The AFLNT Thunder U18 State Academy Boys are heading back to Melbourne to play the Oakleigh Chargers on Saturday 30 April.
The list of 23 players and two emergencies was named following the squad’s final training session on Wednesday night.
It is the third and final development match for the team, ahead of the AFL U18 Championships kicking-off next Friday 6 May against Tasmania at TIO Stadium.
Thunder will be looking for its first win in its development match campaign and have stuck to the rotation policy, which allows every player to get the experience of playing against quality opposition.
State Academy Development coach Andrew Hodges said the policy allowed all 45 players in the AFLNT State Academy program to play at least once.
“We’ve made seven changes this week to allow for all the boys to get a run. By doing this we get to answer questions on where the boys are at and what our best 22 can be for Nationals.
“It’s a good warm-up match leading into next Friday’s game up here against Tasmania,” Hodges said.
In exciting news, Isiah Farrell-Nelson will play his first game at U18 level and 16-year-old Liam Holt-Fitz has come into the side as the 23rd player.
“Isiah is an exciting Tenant Creek product who plays for Nightcliff in the NTFL and Liam is a real emerging talent,” Hodges said.
Following this weekend’s game, Hodges and the coaching staff will determine the squad for the U18s National Championships.
“Oakleigh are quality opposition and sitting pretty high up on the ladder…this is the last selection game leading into Nationals and by Saturday night we should be close to settling on the squad of 30 that will represent the NT,” Hodges said.
AFLNT U18 Thunder State Academy Team to face Oakleigh Chargers:
5 Brandan PARFITT
8 Rohan ARMSTRONG
10 Xavier CUBILLO
11 Josh O'BRIEN
12 Patrick TABAN
14 Kevin MARONEY
15 Lachlan MCKENZIE
16 Ezekiel FRANK
19 Isiah FARRELL-NELSON
20 Liam MCDONALD
21 Matt BLAKE
22 Marcus TOTHAM
23 Matthew BRICKNELL
24 Jamie HAMPTON
25 Nigel LOCKYER Jnr.
26 Ankin ABBOTT
28 Michael MUMMERY
29 Liam HOLT-FITZ
30 Marcus VALASTRO
31 Leslie MARONEY
32 Tony OLANGO
33 Gavin GREENOFF
34 Jordan JEFFREY
19 Jasper HUTT (Emergency)
27 Jalen CLARKE (Emergency)