kayle, Justin, Kyle and even big Scott all played their roles well last week and contributed to the win, so it’s never easy cutting players who have done what you’ve asked.

“I doubt it will be the last we see of them this season but on the flipside, to have the experience of big Smithy (Ryan Smith) and Dan (Weetra) back in the side is exactly what we need for a big game,” he said.

Hodges said he was acutely aware that his team’s record at home wasn’t the perfect picture they’d had in mind at the start of the season but believed the troops would rally behind captain Shannon Rioli in his 100th outing for NT Thunder.

“We know clubs come up here these days bringing their A-game and believing they can win, so Redland will be no exception.

“They are probably a better side than the ladder indicates and have good depth in the forward line and defence, so we will need to play our exciting Territory brand of footy if we’re going to get the outcome we desire for Shannon’s big game,” Hodges said.

NEAFL Round 15
NT Thunder vs Redland
3:00pm ACST Saturday 8 July
TIO Stadium, Darwin

Round 15 field view

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

EMERGENCIES: Kyle Emery, Justin Cooper, Scott McLeod

IN: Michael Coombes, Braedon McLean, Tony Olango, Ryan Smith, Daniel Weetra, Nick Yarran
OUT: Justin Cooper (omitted), Kyle Emery (omitted), Jarred Erlandson (injured – hamstring), Francis Kinthari (unavailable), Kayle Kossack (omitted), Scott McLeod (omitted)

Indicates 23rd player

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