NT Thunder 2018

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Dav

Hotel? Trivago.
10k Posts Koala SFA State of Origin Coney Island Warriors - Sweet F.A. Pantskyle SFA Fight For MND SFA Daffodil Day Fund Raiser Brisbane Dolphins Player - BFFCL BFFCL Club Captain Blue Mountain Bounders Player - BFFCL
Jul 23, 2015
19,042
37,273
Adelaide
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Port Adelaide
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Brighton, McLaren F1
NT Thunder Playing List
upload_2018-4-7_22-10-30.png


NT Thunder Fixture
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The 2018 NEAFL season could be the Thunder's most successful for some time having assembled a genuinely talented list that is essentially the best squad you could assemble from the Northern Territory Football League. The return of Cameron Ilett, the best player in the history of the NEAFL, will massively bolster their backline as well as the addition of Tiwi stars Dion Munkara and Ross Tungatalum who will add undoubted attacking flair. Other quality recruits include Darwin Buffaloes trio Joe Anderson, Matt Campbell and Jarrod Stokes, with Stokes in particular coming off an outstanding individual NTFL season and one of the best Grand Final performances ever witnessed in a losing side. Southern recruits for this season are Jack Monigatti, Tim Brook and Patrick White, a ruckman, small defender and medium forward respectively, and some other new faces include key defender Kaine Riley (Nightcliff), Chris Williams (Darwin) and Patrick Heenan (Tiwi).

Thunder has two purposes essentially. One is to give NT players the ability to play elite football and stay in Darwin, and the other is to give young NT players a platform to be drafted from. The above players fall into the first purpose, and now I'll run through some of the younger players who will be aiming to get drafted. Rodney Baird is the most likely prospect, a tall lanky defender in the mold of Michael Johnson who can play tall and small and has a cool head under pressure. Adam Sambono is a human highlight reel, with freakish ability around goals and an uncanny ability to take a grab, whether it be a huge pack mark, a contested mark or a lead. Jack Munkara, younger brother of Dion, is an exciting winger/half forward with a strong work rate and clean skills and Francis Kinthari, despite being 24, is a late bloomer and will try to push for draft selection after attending a State Combine last season. Liam Holt-Fitz could be drafted in 2019, but will miss the early part of the season with an ankle injury. He's a small forward in the mold of Cyril Rioli who can apply both scoreboard and defensive pressure in the forward line.

I'm reasonably optimistic about the Thunder's chances this season. They have a really balanced squad, with a combination of seasoned Thunder veterans (Rioli brothers, Darren Ewing, Cameron Ilett), star players from the local competition (Sam Smith, Abe Ankers, Braedon McLean) and up and coming talents such as Baird and Sambono. There's also a good balance of freakish individuals and solid team contributors, and I could see the Thunder achieving both of its main goals this season: go deep into finals, and get an NT player drafted to the AFL.
 

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Dav

Hotel? Trivago.
10k Posts Koala SFA State of Origin Coney Island Warriors - Sweet F.A. Pantskyle SFA Fight For MND SFA Daffodil Day Fund Raiser Brisbane Dolphins Player - BFFCL BFFCL Club Captain Blue Mountain Bounders Player - BFFCL
Jul 23, 2015
19,042
37,273
Adelaide
AFL Club
Port Adelaide
Other Teams
Brighton, McLaren F1
Round 1 - NT Thunder vs Brisbane
upload_2018-4-7_22-29-8.png
 
Oct 14, 2018
17
16
AFL Club
Collingwood
NT Thunder Playing List
View attachment 480303

NT Thunder Fixture
View attachment 480305
The 2018 NEAFL season could be the Thunder's most successful for some time having assembled a genuinely talented list that is essentially the best squad you could assemble from the Northern Territory Football League. The return of Cameron Ilett, the best player in the history of the NEAFL, will massively bolster their backline as well as the addition of Tiwi stars Dion Munkara and Ross Tungatalum who will add undoubted attacking flair. Other quality recruits include Darwin Buffaloes trio Joe Anderson, Matt Campbell and Jarrod Stokes, with Stokes in particular coming off an outstanding individual NTFL season and one of the best Grand Final performances ever witnessed in a losing side. Southern recruits for this season are Jack Monigatti, Tim Brook and Patrick White, a ruckman, small defender and medium forward respectively, and some other new faces include key defender Kaine Riley (Nightcliff), Chris Williams (Darwin) and Patrick Heenan (Tiwi).

Thunder has two purposes essentially. One is to give NT players the ability to play elite football and stay in Darwin, and the other is to give young NT players a platform to be drafted from. The above players fall into the first purpose, and now I'll run through some of the younger players who will be aiming to get drafted. Rodney Baird is the most likely prospect, a tall lanky defender in the mold of Michael Johnson who can play tall and small and has a cool head under pressure. Adam Sambono is a human highlight reel, with freakish ability around goals and an uncanny ability to take a grab, whether it be a huge pack mark, a contested mark or a lead. Jack Munkara, younger brother of Dion, is an exciting winger/half forward with a strong work rate and clean skills and Francis Kinthari, despite being 24, is a late bloomer and will try to push for draft selection after attending a State Combine last season. Liam Holt-Fitz could be drafted in 2019, but will miss the early part of the season with an ankle injury. He's a small forward in the mold of Cyril Rioli who can apply both scoreboard and defensive pressure in the forward line.

I'm reasonably optimistic about the Thunder's chances this season. They have a really balanced squad, with a combination of seasoned Thunder veterans (Rioli brothers, Darren Ewing, Cameron Ilett), star players from the local competition (Sam Smith, Abe Ankers, Braedon McLean) and up and coming talents such as Baird and Sambono. There's also a good balance of freakish individuals and solid team contributors, and I could see the Thunder achieving both of its main goals this season: go deep into finals, and get an NT player drafted to the AFL.
Took a phone call this week from a high profile NEAFL official asking about where are NT Thunder as a club and how pathetic they shape up in 2019 - you have to question how far they have dropped as a club since winning the flag in 2015 with that epic one point victory over Aspley in front of 8500 screaming fans. Both Darren Ewing and Cam Ilett retire - super players for 10 years - retire and the recruiting is recent years and this year is so underwhelming !!! The AFL pump soooo much money into AFLNT and you have to ask are the lunatics running the asylum- underperforming and uncompetitive with no crowds turning up to support - the best thing occurring at this club is their media department but you can't keep promoting duds and non performance - they are a disgrace and look like finishing under Redland in 2019 - Stuart Totham is no good ..... please look elsewhere ....
 

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Islanda22

Club Legend
Feb 11, 2014
1,833
1,049
Australia
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Took a phone call this week from a high profile NEAFL official asking about where are NT Thunder as a club and how pathetic they shape up in 2019 - you have to question how far they have dropped as a club since winning the flag in 2015 with that epic one point victory over Aspley in front of 8500 screaming fans. Both Darren Ewing and Cam Ilett retire - super players for 10 years - retire and the recruiting is recent years and this year is so underwhelming !!! The AFL pump soooo much money into AFLNT and you have to ask are the lunatics running the asylum- underperforming and uncompetitive with no crowds turning up to support - the best thing occurring at this club is their media department but you can't keep promoting duds and non performance - they are a disgrace and look like finishing under Redland in 2019 - Stuart Totham is no good ..... please look elsewhere ....

The Program has gone away from what it was put in place for which is to get locals drafted

The amount of money put into Thunder for the return they give is embarrassing

It seems now the Club has 50% locals to Southerners ratio on the list which is concerning
 
Oct 14, 2018
17
16
AFL Club
Collingwood
The Program has gone away from what it was put in place for which is to get locals drafted

The amount of money put into Thunder for the return they give is embarrassing

It seems now the Club has 50% locals to Southerners ratio on the list which is concerning
100 % correct - watched the St Mary's v Waratahs game from the NTFL Round 12 on TV last night - what an embarrassing standard of football - it was deplorable yet all the NT locals pound their chests and say how good the football standard is - they live in a fantasy world. Since my post about NT before Christmas they have announced a new signing from a bloke from Stawell currently playing for St Marys and pump him up as a gun ... Totham a disgrace
 

Islanda22

Club Legend
Feb 11, 2014
1,833
1,049
Australia
AFL Club
Melbourne
100 % correct - watched the St Mary's v Waratahs game from the NTFL Round 12 on TV last night - what an embarrassing standard of football - it was deplorable yet all the NT locals pound their chests and say how good the football standard is - they live in a fantasy world. Since my post about NT before Christmas they have announced a new signing from a bloke from Stawell currently playing for St Marys and pump him up as a gun ... Totham a disgrace

Yeah Taylor, he looked average at best

Just shows you they are struggling to fill the 44 man list so have gone for the sign anyone that is from South and playing in the NTFL

Ilett and Ewing are smart as they both retired (Ilett for the 2nd time) knowing the Program is at rock bottom
 
Jan 16, 2019
2
0
AFL Club
Melbourne
Yeah Taylor, he looked average at best

Just shows you they are struggling to fill the 44 man list so have gone for the sign anyone that is from South and playing in the NTFL

Ilett and Ewing are smart as they both retired (Ilett for the 2nd time) knowing the Program is at rock bottom

you blokes arent serious?! you've got no idea! Taylor's been given a chance because he's a 20 year old that's willing to do the work.

as for playing 50% southerners (a bullshit number by the way) there would be more of our local lads playing if they could commit to the program. simple as that.

and if you idiots really think totham has any input on player recruitment then you're as clueless as you sound..
 

Islanda22

Club Legend
Feb 11, 2014
1,833
1,049
Australia
AFL Club
Melbourne
you blokes arent serious?! you've got no idea! Taylor's been given a chance because he's a 20 year old that's willing to do the work.

as for playing 50% southerners (a bullshit number by the way) there would be more of our local lads playing if they could commit to the program. simple as that.

and if you idiots really think totham has any input on player recruitment then you're as clueless as you sound..

Taylor has been given a chance because he is willing to train 3-4 nights a week and travel some weekends for peanuts.

No local that is decent wants to commit to a program that looks after the Top 10 at the club. Most fly down south for good money each weekend.

Never said Totham has any input on the recruiting.

The program is on its last feet
 
Jan 16, 2019
2
0
AFL Club
Melbourne
Taylor has been given a chance because he is willing to train 3-4 nights a week and travel some weekends for peanuts.

No local that is decent wants to commit to a program that looks after the Top 10 at the club. Most fly down south for good money each weekend.

Never said Totham has any input on the recruiting.

The program is on its last feet

exactly my point mate - willing to do the work. no one plays thunder because the pays good.

and you've emphasised my point that a lot of talented locals dont want to do the hard work. those that fly south to play undoubtedly earn better money and they dont have to train. but i'll bet my bottom dollar they enjoy being the big fish in a little pond.

dont you think that if those locals applied themselves, they'd be in that top 10 that get looked after??
 
Honestly surprised they've lasted this long. All the travel, little pay for the players, fading crowd interest and splitting between Darwin and Alice just doesn't seem like a viable or sustainable project. Maybe if the AFL bring in the reserves league, Thunder will fold or try make a desperate dash for the SANFL. It's a shame though, any minuscule hope we've ever had of one day joining the AFL probably rests on Thunder, and it's not setting a good image.
 

andrewsmithycuz

Debutant
Jan 22, 2017
58
7
AFL Club
Sydney
How much would thunder players get paid per match/ season and how does this stack up against those playing in country victoria ?
 

kid_a

Club Legend
Apr 5, 2010
2,317
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Perf
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West Coast
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well... this is dead now...
Very sad, when I lived in Brissy (2011-13) I went to go watch them almost anytime they were in town.
Would always meet a few expat Territorians at the games who were there to support them.
Seemed for a while to be a great conduit club for Territorians aspiring to make to the AFL and also a team for Territorians to get behind in a 'biggish' league.
Will always rememebr being at the 2011 northern GF when they beat Morningside with Andy McLeod playing for them how the atmosphere was there and how there was a good chunk of people who had flown over for the match.

A real shame its all faded away.
 

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Gersman

Team Captain
May 10, 2017
412
161
AFL Club
Carlton
Didn't seem to draw very big crowds at all for an NT team. Lucky to pull 500 people to their matches, would've thought being a rep team in a fairly high profile competition (if you can call the NEAFL that) that the locals would've come out in droves.
 

Gersman

Team Captain
May 10, 2017
412
161
AFL Club
Carlton
Honestly surprised they've lasted this long. All the travel, little pay for the players, fading crowd interest and splitting between Darwin and Alice just doesn't seem like a viable or sustainable project. Maybe if the AFL bring in the reserves league, Thunder will fold or try make a desperate dash for the SANFL. It's a shame though, any minuscule hope we've ever had of one day joining the AFL probably rests on Thunder, and it's not setting a good image.
Touchè. You were right on the money.
Can you tell me next week's lotto numbers please 😉
 
The issue was that all the local guns started dropping off or retiring, and it became "fly in" locals. Results started slipping too so the crowds dropped off. Shame that the NT has no rep team now, but hopefully now it means the NTFL quality can increase a bit more and the kids have a better shot at it. Anyone over 18 in the NT just needs to leave and have a crack in the SANFL or VFL if they are good enough.
I think getting 500 to a game isn't really that bad when you consider thats like 0.5-1% of the population. That's like 25,000 people if you go by %'s in Melbourne :p
 

Islanda22

Club Legend
Feb 11, 2014
1,833
1,049
Australia
AFL Club
Melbourne
Didn't seem to draw very big crowds at all for an NT team. Lucky to pull 500 people to their matches, would've thought being a rep team in a fairly high profile competition (if you can call the NEAFL that) that the locals would've come out in droves.

500 people? No chance it was that high, i'd say 200 max

The issue was that all the local guns started dropping off or retiring, and it became "fly in" locals. Results started slipping too so the crowds dropped off. Shame that the NT has no rep team now, but hopefully now it means the NTFL quality can increase a bit more and the kids have a better shot at it. Anyone over 18 in the NT just needs to leave and have a crack in the SANFL or VFL if they are good enough.
I think getting 500 to a game isn't really that bad when you consider thats like 0.5-1% of the population. That's like 25,000 people if you go by %'s in Melbourne :p

The issue with Thunder is only 4 or 5 players were directly drafted from the Program in 12 or so years. That is appalling considering the amount of money the AFL had put in.

Out of those players only Nyghuis from Nightcliff had the longest career which was only 3 seasons and a handful of games.

Kids need to suck it up and go down to a boarding school, play TAC Cup or U 17s/19s and give themselves the est opportunity by showing Clubs you can survive in the big smoke.

If Joel Jeffrey and Malcolm Rosas miss out of getting drafted then the AFL made the right decision.
 

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